Outdoor Decor for Your Deck

Decks come in a variety of sizes and people will decorate them with mix-and-match patio furniture, or they will use their deck as an outdoor living room and decorate with patio furniture and outdoor accessories.

There are many ways to add decor to your decks. Simple modifications can be added to improve the ambiance or you can go all out with an outdoor fireplace. When you add decor to your deck you will see it come alive. This area will be appealing to the eye and welcoming to your family and friends.

Lovely Rattan table but this deck needs some decor

Decorate the seating area on the deck with outdoor pillows. Throw pillows with a color pattern that will complement the cushions on my patio set. These pillows will make the outdoor space more comfortable and eye appealing.

Another way to decorate your deck is to set up a freestanding or tabletop fountain (with or without lights) 

Adding an outdoor throw pillow makes the chair more inviting

The background sound of water cascading down the rocks will help you to relax. When the nights are cool you may want to warm up next to an outdoor fireplace. I found an Outdoor Sonoma Gas Fireplace Surround at Walmart.com and it would look fantastic on a deck with a cozy seating area close by.  

Another way to decorate your deck and add ambiance is to grow aromatic herbs in containers. A container garden on the deck is appealing and fragrant with pretty flowers. Choose a variety of aromatic herbs and also grow herbs that repel mosquitoes and other insects.

You do not have to spend a lot of money to change the look of your deck. Here is a deck that I designed for a customer. I hope that the blue outdoor decorations inspire you to decorate.

Early Spring Garden Activities

Winter is almost over and I find that I am thinking about the spring and summer season. There are many seasons in the year and I like them all, but spring is my favorite time of the year because of the yard and garden activities.

When the spring flowers break ground I know it is time to start getting my planters ready for growing flowers, and vegetables. I generally plant seeds and grow everything in my greenhouse. Then transplant outdoors after the threat of spring frost has passed.

Garden Activities

This week my husband is helping me to remove late fallen leaves from the garden beds. We are using the rakes and find it is a good way to work the soil for upcoming planting. I will also cut back the ornamental grasses, as the days getting warmer and this will encourage new growth.

When the garden cleanup is completed we will start new projects. My husband will make some raised garden beds for my strawberries and I will start working on garden plans. I like to draw out a diagram every year for my annual gardens. 

I am glad my husband is helping me to work in the gardens and do appreciate him making the raised garden beds.  

Here are a few articles that I published about spring gardening and plants that I grow in my gardens.
1. Growing Carrots in a Home Garden
2. Signs of Spring
3. Growing Lettuce from Seed
4.   Window Box Garden Tips

Working in your yard and garden is a great way to relieve stress. It is always fun to take before and after photographs of your garden. Then you will really know what you accomplished.

Retaining wall and privacy fence, garden by the driveway 

 

Cover Ground with Evergreen Vines

For yards that have a woodland setting or area where nothing else will grow, then I would recommend covering the ground with evergreen vines. When the vines grow in the erosion will be controlled, the area will look eye appealing and your husband will no longer have to cut back the brush or mow the lawn. All of your landscape problems will be solved.

My garden photo of spring blooming vinca minor vine

Baltic Ivy grew on the rock wall 

Evergreen vines that are grown as ground cover

Vines are good for large areas where you plant and forget them. When they grow in you can use a grass trimmer to manicure them. This is a good way to keep the vines controlled. Vines are a low-maintenance plant. 

My side yard backs up the woods and I have planted periwinkle a common name for Vinca Minor along my garden path. This vine filled in quickly and I like it because it is evergreen and has a pretty purple flower in the spring.

Another vine that I like is Baltic ivy. Baltic is evergreen and does grow in quickly. Of course, it will also grow up trees and choke out weeds. The periwinkle is less invasive, in fact, I grow daffodils and other spring bulbs among the periwinkle vines.


Here is a video that will tell you more about vinca minor.

Wildflower Garden Ideas

There is a meadow located on the south side of my home and wildflowers and switchgrass grows there. In the spring I will plant red clover and zinnias so that the wildlife will have food and flowers will bloom in late summer. 

I love this wildflower garden but would like to update it with a rock wall and garden gate. I like the idea of creating a space that is secret or private as if it was a sanctuary for animals and people to rest and relax.

Garden Ideas

Growing wildflowers in the garden is not difficult. You would plan the location for wildflowers. Then turn over the soil with a tiller or shovel and plant your wildflower plants or seeds in a garden that provides the plants with proper growing recommendations. The wildflowers that I grow need full to-part sun and well-drained soil. 

Before you buy flower seeds read the growing requirements, then you will know what part of your yard is best for growing wildflowers.

Coneflowers and Daises a photo of my garden

A garden path was created by cutting this area low to the ground with a grass trimmer.

Transplants growing nicely in the garden

Amend the soil if needed I always like to mix compost because it will enrich the soil with nutrients. Plant seeds or seedlings then add a thin layer of straw.

Then create a garden path. One way to create a path is to use your grass trimmer or lawnmower to cut down the grass low to the ground. Then cover this area with landscape weed control fabric. Top this with mulch, or gravel.

I recommend a spring planting of flower seeds because of the rains that come during this season. Seedlings need to be watered and ground evenly moist but not wet. The rain will provide the wildflower plants with ample hydration and a good start at being healthy.

Buy wildflower seeds in bulk, and shop for the flowers that will grow best in your growing zone. 

Learn more about wildflowers and attracting wildlife by reading these articles.

Garden Accessories that Hide Your Spare Key

Garden accessories may add interest to your garden, however, some accessories have another benefit because they conceal your house key. These useful accessories are eye appealing and will save you money because if you become locked out of your house you will not have to call a locksmith.

Hide key here, learn how to bellow

Many people have gone outdoors to get the newspaper in their robe and slippers then find that the door closed behind them and they are locked out. If somebody is home then there is no problem but what if you are home alone?



This morning when I went out to walk the dog I purposely left the side door open because I had no intention of leaving the yard. Yet when I returned I found the door locked. While I was on the other side of the house my husband locked the door and went to work. I was locked out without my phone or a spare key. What a situation I was in, my phone inside, my neighbor with the spare key out of town. I had two choices; break into the house or walk a mile in my pajamas to the next neighbor's house.



Had I bought the discrete garden accessories that had a secret compartment
for my house key, I would be able to get back inside easily.



I shopped online at Wallmart.com and found just what I needed. I like synthetic rocks and other garden accessories for concealing your spare key. But think if I had a waterproof key box I could hide it anywhere outdoors.



How to Hide Your Outdoor Spare Key

Conceal the key in a sprinkler head.  Learn more at step 5 bellow

1. Shop for an outdoor box for your key.  Insert the key in the box.  Make sure it is sealed before hiding the key box in the garden.  Choose a planter then dig a shallow hole, set the key box flush with the soil, and cover it with mulch.
   
2. Hide the key box in the patio furniture. Unzip a seat cushion or pillow and put the key box inside.
   
3. Buy landscape rocks that are made to conceal keys. Hide the key underneath the rock in the special compartment. Then set rock around flower or other plant containers. Create a rock display on your porch, patio, or garden.
   
4. Use gorilla brand tape to adhere the key box to the backside or bottom of the patio furniture. Make sure this furniture is flush with the wall.
   
5. Hide your key in a sprinkler head, Trademark Global makes this discrete product for your spare key and you can shop for it at Walmart.com
   

Hide a spare key in planters

Hope these ideas are helpful to you. My husband says the best way to not get locked out is to check the door before going outdoors. But you know as well as I do accidents do happen.