Incidentally, no one, but no one in climatic conditions will govern plant the warmer sections of Arizona would selection wherever you live. So why try landscape with deciduous material. to second-guess the local nurseryman? Why man, all the friends and relatives He knows what will grow, and so will (affectionately called "snowbirds") de- you when you look around the neigh- scend for the winter—and that's when borhood and find out firsthand. the yard must look its best! I have tried to give you general Then the backyard: it doesn't have plant groups to choose from to accom- to match the front, you know. All the plish desired results. This also gives front and back yards have to do is tie you a very wide range from which to in at the sides of the house. So again choose. you have to determine your motif for It really all boils down to this: the backyard. • Take your time. Just as the architecture and appear- • Decide what you want to do. ance of the front of the house will in- • Choose your material carefully. fluence your choice of plants there, the • Use good common sense. decor of the family room, carried out I should finish with this: Have fun! onto the , will affect what you plant in the backyard. For further reading: Other than that, you are as free as a U.S. Department of Agriculture, Home bird to establish any feeling you desire Planting by Design. Home and Garden Bulletin 164, Washington, U.C. 20250, with your backyard plants. Keep in 1969. mind that each has a job to do. , Gardening on the Contour. I have not given you long lists of Home and Garden Bulletin 179, Washing- plants to work with. Geological and ton, D.C. 20250, 1970.

Structures and equipment- from to barbecue

THERE ARE A GREAT MANY Structures, to use for a tool shed, a potting shed, equipment and garden designs to con- a bathhouse, or all of these at the same sider in landscaping your garden. Addi- time. You can cover it with plastic or tional information on how to build glass panels during the winter and these projects can be obtained from spring to create a to start your library, book store, or retail lum- garden plants early. ber dealer. You should develop and Therefore, as you read about the draw up a master plan so that each following structures and equipment, project will be properly located and keep in mind how you want them to completed in the right sequence. look and function because your garden If you are handy with tools and should be your own creation for you want a garden of "your own design," and your friends to enjoy. It is your then follow the principles of design "heaven-on-earth", so take time to de- and construction that are described, sign and construct it right. but add your own ideas. You may You may want to hire a consultant make a single structure do two or three before starting construction. Consult- things with a little imagination. For ants can save you much grief and example, a gazebo can double as a chil- expense by pointing out a hazardous dren's playhouse during the day or it or poorly designed garden or garden can be divided and partially enclosed structure. In other words, a consultant

62 lets you profit from other gardeners' expansion joints where needed. Remem- experiences since one of his functions ber, temperature change, frost, and is to help you avoid pitfalls. water can crumble a poorly designed Now let's take a look at the various patio in a few years. projects you can build or add to your The top surface can be made from garden. You might want to add one wood boards or blocks, poured con- of these each year to enjoy the feeling crete, brick, concrete block, or patio or of accomplishment, or you may wish to flag stones. The last three can be set complete your whole plan at once. in sand with an open space between , terraces, and decks all have each edge, or they can be set with one thing in common—they are exten- mortar. Several patterns have been sions of your living area to the out- used for brick or block, such as her- doors. Their level areas may equal ringbone, the basket weave, concentric or exceed the size of your whole house. squares, and flowing curves. There are They are used as a house substitute in several variations or combinations of fair weather, especially for the kitchen, the standard patterns and colors that dining, and living areas. Generally they can be employed to make your deck are located toward the rear of the house distinctive. to insure some privacy and less street During warmer months of the year noise. They should be placed with the you may want a sunbreaker roof over sun and prevailing winds in mind. your patio. Some gardeners combine Depending on local weather condi- a lath house and patio cover in one tions, you may want the patio to be structure so that the shade-loving plants in the sun or in the shade. You will can be used to decorate the patio. Clear probably want some shade in the latter plastic film may be used over the top part of the day when the hot tempera- to shed rain when entertaining guests. ture becomes uncomfortable. In the winter, plastic covered panels The surface of the patio should be can be added around the edge to en- sloped away from the house or to a close the patio to make a sun porch drain to keep water from flooding or or temporary greenhouse. seeping through basement walls. The Lawn and garden furniture should patio surface should also be 6 or 8 be spacious, rugged, and weather resist- inches below the level of the floor of ant. This furniture will last several the house. seasons if properly constructed and Patios, terraces, and decks can be cared for. It can be constructed in your made from any of the present day con- workshop or purchased from the out- struction materials that are weather door and garden center in your local proof or at least weather resistant. But store. However, you will take greater regardless of the type of construction, pride in using or displaying a piece of a good foundation and subsurface that furniture that you have made with meet the local building codes are your own hands. You can add your necessary to insure a long, serviceable own design by placing hinges, pins, or life for your finished project. Provide bolts in the right places for quick set- ting up or knocking down for storage. You can add wheels for easy move- Author WILLIAM A. BAILEY is an Agricul- ment to a sunny or shady spot. tural Engineer and Investigations Leader Outdoor furniture plans may be ob- with the Livestock Engineering and Farm tained from books, magazines. State Structures Research Branch, Agricultural universities, lumber associations, and Engineering Research Division, Agricul- your own neighborhood lumberyard. tural Research Service. The most popular construction mate- Coauthor HERSCHEL H. KLUETER is an rial is wood, but you may want to use Agricultural Engineer and Project Leader with the Farm Electrification Research stone or concrete for some perma- Branch, Agricultural Engineering Research nent items such as seats or tables. I Division. prefer to keep my own furniture light

