Bentwood furniture seems to tie the backyard in with the patio and home area. Bentwood pieces can include benches, planters, rockers and love seats. The Garden areas also benefit from bentwood garden art with the use of trellises, arbors and plant stands.

photo credit: Mike and Kelly Schellhouse

The Amish are on my property this week cutting hickory for their bentwood rockers they are so well known for in this area. They have been harvesting small amounts of Hickory wood on and off for about 15 years from the property.

The rockers have become a family tradition and each artist signs his rocker on the bottom and becomes known for his style. I have two handmade rockers with hickory that has been harvested off my property and used by the Amish to create furniture.

The Amish will be here two weeks collecting small hickory pieces no larger than four inches in diameter. As they collect and drag the branches off the hill they sort them for size then bundle them for transporting home.

Although the Amish use hickory and oak for their style of rocker, many use a softer wood like willow or pine. Basically if a branch can bend it can be used for furniture or garden art.

Harder wood such as hickory holds up better than the softer wood but with proper care all wood branches will work well indoors or out. The branches  need to be dried and treated properly before the furniture is made.

I particularly like the look of bentwood on the patio. It brings nature a little closer to the home and seems to blend the two spaces into one.

The You Tube video below shows Jeffrey Dreisbach creating a unique piece of furniture from branches.

His work is more artistic than what the local Amish make in my area. But the idea of collecting wood and creating furniture and other useful home products is the same.

There is a fun side to harvesting wood and branches from the woods and creating a useful but rustic piece of furniture.

Over the next two weeks it will be a learning to watch the Amish harvest the wood they need and still not abuse the land. The way they trim the hickory trees keeps the trees usable for lumber and shade but still supplies them with branches needed for their wonderful bentwood rocking chairs.

photo credit: navets

Bentwood furniture may be a style that you would like to add to your patio, porch or backyard garden area.

For more information on the Amish rocker check out my article on The Gardeners Rake;  Amish Tradition and Harvesting Hickory

Technorati Tags: amish bentwood furniture, backyard garden area, backyard patio, bentwood furniture

There is a feeling in fall of peace. I seem to notice the sky, trees and plants more. I also enjoy the fall colors, which are very vibrant in my NW Pa location. It’s a time when I set down by the creek and watch the leaves float by or spend an afternoon on the patio.
photo credit: Don Hanover III

But many people will need to prepare their yards and patios for colder weather. And few hours of work will help you to enjoy your patio area for a few more months and leave you prepared to the winter months ahead.

Power wash the patio base and all the furniture to remove dirt and pollen that has built up over the summer months. If you do not have access to a power washer, use a hose with a nozzle attachment at the highest pressure

Small maintenance:

• Patch any cracks in the concrete patio pad with sealant from the hardware store.
• Repaint or reseal wood fences or decks after the pressure cleaning.
• Throw out summer annuals, which are starting to fade. You an also overwinter any annuals if you have the space. I always overwinter my geraniums, mums and dusty miller plants. Keep the plant pots for future projects, but clean them with soapy water and bleach if they need additional cleaning

Add accents to your patio furniture with fall-friendly fabric. Deep reds, chocolates, golds, orange and greens complement the outdoor foliage as it changes colors.

Pillows, throws, rugs and placemats are a few ways to add change to the patio area. You may even have an additional patio umbrella that will compliment fall. Tip: Spray non-outdoor fabrics with Scotch Guard so they will not mold or get dirty after rains.

New planters and flowers will change the feel of the patio area. Mums, pansies and zinnias will add color around your patio. Create new window boxes or add flowers to a fence or trellis.

Ornamental grasses, bright cabbages, shamrocks or fall vegetables, like red and orange peppers, will add a feel of fall to your patio. And the pumpkins, gourds and corn stalks tucked near the patio or in the yard will create a fall harvest theme.
photo credit: fauxto_digit

Natural centerpieces for the patio tables using stone pebbles, grapevine and thick white candles will add to your evening’s outdoors. Wicker will also fit well in the fall décor of your patio design.

I enclose my patio in late fall so that I will be able to enjoy the winter months in an indoor/outdoor setting. And by preparing my patio area now, enclosing the patio later is quite easy.

Technorati Tags: backyard oasis, backyard patio, fall flowers, patio

A perfect addition to any backyard is a patio. A patio  can be a simple as an area that the soil has been removed and chips or gravel placed down or more complex in design.
photo credit: castor_girl

If you would like to add a patio there are four decisions to make.

Time

Is your patio design a project that will take a weekend and be quite simple or will you build and design a more permanent patio that will require plans and possibly hiring a construction company.

This decision will be based on what all you plant to do with the patio area. If the idea is a place to relax with a cup of coffee in the morning or evening you may want a very simple patio area. If you plan to entertain you may want to have a patio that can be used year round and will be designed to connect the indoor space with outdoor space.

Location

Will you want the patio attached to the home or in a different area of the backyard?

A patio attached to the home often will make better sue of available space and will act as an extension of indoor/outdoor living. It will also be easier to parties and entertaining if located close to the kitchen area.

