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Walled in

Use it as a backdrop. Although most enclosed backyards have fencing rather than walls, both walls and fencing don’t have to be dead ends. Use them as backdrops for your outdoor living space. Build an adjacent patio or barbecue pit against the wall. Cover a wall or fence with a running vine such as ivy and build a water feature in front of it to create a quiet sitting area.

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June Week 1 View More Summer Tips


A 'blah' backyard

Go sleek and minimal. If you backyard is a flat, empty rectangle, don’t worry about filling it up with expensive trees and high maintenance plants. Use geometry and divide it into squares or zones. Vamp up a blah backyard by turning it into a concrete or brick courtyard complete with a sleek sitting area, a play zone, and a backyard garden. You don’t have to forego all plant life, just make sure whatever you choose has clean lines and requires little maintenance. Install manageable areas of grass or groundcovers and low maintenance perennial flowers and shrubs for maximum effect with minimal output.

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