How to Landscape Your Patio to Create a Comfortable Getaway

If you’re like most people, you love spending time on your patio during the summer. Get tips on how to landscape your patio to create a comfortable getaway in this Better Homes and Gardens video:

Incorporate container gardens to soften the edges of your patio. Container gardens allow you to show off your favorite plants and add color to outdoor spaces. Create groupings with different sized containers to provide more visual impact.

Provide privacy by planting trees or large shrubs around the perimeter. Alternatively, build a trellis or lattice screen for vines. Leafy plants around the patio edges help block the view and muffle neighborhood sounds.

Add a water feature. A simple reflecting pool lined in black creates a mirrored effect and offers a sense of serenity. Or use a tabletop fountain or bubbler; the moving water offers another layer of sound and is sure to attract birds and butterflies.

Plant around the edges so your patio doesn’t feel plopped in the middle of your landscape. Even a simple border of colorful flowers, fragrant herbs or dwarf shrubs helps transition your patio space into the rest of your yard, giving it a cohesive landscape feel.

Add an overhead element to make your patio feel cozy and offer shade on hot summer days. A small tree like a weeping crabapple is one ideal solution as it creates shade and cools the surrounding air as the plant breathes. Or build a pergola structure which makes shades and offers the feel of a ceiling in your personal outdoor room.