| When it comes to the back yard, your
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| | Working with what you Have
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| designs should center around maximizing
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| | If your back yard already has some
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| the amount of usable living space you
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| | elements in place-such as a swimming pool
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| have, rather than focusing totally on the
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| | or barbecue area-your new designs will
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| appearance of the space as in the front
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| | need to take these existing fixtures into
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| yard.
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| | account.
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| Define your Needs
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| | You'll also need to work with or modify
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| The first thing to consider when
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| | the existing terrain. For example, if
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| designing your back yard is what you want
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| | your back yard is on a gentle slope, you
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| out of the space. Do you want a place for
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| | may want to have that slope partially or
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| your children to play? Or, would you
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| | fully leveled to provide flat surfaces
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| prefer an entertainment area with a
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| | that are easier to work with. Partial
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| barbecue and eating area, or a quiet
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| | leveling to create tiers of different
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| space with a small pond, for relaxation?
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| | levels is a great way of adding interest
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| Perhaps you would like a flower garden,
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| | to the back yard, and of creating 'rooms'
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| herb garden, or vegetable patch, or an
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| | that define the different areas of the
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| easy-care space that doesn't require you
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| | space.
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| to spend your weekends doing maintenance
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| | Privacy in the Back Yard
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| work?
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| | Your front yard is a more public space-in
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| One of the most important considerations
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| | the back yard, privacy is generally a
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| at this stage is deciding how much time
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| | much more important issue. A high fence
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| you are willing to spend on maintenance.
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| | or tall plants and trees will help to
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| If you don't want to spend large amounts
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| | create a private space, and reduce the
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| of time on yard maintenance work and
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| | effects of noise from surrounding
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| gardening, you'll need to focus on
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| | neighbors.
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| creating low-maintenance spaces and
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| | Note that if your back yard is not
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| choosing plants that don't require
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| | currently fenced and you want to add one,
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| special care.
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| | you may need to check local building
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| Create Clearly Defined Spaces
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| | codes and make sure you know where you
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| Once you know what needs your back yard
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| | property boundaries are, to ensure that
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| will be designed to fulfill, you can
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| | you build your fence according to code
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| divide up the space into different areas
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| | and within your boundaries.
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| that can carry out those functions. This
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| | Choosing Plants
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| is a particularly important aspect of
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| | When choosing plants, consider the
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| design, not only because you need to
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| | following factors:
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| ensure that each are has enough space,
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| | - The height and girth of fully mature
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| but also because you want to create
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| | trees and shrubs-how much space will
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| clearly-defined spaces that transition
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| | these take up once they reach maturity?
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| into each other, to create a harmonious
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| | Trees and shrubs should be planted so
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| overall effect.
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| | that their root systems do not cause
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| Mapping your Back Yard
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| | disturbances as they grow.
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| One of the best ways of creating
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| | - Space and height are also important
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| attractive spaces that fulfill your
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| | considerations when creating back yard
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| desired functions is to first create a
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| | 'rooms'. Taller plants can be used to
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| map of the space you're working with.
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| | create areas of privacy within the yard
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| Measure out your back yard, and use graph
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| | and help to create a feeling of having
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| paper to create a map of the space. Then,
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| | separate spaces that serve different
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| mark out any existing structures such as
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| | functions.
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| swimming pool, garden shed, patio and
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| | - Are you choosing plants that are
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| other fixtures.
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| | suitable for your climate? In a hot, dry
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| Next, take another walk in your back
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| | climate choosing drought-resistant plants
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| yard, and map the natural flow of traffic
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| | is crucial, and choosing trees and shrubs
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| to the different areas. For example, on
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| | that tolerate frost and cold weather is
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| your map plot out the movement paths you
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| | important if you live in an area that
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| take to reach the pool, shed, and other
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| | experiences very cold winters.
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| fixtures. These will be the areas where
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| | - Choose plants with different textures
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| you place walkways or paths. Adding
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| | and interest features in terms of leaf
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| walkways is a great way of creating
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| | length and shape, light and dark-colored
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| 'rooms' in the back yard, which can then
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| | leaves, and the overall shape of the
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| be designed with different functions in
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| | plant. In general, choose a greater
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| mind. With these elements mapped out, you
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| | number of fine-textured plants and use
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| can then plan how to add plants, trees
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| | coarser-textured plants for accents.
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| and shrubs to complement the different
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| | - Choose plants that flower at different
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| areas, and plan the uses for each area
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| | times to create interest in the yard all
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| you have created.
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| | year round.
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