Side Yard

Mini rain gardens can be situated at the low side of a yard to filter excess runoff from the lawn.

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The best screens are those that don't seem to be screens at all; this is a perfect example. Layers of deciduous, evergreen and seasonal color make this an eye-catching combination whether it's used to create some privacy, keep deer at bay or simply capture interest as a striking vignette.

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This side yard is wide enough to accommodate a circular focal point (with a well-proportioned urn at its center). There is ample room for Mediterranean herbs and annual bedding plants

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I like the way the pathway "meanders" along a narrow space, breaking up the linearity."

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may need low retaining wall like this at side of house

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Tuck a bench between planters for built-in shade. If you could use more shade in your patio, consider installing a bench nestled between a pair of big planters filled with trees.

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Make a statement with a big swoop. Have a steep hillside that's impossible to plant? Use it to your advantage by building in a unique curved bench.

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For a more permanent structure like shade sails, permanent concrete footings can be used.

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build a wall of trellises or create an outdoor divider with one like you see here. Leave it plain or plant vines like clematis at the base and watch them climb.

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Pergolas define outdoor rooms, and you can suspend items like candleholders, paper lanterns and hanging plants from their rafters.

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semi-permeable walkway

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shed with attached pergola and flagstones

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Steel edging is a very common landscape option, but depending upon your choice of color, it can make very different statements. Black steel edging looks more formal; green and brown are more traditional; and unpainted (which starts out a gray color and weathers to a rusty patina) lends itself to more modern and contemporary gardens. It also comes in a range of thicknesses, with the thicker material being more expensive (and more durable) than the thinner edging. Cost: $2.50 to $4.50 per linear foot. Advantages: Steel is readily available at home improvement stores, landscape supply yards and some nurseries and is relatively inexpensive, depending upon the thickness of the material. It's fairly easy to install, a good DIY homeowner project for those with basic skills and attention to detail. Disadvantages: The thinner and less expensive material can rust and break down more quickly than the thicker edging, but even so, it's good for about eight to 10 years or more. Special considerations: Steel edging can be powder coated to have a color like brown, green or black, or left unpainted for a natural steel color. The unpainted steel will develop a rusty patina over time

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The family loves to change up the pergola patio for different events. Sometimes they drape canvas over it for more shade, and on Halloween they make it spooky for their annual party.

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Proper plant selection will eliminate mowing, reduce water consumption and drastically reduce the need to fertilize — saving you time and money. Choose a plant with multiseason interest: flowers, colorful foliage, winter texture. Some ground covers will tolerate a small amount of foot traffic, too. Creeping lilyturf (Liriope spp, zones 5 to 9), shown here, has a lush, grass-like look and is also evergreen. Additional choices — depending on your garden's growing conditions — might include periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus, zones 4 to 9), creeping thyme (Thymus praecox, zones 4 to 9) or snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum, zones 3 to 9).

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Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum), USDA zones 4-8. This is a plant that does well in full sun, so place it in a hot, sunny path. Like the thyme you're used to using in cooking, it has rounded leaves and a wonderful fragrance. But unlike its counterpart, creeping thyme grows nice and low to the ground (usually not more than 2 centimeters tall), and is extremely tough. It will grow in very difficult soils and can handle inconsistent watering.

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Irish or Scotch Moss (Sagina subulata), USDA zones 4-8. Irish (also called Scotch) moss isn't really a moss, though it looks like one. It presents a very tight, dense group of small, soft leaves with a sponge-like look. Irish moss grows extremely quickly and isn't very particular about soil, but it does do better in slightly shady areas.

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Also called dwarf monkey grass, dwarf mondo grass can retain its lush green color even under drought conditions. It's pest resistant and only needs to be mowed once a year. They plants are slow growers, so it may take a while for them to fill out like those in the photo above.

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shed, and raised beds which "keep more aggressive plants from taking over the yard"

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Privacy screens don't need to be boring. These custom pieces block the neighbor's view and act as an interesting outdoor focal point.

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arched trellis provides some shade

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vertical garden

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