D.I.G. LANDSCAPES

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Refresh Your Charleston Backyard with a Patio or Terrace

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If you love spending time in your backyard but don’t relish the thought of mowing and maintaining a large green space, a patio or terrace is an excellent alternative.

Thanks to Charleston’s idyllic spring and fall plus our mild winters, outdoor spaces are well used. With the right outdoor setup, it’s not tough to bring indoor activities like cooking, dining, entertaining and even watching the Saturday college football games to your own backyard.

Consider creating a patio that takes up as much or as little of your backyard as you prefer. Once you decide on the size, the next decision is the style of stone pavers. Do you want small or large? A selection that looks like dark slate or a lighter stone to brighten the space? Work with you landscape designer on a choice that complements the rest of your backyard. For example, if your backyard is more tropical with a swimming pool and palmetto trees, you might want a lighter, beach feel for your patio.

Next, consider the overall purpose for your space. Your patio can function as an outdoor dining room with a large table and plenty of seating or you might prefer a lounge space with comfortable chairs, a fire pit and a large television.

Once you’ve settled on the basic design and use, don’t forget the plants. You can transform your patio into a beautiful space or a secret garden with a selection of potted plants in varying sizes. If you’re using your patio as an outdoor kitchen, plant a few herbs or a small vegetable garden for added functionality.
Maximize your outdoor space by connecting your deck to your patio with pavers or stepping stones. Tip: if you don’t want to worry about grass and weeds between stones, place them close together. For a more natural look, space the stones in a zigzag and let the grass grow in between.

Also consider a terrace, an open area of your backyard that may or may not be paved. Terracing can replicate other shapes in the landscape to create a strong architectural element as well as a functional one. You can add potted plants in the terrace or leave a portion of it open for recreation. You might also pave the space with interesting pavers in varying colors to add creativity and color to your garden.

Putting in a patio or terrace is an excellent way to revive a tired backyard, spice up your green space and enhance the functionality of an outdoor living area. Working with your Charleston landscape designer, you can formulate a plan that fits your budget, your entertainment interests as well as works within any space confines you might have. Then your last step will simply be to sit back and enjoy.