Container planting on decks can make your backyard deck feel homey. The container plants will break up the large expanse of wooden or concrete deck area or create focal points where you desire. No backyard deck should be without some container plantings.

Containers

One of the great things about container planting on decks is that you can think outside the box about what type of containers you might use. Of course, you can use the traditional terra cotta pots and hanging plastic or wire baskets, but you can also get really creative. Old tin buckets make great containers for small deck plants. What about that old pair of colorful rubber rain boots you no longer wear? Place a few holes in the soles and fill with soil and you have a really unique container for your deck that your friends are certain to notice and comment on. Old children's wagons and wheelbarrows also make unique plant containers. Mix and match containers to add color, texture, and interest to your container planting on your deck.

One quite popular method for container planting on decks is to use the same material as the deck and build a large container or several smaller ones. You can place pots surrounded in river stone in the large planter or fill the planter with soil and plant directly into it. Use this method if you want a streamlined look or have a small deck which needs to appear as large as possible.

Look online and in your local home improvement center or nursery for unique containers. There are upside down planters, strawberry pots which allow plants in the many hole in the pot sides, and a wide range of other different and unusual plant containers you can obtain for your backyard deck plants.

Choose Plants Carefully

Container plantings for decks will be the most fun for you if you select the right plants for your deck. You may want to select vines and allow them to grow up strings suspended from the deck floor to the deck awning to provide privacy. You might want plants to add interest and choose plants which are colorful and have interesting textures. You may want to grow herbs in one or more of your containers or even tomatoes or other edible items.

Consider the amount of sun and shade which your deck offers. Also take into account the amount of exposure to rain the plants will experience. Select plants which are easy to grow in your climate which also thrive on the sun and natural rainfall exposure in your locale.

Unless you especially enjoy spending time caring for plants, you will want to select container plantings for your deck which are low maintenance. This increases your ability to enjoy lounging on your deck with your container plants rather than working on plant care.

Creating the perfect lawn allows you to truly enjoy your landscape. You'll love sitting back, perhaps under a large shade tree, viewing the lush, green lawn you have developed. But, unless you are aware of these seven must-know lawn care tips, creating that perfect lawn can be difficult or even impossible. At the very least, it will require a great deal more work that necessary.

Follow these seven must-know lawn care tips and you will be able to create that perfect lawn you desire:

1.      Choose the right grass for your lawn:  The right grass for a lawn in one climate will not be the perfect grass for another climate. It is crucial that the grass you select for creating your perfect lawn is climate-compatible and be able to withstand the common pests in your particular area. The amount of sun and shade your lawn will be exposed to will also make a difference. The soil type on your property also impacts the choice you should make. There are hundreds of grass species available and the best way to choose the right species to make your lawn lush and green is to visit your county co-operative agent or one of  the most respected nurseries in your area to learn the species from which you can choose which will thrive in your situation. Take a soil sample with you and a photo of your property to help the co-op agent or plant expert offer the best possible advice. Be sure to tell the person who advises you that you would like the grass that is most pest resistant, weed and disease resistant, and also low-maintenance. Unless you have a bare lawn, you will either purchase grass seed to seed the lawn or use plugs to create your perfect lawn. It is rather costly to remove all the existing grass and lay sod. However, if you wish to invest the money, you certain can go completely sod the lawn for the fastest results.

2.      Remove weeds and control pests before seeding or plugging your lawn: Even if you seed or plug your lawn with the very best grass for your area, it won't do a great deal of good unless you remove the weeds and control existing pests. You want to start with a good canvas on which your beautiful green lawn can grow. Avoid using weed killers which get into the soil and harm the environment. Instead, either dig up the weeds and their root systems or use natural remedies. All crabgrass and dandelions must be removed. Dallisgrass, nimblewill, quackgrass, tall fescule, and nut grass should be removed. If you live in the Deep South, sand spurs must be removed. If your soil has fungi, use a natural remedy such as a garlic or onion spray. Grubs and other pests can be controlled using natural alternatives as well (see Superior Alternatives to Garden Pesticides for information on these natural alternatives). Control grubs with helpful nematodes.

3.      Aerate and amend soil: Before planting, you want to aerate and amend the soil. Working compost mixed with a small amount of sand for drainage into the soil to a depth of about one inch will provide both aeration and extra nutrients for your grass.

4.      Sharpen lawnmower blades: At the beginning of each seasons and, if you have a really large lawn, at least once during growing season, have your lawnmower blades professionally sharpened. This prevents chewing the grass blades and causing damage. Damaged grass blades invite pests and disease and give the lawn a ragged appearance.

5.      Mow at the right times and to correct height: During growing season, mowing once per week may be just right, but if your grass is really thriving, you may need to mow ever five days. Do not allow the grass to grow too tall before moving. Also, set your lawnmower blade on medium or high setting. Never use the lowest setting on the mower blade because, while you may think it will postpone the need to mow again soon, it will damage your grass and set your perfect lawn up for disease, weeds and pests.

