Summer Livin’

WHETHER IT’S A 3X3 PATIO OR A 3-ACRE BACKYARD, TURN YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE INTO AN OASIS WITH THIS ADVICE FROM ROCHESTER EXPERTS.

by Jen Koski

Maybe it’s because our air is a little bit fresher here. Or maybe it’s because we only get to enjoy the warm temps for half the year. Whatever the reason, in Minnesota we know how to take advantage of the great outdoors. And what better place to take advantage than in our own backyards?

Here’s how local landscaping experts recommend turning your outdoor space into an outdoor living space.

Small Spaces

You don’t need a large space to live it up this summer. Try these ideas for big impact in a small footprint:

Set up for success. Brandon Delaney from DeCook Landscaping says that “small patio spaces can be just as inviting as larger scaled patios.” Here’s what he recommends: Place “planter boxes, flowerpots, or a bubbler rock on the edges of the patio to help utilize space but limit crowding.” When it comes to the patio itself? Delaney says that “concrete or pavers in a simple pattern work best for smaller areas.”

Think “adaptable.” Michael Blazing, landscape architect at Weller Brothers Landscaping, says small spaces can serve multiple purposes when you plan ahead. One example? “I’ll recommend a moveable fire table instead of a built-in fire pit,” says Blazing. “If you’re having friends over for a grill out, you can move that fire pit out of the way temporarily and have room for your table. Then, you can collapse the table and bring the fire pit out in the evening.”

Let there be light. Add some strategically placed stake lights. (No outlet nearby? No worries. These garden lights are often solar powered.) Add a string of lights overhead to create a comfy, cozy feel.

Plant for privacy. “If your neighbors are close, a privacy fence made of wood or of tall and narrow plant material is a must,” says Delaney. “Evergreens provide a softer year-round privacy that’s a little more inviting than a wood fence.”

Go vertical. Consider adding height to maximize a small space. “In a small backyard, like in the Kutzky Park neighborhood, I’ll start looking at the vertical space,” says Blazing. “Is there a fence or an arbor to provide visual interest, screening and definition of space—even in the winter? This could be plants or vines, ornamental grasses, taller flowers, and a nice backdrop for taller plants to grow in front of.” When choosing plants for these spaces, Blazing likes different types of clematis (“they bloom all summer”), trumpet and honeysuckle vines, and ornamental grasses that grow more vertically.

Create calm. You don’t need a big space to create a space to unwind and relax. Combine a comfortable chair with a place to set your morning coffee, afternoon lemonade or a good book. Add a throw blanket for evenings. Then breathe.

Make your plants do double duty. Adding green (and red and yellow) to your view through flower-filled planters breathes life into your space. Even better? Fill those planters with edible plants, like strawberries, cherry tomatoes, and herbs.

Hang loose. String a hammock or hang a swinging chair for a space-saving furniture option that screams summer.