Patio Landscaping Ideas

Patio landscaping ideas can turn a plain, unadorned square of concrete into a colorful and vibrant space for outdoor entertainment, family recreation and relaxation. As an integral part of your landscape design, your patio should harmonize with your house, yard and other outdoor elements. Give this extension of your home the attention it deserves by exploring fun and creative patio landscaping ideas.

Landscaping ideas should integrate every element in your exterior environment. When you're planning your landscape, include not only the patio but any outdoor furniture, a barbecue grill, containers, garden hoses or other practical or decorative features. All of these aspects of your backyard landscape can blend into a single, unified design as you implement your patio landscaping ideas.

Border and Balcony Gardens

If your patio is part of a larger backyard or side yard, your ideas may include planting flowers or shrubs to add color and fragrance to this area. During spring parties or summer celebrations, your guests will enjoy spending time in an area that's surrounded with irises, tiger lilies, marigolds or jasmine bushes. Flowers mask harsh, angular concrete edges and turn this space into an extension of the natural elements in your landscaping edges idea.

Pictures of border gardens in online galleries or design magazines can inspire you with new ideas for brightening and enlivening this feature of your landscape. For easy maintenance of your border gardens, choose plants that thrive in your hardiness zone. Caring for plants that don't grow well in your climate can be a frustrating, uphill battle. Shop at your local nursery for annual flowers that can be used to create a quick, bright border bed around the edges of your entertainment space.

In addition to plants, add rocks, field stone or brick edging or other elements to lend a variety of textures to your patio landscaping ideas. Edging ideas can keep your beds free of weeds and stray grasses while adding definition to your front or back lawn. Let your imagination run free to create accents for your patio landscaping ideas. Driftwood, large seashells, fun lawn ornaments, fountains and birdbaths can be added as smaller focal points.

If you live in a condominium, townhouse or a high rise apartment in an urban setting, a small balcony may represent the only outdoor area of your dwelling. Patio landscaping ideas aren't restricted to large suburban yards. With creative container gardening, you can bring a balcony to life and make this area a source of visual delight to guests and family. Cultivate a vivid and fragrant selection of flowers and herbs in large clay pots with exotic glazes to make your balcony come alive. Grow morning glories, sweet peas, passion flowers or other flowering vines along balcony railings.

Pavers and Retaining Walls

There is no rule dictating that a patio must consist of a square slab of concrete. Stone or brick pavers can make a patio far more interesting, especially if you take time to arrange multi-colored pavers in geometric patterns. Paving this area can be a fun, fairly simple weekend project that you can complete with your family, or you can hire a landscaping professional to help you plan the project and install the pavers.

As you're paving this area of your backyard, consider adding a central area for a fountain or birdbath by creating a retaining wall with field stones or bricks. If you have limited room for gardening in your backyard, this enclosed area can be planted with abundant flowers or leafy plants to create a miniature sanctuary. Add a fountain to turn this accent garden into a small oasis.

Choosing Outdoor Furniture

When you think about patio landscaping ideas, furniture may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Plans for exterior furniture often take second place to landscaping elements like plants or edging when it comes to developing creative patio landscaping ideas. In addition to serving a functional purpose, the furniture you choose can tie the elements of your landscaping ideas together and express your personal tastes and lifestyle.

Wicker tables and chairs add a classic charm to your backyard and invite guests to linger after summer parties. Painted or natural wicker is long lasting and resistant to sun and moisture. Wrought iron outdoor furniture is timeless and elegant, but its aesthetic appeal may outweigh physical comfort. Redwood chairs and tables create a rustic, casual atmosphere. Plastic furniture, which is affordable and easy to clean, can blend well with landscaping elements if you choose colors that harmonize with your yard.

Patio landscaping ideas can range from fun to exotic, depending on your tastes and your lifestyle. You can maximize the potential of this landscape feature by taking a creative approach to its design. Take advantage of the features on our site to bring out the best in your patio.

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