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Makeover Your Own Backyard
- Remove any dead trees or branches.
- Trim the trees and hedges. Most importantly, weed!
- If you want privacy but don't want a fence, plant tall trees around the perimeter of your yard.
- If you already have a fence but want a new look, don't paint it—cover it with vines.
- Try to incorporate different elements into your design: fire (tiki torches); water (a fountain); earth (a stone path); wind (a swing).
- Think of your backyard as an outdoor living space. Divide the backyard into rooms: a space for eating, sitting, playing and entertaining.
- Wherever you live, tie in local elements that are easily accessible, like dry river rocks or indigenous flowers.
- Personalize your backyard with family projects such as making a cement bench with your handprints.
- Try companion planting to keep pests away. Plant marigolds around onions, peppers, tomatoes or garlic around roses.
Special Thanks
- Smith and Hawken, Monrovia Nursery, All-Oregon Landscaping, and Lowe's supplied labor and makeover materials.
- Hannah's Playhouse was donated by Barbara Butler designs. Visit www.barbarabutler.com.
