Everyone’s vision of a backyard paradise is different. For some, it’s a space that’s lively and full of people enjoying themselves in the garden. For others, it’s a space you can walk into and sit down with a book and your morning coffee. No matter what space you want to create in your Pittsburgh home, you can develop a garden that’s right for relaxing.

Make It Safe and Comfortable

First of all, your garden must give you peace of mind. Make it safe and comfortable, and you’ll enjoy it much more. Add a fence around your garden, and make sure that pools and ponds are enclosed if you often have young children in the garden. Give yourself adequate protection from the sun and the rain by installing an arbor or awning or by planting shade trees.

Tuck Away the Clutter

If you want to enjoy your garden, you can do this more easily if you tuck away the clutter that inevitably comes with yard work, guests, and children. Creating storage spaces in your garden allows you to relax, knowing that your items are placed in the right place and are out of sight. A shed serves this purpose, but so does storage in an outdoor kitchen or pillows and toys placed inside tables that are actually storage containers.

Create a Sensory Experience

One of the best ways to enjoy your garden is through the senses. Add elements for each sense to your garden.

If you love food from the garden, consider adding vegetables, fruit, and herbs that you can snack on while you’re there. According to Pittsburgh Earth Day, “Many herbs will thrive during Pittsburgh’s spring and summer seasons. Most herbs can be planted directly in the garden or in containers.” These herbs include basil, thyme, oregano, sage, and mint. Plant them in containers near an eating area to enjoy with your BBQ or in drinks. Collect rainwater to keep your plants hydrated during the hot days of summer.

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Your garden can also include visual treats. Visually-stunning flowers that love growing in the Pittsburgh area include:

• Tithonia, also called Mexican sunflower. It’s beloved by bees and butterflies
• Salvia, an excellent bee plant
• Angelonia Angustifolia, a plant that looks a little like an orchid and thrives in the dry heat
• Coleus, with its wide range of colorful foliage

Add some scents to your garden as well. Night-blooming flowers such as jasmine or phlox bring a lovely aroma to your dinner parties, while mock orange, lavender, and sweet peas brighten up the day time. According to Love the Garden, honeysuckle is a particular daytime favorite: “Climbing varieties over a gateway, pergola or along a fence can help make the entrance to your garden really memorable and they also come in shrub varieties for the smaller space.”

Consider How You’ll Play

What is play to you? Is it a garden full of people enjoying a BBQ or a yard full of children running around under the sprinkler? Plan for places for play in your garden. These could include:

• A children’s play area in an area that’s easy to supervise, including a swing set and opportunities for sand and water play.
• Annual planting areas and beds for vegetables if you enjoy gardening.
• A patio seating area with an awning, arbor, or sun umbrella
• Quiet pathways and nooks surrounded by flowers and foliage, with a table for a book and a cup of coffee

Are you ready to create your backyard paradise this year? Whether you need new gutters or better patio awnings, Lednor Home Solutions is ready to help you transform your backyard.

Looking to save money on gutter installation in Pittsburgh? Let Lednor Home Solutions help you calculate the cost of gutter replacement. Learn more. 

Written by Del Thebaud