Do it yourself landscaping for your deck or patio Jack Kramer and Andrew Addkison, writing in 100 Garden Designs, assert that the patio or deck is really an extension of the house, acting s an extra room. As such, it is important to make it a showplace, because it is always on display. In some climates, the deck or patio is on display year-round. In others, six to nine months a year. How you furnish it, plant it, decorate and accessorize it will reflect your taste, your version of creativity and ambience.
Some helpful tips follow.
First, consider the uses of your patio and deck in order to decide what furnishings and special plant needs you have. For example, if you plan to barbecue and serve meals on your patio, placement of the grill, server and table and chairs is critical. Make sure you won t be cooking with the sun in your eyes, and that your table setting will be shaded during meal times. Choose fast-growing trees, either with dense shade, such as that provided by maple or oaks trees, or thinner shade, like that of various kinds of locusts. Fast growing poplars provide nearly overnight shade, but do so in narrow columns, and unless you plan to plant a whole fence of poplars to shield patio or deck from a full southern or southwestern exposure, trying something different.