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 patio, 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 gazebo 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 greenhouse 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 Patios, 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.