Plants Can Add To A Deck

Making an ordinary deck transform into a home's exterior focal point takes a little imagination, but money doesn't have to be a huge issue in the proposition. With a little planning, some creative arrangement and a tiny bit of elbow grease even a simple deck can be turned into a spectacular outdoor feature.

One of the best ways to turn a deck into a showpiece is to add color, and lots of it. This doesn't have to mean with paints, either. Plants – flowers, shrubs, small trees – can all add color to a deck while enhancing its natural wood beauty. Plus, by incorporating a planting scheme to a deck, you're helping it blend into the outdoor environment.

Plants added to a deck can follow a number of patterns. Around the deck, for example, flowerbeds or shrub lines can be created. Before shopping for plants to create beds around a deck, consider the space available, the appearance you're shooting for and the kinds of plants that work well in your environment. If you're not a natural green thumb, also consider native plants that do well with very little maintenance.

Create beds around the deck with just enough spacing to keep the deck free from natural debris. Plants and soil stuck in a deck can create rot, which is your enemy in ensuring your deck stays beautiful for years to come. A slight buffer zone will help with this. Perhaps even a small lattice board between your deck and the plantings will help ensure overgrowth doesn't grow into the deck.

Follow the deck's natural lines with the garden beds and have fun choosing among those plants you can manage to grow well in your location. The more color, the better, unless specific hues fit your design scheme.

Should incorporating plantings onto the deck itself appeal, building planters for the deck is the way to go. This helps keep debris off the deck and gives you a nice space to grow annuals and even small shrubs without a huge concern about the deck's preservation.

Different planters that are filled with annuals and perennials help make a deck blend nicely into its natural surrounding. For shrubs and bushes, planters should be at least 18 inches deep. Go for a shallower planter for flowers. If the planters are wood, make sure to line them with waterproofing material to help them last longer. Drainage, too, should be provided, but make sure the overflow goes off the deck or gets cleaned regularly.

Have fun and remember, a little bit of foliage can go a long way toward making a deck a warm and inviting place to spend time.

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