The most popular type of outdoor pond is without a doubt a fish pond, with clean waters and filters. The much less common option, requesting a more adventurous spirit, is to build a wildlife outdoor pond.

photo credit: Martin Pettitt

First let’s define what is a wildlife pond. A wildlife pond is a natural environment hosting a self-sustaining ecosystem. A spot in your property backyard where nature has regained full control and you are merely an observer.

What are the steps to create wildlife backyard ponds?

1. Your pond must be located where wildlife has a free and undisturbed access. Best spots are the very edge of your property and close to nature.

2. Follow the building tips described below.

3. Borrow water from an existing wildlife pond, naturally occurring ones are best.

4. Let nature take control.

5. Eventually the environment will take care of the rest.

What can you expect? Well, if you take care of the details, you will have an autonomous ecosystem filled with a variety of living creatures and with little need for maintenance at all.

Building a wildlife pond.

A wild life pond is built using any informal outdoor pond plans, but your equipment list will be smaller as there is no need for filtration or aeration, nature will take care of this tasks. An important point to add is that fish will destroy your insect population, the basic food for other wildlife animals, so this kind of pond won’t host any kind of fish in it.

The best place to locate your wildlife pond is at an edge of your backyard, as close as possible to nature. But avoid problems, far from your house and neighbors property as the pond will attract insects, toads and other animals.

To create natural hiding places for the wildlife you want to attract, keep the vegetation around your pond as high and untidy as possible, but allow human access to enjoy and take care of it.

A secret ingredient that will make the difference. Find a naturally occurring wildlife pond, take some water from it and introduce it into your pond. The organisms you got from the natural pond will populate your newly created wildlife pond.

What kind of animals can you expect? The water borrowed from the natural pond will start an insect population. Your first visitors will probably be pond skaters and eventually dragonflies. With insects in place yo will start attracting their predators, toads and birds. If your site won’t let easy access to animals you can by some toads and introduce them to your backyard. But if your pond start growing mosquitoes or other undesirable insects you can add snails to keep the water clean.

Pond building have a large number of options, and wildlife ponds are not always the most popular, but if well planned and executed it can be a wonderful part of your backyard.

Looking for some ideas and inspiration for your outdoor pond, then visit pond-building-mastery.com to find essential tutorials, know-how and tips about pond building.

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Swimming Pool Landscaping for either a residential or commercial application for a pool should be carefully designed and constructed in order to be visually appealing and add property value to your home or business. You and your guests should have an enjoyable experience while using the swimming pool. 
photo credit: Chrispitality

Although many successful landscape applications for swimming pools are provided by professional landscapers and other designers, a homeowner or business owner can do this with a little research, time, and effort. You can produce your own beautiful landscape.

Typically, landscape applications for swimming pool landscaping will suggest specific plant types, but it is important to focus on trees, shrubs, and grasses that will adapt well in your specific environment.

Vegetation and plants that can survive and thrive in a specific location should be selected for sustainability purposes. Successful landscape applications flourish due to the plants ability to grow and live in a specific environment.

This is typically based upon climate, rainfall amount, sunlight, and soil parameters. Since the designer cannot control many of these elements, it is important to select plant material that will successfully grow given these elements of the application.

Plant selection guides are available in hard copy, audio, and online. They can help the designer select the best material for your landscaping project.

Successful landscape applications include a variety of plants, shrubs, and grasses. They are usually native or adaptable to the location. When selecting plants, you should include material that is visually appealing, and can also be functional.

Most plant functions not only include visual purposes, but also guide pedestrian traffic and provide screening for privacy. Specific plants and trees can be purchased to perform these useful functions.

Other types of applications for swimming pool landscaping include fencing, patios, and furniture. While these elements are important and can add value to your landscape design, the focus of any application should always be on your plant material.

Usually, multiple designs are considered to provide different planning ideas. Once a final design is chosen, you can begin implementing construction and installation. This can be done either by professional landscaping contractors, or by the homeowner or commercial property owner.

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The words “Backyard landscape design” can sound daunting if your backyard needs a fair amount of work or a total overhaul. But with a few small steps and planning the task will be easier than you first anticipated. It may actually turn into a family event that adds fun to your weekends.
photo credit: Ganymedes Costagravas

The first step in redesigning your backyard is to consider the uses of the family. Many of these are obvious such as entertaining or a children’s play area. Other such as a backyard theme, focal points, sun, shade, hardiness zone, pets, drainage and maintenance are equally important. And finally color; contrast, texture and soil affect the plants, trees and beauty of the backyard.

So take you time and plan what your immediate needs are to turn the backyard into a functional area. Then work on smaller projects. When planning use paper and lay out a rough design. It’s always easier to change a plan than redo a started or finished project.

As you are planning some of your bigger projects such as a pool, pond, children’s play area or patio check on some of the overlooked landscape design areas that play an important role in the success of your backyard oasis.

Most important: Check for any City or State building codes. Also check any Home Association rules if they apply to your housing area. And as basic as this sounds, make sure you know your property boundaries. My neighbors built the corner of their house extension onto the corner of my property so accidents do happen and it can create a serious problem.
photo credit: brewbooks

Surface Drainage is important in any yard, even for adding a garden. It becomes a bigger concern when installing retaining walls, large areas of concrete or a hardscaping project. And when altering your existing grounds analyze how the water will drain. Make sure that the water will flow away from your house and any low-lying areas in your backyard. The best time to notice your drainage and making notes is after a heavy rainstorm.