63 ^Vjllfe^

A well-equipped palio ana lawn area.

enough to move around, since the gar- equipment is normally large enough to den is constantly changing as trees and cook six to 10 steaks at one time. A shrubs grow. brick barbecue center can be as small The combination of increased leisure or large as desired. You may want a time and readily available gas or char- small grille for family cooking and a coal barbecue pits at reasonable prices larger grille for entertaining. You may makes outdoor or backyard cooking also want to include a warming oven popular and fun. Just as the wife claims and a smoking chamber in your design. the kitchen as her domain, the hus- Consider where the smoke from your band claims the outdoor cooking area. cooking area will go. Neither your It is easy to prepare meat, potatoes, guests nor your neighbors will appreci- and salads outdoors for family use or ate having a smoke screen unless the for your guests. A spacious patio and mosquitoes are biting. garden area provide a pleasant setting An important aspect of outdoor for entertaining either a few friends or living is lighting. You would not think a large group. of building a home without careful Three areas are required for an out- consideration of lighting. The same door meal: cooking, serving, and eat- holds true for lighting the outdoors. ing areas. For a small group, a picnic Whether you are building a new home table can be a combined serving and or relandscaping an older one, lighting eating area. But the larger groups are should be part of the master plan. handled better if the food is served in a Lighting can be strictly functional, central spot near the cooking area and such as illuminating drives and walks, then eaten in small groups elsewhere. locating step» or landings, or for pro- The cooking area can include a prepa- tection against unwanted visitors. It ration and washup site, but these chores may be used to enhance outdoor living are often taken care of in the regular by providing light for parties, garden- kitchen. ing, and sports activities. It may also Cooking equipment can be portable add esthetic value by highlighting plants or permanently installed. The portable or areas of special beauty.

64 A wide variety of fixtures is avail- or at some angle to the edge of the able for all the purposes of outdoor walk, you can create a large number lighting. Use the proper fixture and of walk designs. Be sure to leave ex- locate it in the least conspicuous pansion room around each piece of manner. Lights should be placed so material used. Mortar can be used to they illuminate the desired area and do set the surface permanently and to not shine into the eyes of the observer eliminate water from the soil beneath or the neighbors. the walk. You may wish to experiment with Care should be taken to allow good different lighting schemes sometime drainage for the whole garden. It may after dark to obtain the desired effect. be desirable to provide an arched foot- Once this is done, the main lighting bridge over a low area or a running should be permanently installed, using stream. Several rustic bridge designs buried 3-wire grounded cable and out- can be used. Some have wide banisters door weatherproof fixtures. Additional for sitting and viewing. weatherproof convenient outlets should Most backyard gardens do not have also be installed at critical locations for natural running streams, but with the special occasions. Check with your availability of plastic ground liners and electric power supplier and a local submergible electric water pumps it is electrical contractor, so that all electri- now possible for even the smallest cal codes and safe practices are follow- gardens to have fish or reflecting pools, ed. For additional safety, low voltage and running streams or waterfalls. You lighting systems are available. may want to have a spray fountain in One of the easiest and most im- your pool or in one corner of your portant garden structures to construct garden. is the walk. Walks permanently divide Your local garden supply center or the garden into individual areas and act mail order catalog will display several as guides or roadways to your garden. kits or complete systems for using Walks can be bold borders or incon- water to make your garden more en- spicuous or hidden paths to secluded joyable. Internal or external lights may garden sanctuaries. be used to make your water display en- Walks, like patios, can be con- joyable after dark. structed out of any durable building Of course the most enjoyable water material which will hold up under project, especially in hot weather, is temperature, moisture, and freezing a swimming pool. Pools can be shaped stresses. Most walks are rather perma- and located to fit into your garden nent, but flagstones can be easily plans, so make your pool fit your plans moved to take out an old path or make for outdoor enjoyment and entertain- a new one. ment. Do not build a square pool and When laying out your garden plan, then try to landscape around it and be careful to keep walks out of the force your patio and outdoor cooking lowest spots because nobody, excepting area into an ugly design. A little pre- the preschool child, likes to splash planning can fit everything you desire through water. The walk should be into a beautiful backyard garden. built on a well-drained foundation of The garden structure that fails most sand or concrete so neither soft mud often and creates a dangerous situation nor upheaving frost can destroy your when it does so is the garden wall. creation. Whether it is a retaining wall or a free- There are numerous standard pat- standing wall, an adequate foundation terns for designing your walk or you below the frost line is necessary. If soil may want to create your own surface is placed against one side, then weep design. If you use standard brick, the holes or tile drains are necessary. end, edge, or side can be used for the Otherwise, after a heavy rain or spring top surface. By orienting any of these thaw, water pressure will cause the three shapes, parallel, perpendicular. wall to collapse explosively. More than