Patios placed away from the house act more as entertainment areas or secret retreats. They can jazz up a dull section of the backyard and add to the pool area. Separate patios usually work better in the large backyard.

Space

How much available space do you have for a patio? Even a small area 3 foot by 6 foot can hold a table and chairs a vertical garden and a miniature water fountain. Add a trellis to the side or back for privacy and to add small lights at night for more use of your patio oasis. The ground could be covered in wood chips, indoor/outdoor carpet or stone.

A patio of this design could be easily set up over a weekend and for a very modest price.

And if you have a larger area you may want to consider a cement floor, a roof and more landscaping to blend the home design with your patio.

Price

A simple patio used for relaxing can be set up in a few days and can often be designed with items on hand. While the more elaborate patio will take a few weeks and the price will be determined by if you do the work your self, hire contractors and plan to add a roof, cement flooring or drainage.

If you decide to take on a larger patio project try to plan the work at a time when you won’t be using the backyard as much. You can also do the patio in stages where you can still use part of the patio.

Note: before taking on the larger patio project make sure you have checked into any local building regulations in you area.

With any patio design the idea is to make a relaxing area that is fun and creative. The addition of plants, trees, furniture, water fountains and lighting will enhance any patio.
photo credit: kretyen

The backyard patio can be an extension of your living space and blend the indoor living area with the outdoors. You can easily create a tropical feel or vacation getaway in you backyard.  So add a patio area to you backyard or update your patio for a new fresh feel.

Ideas for great patio designs can be found online or at your local library.

Technorati Tags: backyard design, backyard oasis, backyard patio

The addition of a backyard patio adds another area of relaxation to your backyard and an area for family entertaining. The patio often will be the focal point of your backyard oasis and the other areas of your yard will form and direction from the patio layout.
photo credit: Jeff Sandquist

There are many styles of patios to design into your backyard area. But size of the patio and the project and cost are usually the primary decisions that affect the patio you add your backyard oasis paradise. The needs of the family are also very important

The You Tube below show the thought and work that went into the patio they added to the backyard. A few of their main concerns were:

• Determine location and size: Will it be located directly off the house, attach the house and garage area or be a separate area in the backyard?
• take into account other buildings, garages, a greenhouse ,storage sheds and the house need to be considered in patio layout
• landscape features:  Are their built in fire pits, a pond, gas or electric lines or trees and shrubs to consider?
• Available shade and sunlight: Will the patio be in direct sunlight and require some shade or will the patio have a mix of both sun and shade?

This patio design project is about a medium difficulty project. It’s not as complicated as some but you can install a patio in an easier form. But the most important decision in putting in your patio is that is well made so that it will last for years and not need a lot of maintenance to keep it useable and looking good. Your backyard is much more realxing and enjoyable if you are not doing constant repairs.

The one area of this project that is very important is to make sure the patio is level and has good drainage. Poor drainage in the ground below will lead to sinkhole areas in your patio or the surface breaking up.

The addition of a patio to your backyard oasis will add hours of fun for the family and friends.

Technorati Tags: backyard design, backyard oasis, backyard oasis paradise, backyard patio

A Backyard Patio will extend your living area, even if your yard is small. By combining your indoor living space with outdoor space you create a flow that gives the feel of more room. And for the best results design your backyard patio around what your backyard offers and make the most of every detail or possible problem. A hillside or stream area can even be added into your patio plans with stunning results.
photo credit: madmoiselle lavender❤ (gone for 2 weeks)

In order to get the best design for your patio you should plan out a design on paper. Your design can be simple as using graft paper or you can use some of the graft design programs available online.  If your project is big you may consider hiring a landscaper.

Another consideration in your backyard patio design is making sure it compliments your house. Traditional or formal looking houses will look nice with an older look and a classic brick patio and aged looking furniture. A cottage garden home would be inviting with a small rounded patio ringed with a decorative picket fence. While a contemporary styled house might have a patio with smooth, simple clean lines.

Shape of your patio is also important. Rounded patios, surrounded by gardens will soften the hard edges of a house and create a private feeling, almost a secret garden effect. A wide, narrow patio works well for a large garden or lawn area and gives a more stylized look. If you yard is small blend the patio off from your porch or deck and make use of your small space by growing up or in containers.

When designing, think of your patio is an outdoor room and decorate that space so it becomes as useful as another room. This will make your patio comfortable and even more of an extension to your home a backyard oasis that you are trying to create.

Color is one of the final and most important ways to accent patio space. And by adding and changing the colors you will give this outdoor haven a new and fresh look anytime you choose. You can quickly change your color pattern with a folding screen, garden furniture or containers or flowers or hanging plants. Seasons also are a wonderful time to redo a color scheme.

photo credit: mattbuck4950

Add to the fun of your backyard oasis and start to  create and design your backyard patio today. You will extend your indoor and outdoor living space and add an area for friends and family to enjoy year round. Even in my cold Zone 5 climate the colors and lines of my patio relaxes me. So grab a few magazines or go online and round up ideas for creating that perfect patio hideaway

Technorati Tags: backyard, backyard design, backyard oasis, backyard patio, outdoor room