Outdoor Living: Make the Most of Your Backyard This Fall
There was a time when a backyard was simply a place for a lawn, a few shrubs and perhaps a patio or barbecue. Today, outdoor spaces have become much more than that. For many homeowners, the backyard has become an extension of the home—a place to relax, entertain, cook, garden and enjoy time with family and friends.
And while summer may be winding down here in the Treasure Valley, fall can be one of the most enjoyable seasons for outdoor living.
The cooler temperatures, changing foliage and crisp evenings create an opportunity to enjoy your outdoor space in an entirely different way.
Think of Your Backyard as an Outdoor Room
One of the best ways to approach outdoor living is to think of your backyard as another room of your home.
A comfortable seating area can serve as an outdoor living room. A patio table becomes an outdoor dining room. A grill or griddle creates an outdoor kitchen. Plants, containers and garden décor provide the finishing touches that make the space feel inviting.
The key is to create an area that encourages you to spend time outdoors rather than simply looking at the backyard through a window.
Outdoor Cooking Brings People Together
Outdoor cooking has become an important part of the outdoor-living experience.
Our recent article about the Blackstone 28" XL Griddle is a perfect example. A good outdoor cooking area isn't just about preparing a meal—it can become the center of an evening with family and friends.
Instead of spending the evening inside preparing dinner, the cook can be part of the gathering. Friends can visit, children can play nearby, and everyone can enjoy the meal together as it is prepared.
Whether your outdoor cooking setup includes a traditional grill, a griddle, a smoker or a complete outdoor kitchen, it can become one of the most-used features of your backyard.
Don't Forget the Plants
Plants are what truly make an outdoor living space feel connected to the landscape.
Trees and shrubs can provide shade, privacy and structure, while perennials and annuals add seasonal color. Containers can bring flowers and foliage closer to seating areas, patios and outdoor kitchens.
Fall is also an excellent time to think about the landscape for next year.
Here in the Treasure Valley, fall planting gives trees and shrubs an opportunity to establish their root systems while soil temperatures remain relatively warm and air temperatures begin to cool. With proper planting and watering, many landscape plants can get a head start before winter arrives.
And don't overlook fall color. Trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses and seasonal plants can add tremendous interest to an outdoor living area even after summer flowers begin to fade.
Outdoor Lighting Extends the Evening
As the days become shorter, lighting becomes an important part of outdoor living.
A few strategically placed lights can illuminate pathways, highlight trees and garden beds, and make patios and seating areas more comfortable after sunset.
String lights, landscape lighting, lanterns and other decorative lighting can also create a warm atmosphere without overwhelming the natural beauty of the landscape.
Good lighting doesn't have to make your backyard look like a stadium. Sometimes subtle lighting is all it takes to make an outdoor space inviting after dark.
Add Personality With Garden Décor
Outdoor living spaces should reflect the personality of the people who use them.
Garden statuary, wind chimes, decorative pieces, containers and other outdoor accents can turn an ordinary patio or garden area into something uniquely yours.
The best outdoor spaces usually aren't created by purchasing everything at once. Instead, they evolve over time as homeowners discover pieces they love and find the right places for them in the landscape.
Fall Is a Great Time to Improve Your Outdoor Space
One of the advantages of living in the Treasure Valley is that we have four distinct seasons, and each one offers something different.
Fall provides an opportunity to enjoy the landscape without the intense heat of summer. It is also an excellent time to evaluate what worked during the growing season and what you'd like to change next year.
Perhaps you need more shade. Maybe a privacy screen would make the patio more comfortable. You might want additional trees for fall color, more perennial beds, or a better place for outdoor cooking.
These improvements don't have to happen all at once.
Start with one area and build from there.
Creating an Outdoor Space You'll Actually Use
The most successful outdoor living spaces aren't necessarily the largest or most expensive. They're the ones that are comfortable, functional and designed around the way a family actually lives.
A comfortable chair beneath a tree, a table where friends can gather, a few containers filled with seasonal color, some attractive lighting and a place to cook can be enough to transform an ordinary backyard into a place where people want to spend time.
Outdoor living isn't really about creating a perfect backyard. It's about creating a backyard you'll enjoy using.
As we move into fall here in the Treasure Valley, take a look at your outdoor space. Think about what you enjoy most about it—and what might make you want to spend even more time there.
Sometimes, the best room in the house is the one just outside the back door. And if you need help designing your backyard living space, stop by our garden center located at 4291 S. Cloverdale Rd. in Boise and ask for Charlie, an Idaho Certified Nurseryman who has worked in the nursery industry for over 50 years right here in the Treasure Valley.
Your local source for home, garden and outdoor living in the Treasure Valley.
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