65 one person has been hurt when such a for a fence in the garden. A is collapse trapped him. not a jungle gym, but it will be used for Retaining walls may be covered by one by most young children. Make it local building codes, and therefore you strong enough to safely support a climb- may need to file a blueprint with your ing child along with your climbing local building inspector's office when vines. Some gardeners cover a trellis obtaining a building permit. An in- with thorny vines to discourage ad- spector will probably keep watch over venturous children. your construction. His purpose is to Trellises may be built from wood, stop you from building a public hazard. metal, wire mesh, or some combination Before erecting a wall on or near of these. If they are covered with an- your property line, be sure you know nuals such as morning-glories, they where your line is to insure that you can be repaired and repainted during do not encroach upon the neighboring the winter season. If you plan on this property. Such an encroachment could type of maintenance, design the trel- cause a lawsuit or other unpleasantness lises small enough to go through your and expense. workshop door and fit into the shop Like patios and walks, a wall can be area. built from a wide selection of mate- With the urban areas expanding into rials, ranging from wood to stone. A the countryside, our wildlife friends large number of patterns is possible. are finding it more and more difficult Some are open to allow free airflow, to find natural food and family rearing while others are solid so as to insure areas. Each gardener who appreciates privacy. a colorful bird and its song or a Walls were originally built to keep squirrel's cavorting should build a feed- one's enemies away, but today they ing and watering station into his are used to separate one yard from garden. Your wildlife neighbors can another or to hide the home service drink from a stream, waterfall, or pool areas. Inside the garden, walls may be if available. Animals cannot live long built as a line of demarcation between without water, especially during hot two garden areas or as a backdrop. weather. The modern replacement for the Feeders and nests can be purchased bulky wall is a fence. Most home- or built in your workshop. Each type owners install a fence around the edges of bird or animal requires a different of their property, but a fence can be house and feeder design. If you only much more than a boundary structure. want one type of wild native bird, then It can be built from wire, wood only supply feed and housing for that boards or rails, plastic, glass, or fiber type. Birds will benefit your garden by glass. It can be used as a decorative eating large quantities of insects and screen or backdrop, privacy screen, worms. see-through screen for viewing, or as For the best winter or sunmier a solid wall to eliminate the view of a viewing, place your feeders so that the storage or service area such as around wildlife can be seen through a kitchen garbage cans. or living room window. Often the fence is an essential verti- Some gardeners in the warmer cli- cal element in the garden landscape mates will want to build a screened-in just as trees and other ornamental aviary to raise canaries or other sing- plants are. Fences may be covered or ing or colorful birds. If the wire is screened by plants or vines. A fence painted black, you can view your may be a temporary screen until the friends without being blinded from re- tree or bush grows into a natural flected light. screen. The character of a fence can be If you live in a low rainfall area, changed more with planting arrange- you will probably have to irrigate your ments than by construction. grass, plants, shrubs, and trees on a The trellis is often used to substitute regular basis. An automatic watering