Your hardiness zone and climate will influence your larger projects. Is your summer long enough for a pool? If your nights are warm and the summer long you will more than likely want a larger outdoor entertainment area. If the nights are colder you may want a patio that can be partially enclosed for extended use.

Climate will also guide your plant selection. Most plants will have a tag that will tell you the hardiness zone and care the plant will need to grow successfully. Your local nursery will also be able to help you select plants that will thrive in your backyard. A good plant encyclopedia and the Internet will also provide helpful information.

One more important point to consider while planning is maintenance. In today’s hectic lifestyle a low maintenance landscape may be essential. You will also have more time to enjoy your backyard oasis paradise if it’s easy to care for.

There are still a few important area for backyard design but these basic needs will get you started in redoing you backyard and making the perfect family retreat for entertaining and family fun.

Check out part two of Backyard Design Ideas for ideas on focal points, selection of color, lighting, backyard areas and seasons in the backyard.

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Choosing a tree for the backyard can be a challenging task as there are many considerations to take into account. Size, purpose and endurance are only a few decisions to be made. Often selecting a fruit tree can be an easier choice, as you will have a preference for the fruit you wish to grow and most fruit trees are smaller trees.
photo credit: coconut wireless

Planting and Caring for a New Fruit Tree

First see what available room you will have in your backyard. This will decide if you buy an espalier tree, dwarf or semi-dwarf fruit tree. Next you will want to select the fruit variety you want. You will have to take into consideration your climate and if you need another tree to help with pollination, or if this fruit will grow in your area.

Shop around for a good value in a fruit tree, but more importantly, a healthy tree. It’s best to buy from a local nursery that has been in business for years.  And before I purchase the tree I have already chose the location for the tree and have a hole dug so that I can take the tree home and plant it immediately.

Once home check the size of the hole you have dug for the tree.  You want the hole to be twice as wide as the root clump, and just a little less deep. The reason for the hole being slightly bigger than the roots is that this allows room for the soil that you dug out to be put back in.

Place a small amount of fertilizer in the hole and take a good look at the roots of the fruit tree. If there are any roots that are damaged clip them off. Also make sure the roots are not knotted up. You want them to be able to grow up and spread.

I mix a little compost in with the dig that I removed for the hole. Next place half the dirt in the hole and water well. As you plant the tree make sure the tree is standing straight and not leaning. You may need someone to help and hold it in place. Finish filling in the hole and water one more time. Tamp the soil in place. You will want the soil to be a couple of inches higher than the rest of the yard. In time the soil will settle and this will make your tree base even with the rest of the yard.

Tip: You may want to stake the tree in place to that it stays vertical and does not bend in the wind.

Your fruit tree should start producing fruit in three to five years after planting.

Once your tree starts to produce a lot of fruit you should periodically pick off some of the unripe fruit so that the branches aren’t weighed down too much. Remove the small or deformed fruit. If the fruit gets too thick, the branches can break off from the weight and by picking off fruit, what is left on the tree will be bigger.
photo credit: cooljinny

Fruit trees will need pruned and checked for insect problems each year. But if properly cared for will produce for years to come and add value and beauty to your backyard oasis.

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Have your children reached an age where you need to update their children’s play area and take out the play equipment and possibly add a pool, deck or pond area for teenage parties? Has your dog or cat decided to rearrange your plants and shrubs? You may also have lost a few plants or trees to age or illness.
photo credit: mezuni

Whether your backyard is in its beginning planning stages or has reached the backyard oasis paradise that you planned there are always small projects and changes that you may need or want to make.

Backyard Ideas

• When working with your backyard its always a wise to draw up an idea and project list to keep your plans and backyard design ideas moving forward smoothly and to get the best value for your dollar.
• Is there a part of your yard that doesn’t seem to meet the needs that it was originally created for? Would a few simple changes make it usable or do you need to re-design the area?
• You may have decided that yard work takes more time than you anticipated and that adding a larger patio or a garden area with mulch and ground covers for easier maintenance would add to your backyard enjoyment and relaxation.

Backyard Projects

• Is it time to enlarge the garage, add the workshop or put up that sunroom or greenhouse you have always wanted? These projects usually are best to plan for the spring or fall when your entertaining and backyard use has calmed down and if the yard becomes cluttered with wood and ladders it won’t interfere with a party or yard work.
• Backyard projects usually take the most time and money so take extra time with their planning. You may also need to get a zoning permit or take in to consideration the effect of your project on the trees and shrubs in your backyard area.

Backyard tips

• If your yard could use a fresh look or design it’s best to start slowly. Look at a few gardening or landscaping books or magazines. Its amazing the new look you can get with just a few new shrubs or a small fence or trellis. You can even re-invent the patio with container gardening and a small water fountain.
• Plan for the future and make your new backyard design work for years to come with only a few changes needed. A perfect example for this would be if your children were at an age where they will be outgrowing toys and need less of a play area. Think of creating an entertainment area where those changes can be made easily.
• Plan for multiple uses for different parts of the backyard. Patios, garden rooms, garden areas and terraced area create separate area of a yard.and make the yard seem larger. A child’s play area can be used for adding tables for parties.
• Keep your backyard plans simple. The main purpose of a backyard is to create an outdoor living area where family and friend can enjoy quiet times or family events. Your backyard is your oasis away from the world. Keep this in mind when planning your yard.

Backyard Oasis will be sharing DIY plans for gardening, patios, and backyard buildings. So stop by to see what new backyard ideas, tips and project plans will be discussed.

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