6.      Water at the right times and in the right amounts: The average lawn requires one inch of rain per week. Buy a rain gauge so you can keep up with the natural rainfall. In the Southwestern U.S., however, two inches of water per week are the average requirement due to the extremely low humidity. During weeks when your area enjoys sufficient rainfall, do not provide any supplemental water. When your area does not get enough natural rainfall, you will need to provide supplemental water. Water thoroughly so that the water seeks down to the lowest roots and, if possible, water in the early morning.

7.      Fertilize properly: In the North, fertilize in September and again in early June. In the South, apply fertilizer twice in the fall, one month apart and three times in the very early spring, again one month apart. Use natural fertilizers such as compost, or sterilized manure. The reason for sterilized manure is to prevent introducing weed seeds into the lawn. Bone meal and soybean meal are also good natural fertilizers. If you use commercial non-organic products, follow label instructions carefully.

As spring's bright, warm days begin, you will want to enjoy the pleasure of having flower beds blooming in your landscape. As soon as the freezing weather nears its end, it is time to begin your preparation, planning, and once the last freeze has passed, it's time to begin establishing your flower beds. These tips will help you make the most of your beds of flowering plants.

Winter Cleanup

Even well before the last frost, you can start preparations for spring flower beds. Rake away dead leaves and winter debris to allow light and air to reach the soil. At the time of the last freeze, remove the old, worn out mulch from your existing flower beds. If you see that the cycles of freezing and thawing of winter have pushing some of your perennials partially out of the soil, replant them immediately to prevent exposing any roots to air. Remove any dead material remaining from last season's growth from perennials and cut back or groom ornamental grasses. If you have roses in your flower beds, remove their winter protection after the final freeze and prune the rose bushes prior to their starting to develop new leaves. Do wait for the soil to become dried out from the soaking experienced from the cycles of melting ice and snow. Once you can pick up clumps of soil and see them fall easily apart rather that stick together, you'll know it is time to begin to dig new flower beds and add compost to your existing beds for flowering plants.

Spring Weed Control

Weeds begin showing their evil little heads quite early in the springtime. Get a jump on weed control by removing them as they appear, digging up their root systems to ensure they do not spring back up again. Since you will also be encouraging a growth of lush grass for your lawn, create an edge for your flower beds to prevent grass encroaching into your plantings. Use a spade to create an trench along the edges of your flower beds, or for the lowest possible maintenance, install permanent edging such as attractive scalloped garden edging blocks along the flower bed borders.

Get the Soil Ready For Growing:

It takes a little work and perhaps a little investment to correctly prepare your flower bed soil but you will get a big payoff in terms of a beautiful, lush garden later. Work the soil to remove any rocks or hidden debris to about one foot in depth, working around any plants existing which you wish to remain in the beds. Compost, leaf mold, and peat moss should be added and worked into the soil as well. If you create your own compost, you can save money rather than buying composted matter. Generally speaking, you want to add about 5 pounds of these rich materials per 100 square feet of flower bed. Estimating, however, is a fine method of determining the amount to add. Distribute the enriching matter about 4 inches deep over your loosened soil and work it into the soil. If you soil has really poor drainage, incorporate some sand or grit in the mixture to create better drainage. If you are creating new flower beds and have a power garden tiller, you can make short work of soil preparation. If you do not have a tiller or if you are working around existing plants, you will need to work the addendums into the soil by hand.

Define Perimeters of New Flower Beds

If you are creating a brand new flower bed, choose an interesting shape such as an oval or kidney shape if it is in an area where this is practical. Flower beds, unless along the edge of the house or driveway are boring when they are simple squares or rectangles. To lay out an interesting flower bed shape, determine the general shape you desire and then lay your garden hose on the ground in this shape. Use an edging tool or sharp spade to cut into the soil along the outline, being careful not to damage the hose. Remove glass and sod with a garden fork and add to your compost pile. Create a clean edge and consider installing permanent edging.

Plan Your Flower Plantings:

Create a drawing of your flower beds and use the sketch for planning flowering plant placement. Consider spacing and mature plant sizes. For flower beds which are seen only from the front, plant the plants which will be tallest at maturity in the back, then medium height plants in the middle area and the shortest plants in front. If the flower bed is viewed from all sides, the tallest plants must go in the center, surrounded by mid-sized plants with the smallest plants along the perimeter.

Distribute early bloomers along with late bloomers throughout the flower bed so that you won't have one group in bloom while the rest of the flower bed has no colorful blooms at any given time. Choose a range of colors, shapes, and foliage to enjoy throughout the growing season.

Plant Your Flower Beds:

Using your design sketch as a guide, position plants where you want, making sure you allow room for root growth. If using plants in flats, dig a hole big enough to spread the roots of each plant and add a teaspoon of bone meal to each hold. Position the plant to the proper depth and back-fill the hole, pressing soil firmly to prevent air pockets. Then water thoroughly and set the water soak in.

Mulch Your Flower Beds:

While mulch is not mandatory, it is very helpful in weed control and adds a finish look to your soil. It also helps retain moisture and highlight the colorful flowers. Choose the mulch which you like best and spread a thick layer over the exposed soil in your flower beds.