66 system that is controlled by a time- maintain your garden and yard plants clock will water each plant according in the best of condition whether you to your preset program. A soil moisture are at home or on a trip. sensor can be used to lock out the Optimum watering automatically in- irrigation whenever rainfall soaks the creases the need for good drainage so ground. that wet spots do not develop and Gardens may be watered by flooding, drown your plants. Plant roots need sprinkling, subirrigation, soaker hose, oxygen just like people do, so be sure or by individual tubes run to each plant. the soil is well drained. Recently a plastic drip Irrigator de- Water-soluble fertilizer can be added veloped in Israel and based on a spiral to your irrigation water, but extra care metering design used to control refrig- should be taken not to over-fertilize erant has shown great promise. It is particular plants. Besides, a vacuum economical and splices into a plastic breaker should be installed in the water water pipe. It can be adjusted for any supply line to keep the fertilizer from flow desirable, and a small feeder tube being siphoned into the home water can run to the base of each plant. The supply. supply hose may be placed throughout As your garden develops, you will the garden, either on the surface or need one or more buildings for service underground. The water is turned on and pleasure. The first building or shed and left on for the whole dry season. needed is for storing the garden tools, Adjustments can be made on individ- equipment, boots, pots, and less rugged ual meters to increase or decrease the lawn furniture. This shed should be water flow. small on the outside but large on the Automatic watering will certainly help inside. To enlarge the storage area.

Plywood tea house that also can serve as a tool storage shelter, or a poolside cabana and dressing room.

67 Above, outdoor storage center for garden equipment. Right, portable equipment and plant rack. Below, modular outdoor storage units of plywood, and greenhouse.

68 shelves and tool racks can be built on The following list of suggested the walls. Hooks and hangers can be further reading is only a small sampling located across the ceiling or rafters. of available literature on designing and If you do not have a workshop in constructing various backyard and your house, you may want to install garden structures. electricity and a work bench in your Some projects such as bird houses or garden storage shed. Garden supply feeders may take only a few hours, centers can furnish knocked down tool while a large patio, terrace, or deck sheds that are easy to assemble. How- may take all your leisure hours for a ever, these leave no room for changes summer. in design. There are several build-it- Each project should fit into a master yourself plans available from lumber plan you have decided on for your suppliers. property. The work bench can double as a You will get much enjoyment out repair bench during the winter and a of planning and building your garden potting bench during the spring plant- projects, but the real satisfaction will ing season. A washup area near your come when you see your family and storage shed will aid in keeping your your friends enjoying the finished tools and garden boots clean. It will project. also help keep the laundry area neater as dirty garden tools will be cleaned For further reading: elsewhere. Brimer, J. B. Homeowner's Complete The next building desired in a garden Outdoor Building Book. Popular Science Publ. Co., Harper and Row, New York. would probably be a greenhouse, which 1971. is described in another chapter in this Bruning, W. F. and others. Minimum book. That chapter also covers hotbeds, Maintenance Gardening Handbook. Har- propagation cases, and coldframes. A per and Row, New York. 1970. third building project for the gardener Eisinger, L. (ed.) How to Build Outdoor might be a gazebo, which is a raised Fireplaces and Furniture. ARCO Publ. balcony with four, six, or eight open Co., Inc., New York. 1957. sides for resting and for viewing your Faust, J. L. (ed.) The New York Times Book of Home Landscaping. Alfred A. garden and the scenery. Sometimes the Knopf Publ. 1964. following names have been applied to a Kramer, J. Gardening and Home Land- gazebo—pavilion, tabernacle, or even a scaping Guide. ARCO Publ. Co., Inc., New chummery. York. 1968. Some are covered with a Smith, A. U. Patios, Terraces, Decks, regular roof, while others have lattice and Roof Gardens. Hawthorne Books, Inc., framing that vines can fill in. The New York. 1969. corners and sides can also be vine Sunset Books and Magazines, Lane Mag- covered for added privacy. A gazebo azines and Book Co., Menlo Park, Calif.: Building Barbecues may be closed in on two or more sides Decks for Outdoor Living and used for several garden functions, Fences and Gates such as a bathhouse or a storage area. Furniture You Can Build Some prefer to roof only half the Garden and Patio Building Book shelter, thereby letting the sun in to Garden Pools, Fountains, and Waterfalls give you a private sundeck. Garden Work Centers Insect screen panels and doors can Outdoor Lighting be fitted for freedom from nies and Patio Book mosquitoes. The same panels may be Patio Roofs Walks, Walls, and Patio Floors covered with plastic to make an addi- Plans for plywood garden structures may tional winter storage area or temporary be obtained from the American Plywood spring greenhouse when a heating sys- Association, 1119 A Street, Tacoma, Wash. tem is added. 98401.

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