Ideas For Landscaping Around A Patio
Landscaping around a patio has a number of advantages. First, it beautifies the patio and makes it a pleasing spot for an afternoon get together or for spending evenings in the cool breeze. Secondly, patio landscaping beautifies the house without demanding more room for placing landscape designs. In addition, yearly landscaping around a patio increases the value of property by an estimated 12.4%. Hence, good ideas for patio landscaping prove profitable.
Materials For Landscaping Around A Patio
A variety of materials can be used for landscaping around a patio, e.g. bricks, concrete, stones, rock and tiles etc. For building a landscape design for a new patio or just renovating an old one, brick, concrete and stone are great building materials. It is important to remember that the material used for patio landscaping should complement the rest of the construction and feel of the place.
Height Of The Patio
After selecting the material, it needs to be used to build the height around the patio's perimeter. The patio's height should be even with the entrance or doorway and no edges or sharp protuberances should stick out from the sides of its walls. Bender board made from plastic may be used to give a curved look to the patio's space.
Patio Flooring
The material chosen for defining the layout of the patio and adding the height can be used to make the patio floor. This should be the most durable part of the design and sufficiently smooth to allow movement of wheel chairs, trolleys and other wheeled objects, without being slippery. Brick and concrete both make prime candidates for serving this purpose.
Patio Plants
Plants are a must to use in any plan of landscaping around a patio that aims at beautifying the place. There are usually two options for planting around the patio that are growing flowers in soil and using small potted plants. The advantage of potted plants is that they can be rearranged in any style and caring for them is easier as compared to plants grown in soil around the patio. Since climatic conditions influence the health and life of plants, exotic plants should not be used as long as they cannot be adequately maintained. Using indigenous plants is always a better choice.
Lighting
Lighting is another essential component of landscaping around a patio. It helps in finding one's way around the patio as well decorate the place. Various kinds of lightings are available for decorating patios. Many people now prefer to use solar lighting since they are cost-effective and keep working while electric power is off or unavailable due to some breakdown episode. However, solar lightings are good only for places that receive a good deal of sunshine during the day.
