It's no secret that more and more of us are spending time in our own backyards. With the price of gasoline and travel, money is getting tighter and tighter. Happily, homeowners are finding out that with a bit of sweat equity, planning and imagination, they can make their backyards places that they enjoy spending time in. You may also find that you actually enjoy spending more time around the home if you update your landscaping.

It's also true that with the price of gasoline and travel going up, that more and more families are spending time at home. The backyard is the place where we can relax and where we can gather with family and friends to enjoy socializing. Our patios and decks have actually become extensions of our homes. We cook outside, play outside and entertain family and friends outside. Today, with the help of home stores like Home Depot and Lowe's it's easier than ever to find whatever it is you need to make your backyard your oasis.

Landscaping has come into it's own. Patios and decks are more popular than ever and are treated like extra rooms. Many homeowners who have decks or patios find that they are just too hot to use with the sun blasting on them all day. The addition of a patio cover or deck awning can make these areas more usable. A simply built patio cover such as a pergola can give you needed shade during the heat of the day, and an awning placed above a patio or deck not only keeps the heat off but also protects from rain. Patio and deck awnings which are made from Sunbrella are guaranteed not to fade and are also stain proof. Durasol, Sunsetter and Sunair are a few of the manufacturers of awnings and they carry a wide selection of fabrics. Retractable patio awnings can be manual or motorized which open and retract with a simple push of a button.

Maybe you've fallen out of love with your patio furniture and it's time to buy a new set. Cast aluminum patio furniture is very popular. Practically care free cast aluminum gives the look of wrought iron. All it needs is an application of car wax once a year. Choose from any number of fashionable and affordable patio furniture sets from manufacturers like Hanamint, Mallin and Tropitone. Update your old patio furniture with replacement patio furniture cushions. A new set of cushions will breath new life into your patio furniture.

Gas grill manufacturers such as Ducane, Fiesta, Broilmaster, Weber, Vermont Castings, and Char-Broil are adding more and more gourmet features to their grills. You can purchase many of these top of the line stainless steel gas grills with side burners and a built in rotisserie and refrigerators. Outdoor kitchens are big business today. They can be as simple as a grill, under cabinet refrigerator and one set of cabinets to elaborate kitchens that have dual grills, full size refrigerators, dishwashers and bar area. Since a lot of outdoor kitchens end up being relatively close to the house you can use the same type of countertop, flooring or appliances to bring the areas together.

Homeowners are also spending more time doing their own lawn care. Again, it's easy to do and today's manufacturers such as Scott's, Green Light, Schultz and Espoma have a wide range of products that area easy to use. Some people prefer the thought or organic lawn care. This can be done using very little chemical, perhaps only organic fertilizer and some simple lawn care tips. Visit your local garden center and get some helpful hints from the experts about lawn care. Depending on the amount of landscaping you want to do you may want to have a professional visit your home to give you hints and ideas before you start your project.

When you're thinking about landscaping your yard, consider different types of gardens. Container gardening is very good to use around decks and patio areas. It's always wonderful to see a colorful healthy plant spilling over a flower pot. Use your imagination. You can use any types of containers you like and not only can you grow flowers, but you can also grow vegetables. Raised bed and square foot gardening are also ways to garden organically and these garden beds also are attractive and can also be incorporated into your backyard landscaping with ease.

Don't forget that you'll need a place to store all of the equipment you're using for lawn and garden care, and a place to store your patio furniture in the winter weather. It's a fact that most homeowners have so much stuff in their garages they have no room for the car. Lawn mowers, rakes, shovels, hoses and bags of dirt, fertilizer and grass seen, not to mention bicycles and sporting equipment and usually found in most urban garages. It's easy to take the space back for the family car by putting up a storage shed in the back yard. Garden sheds come in a wide variety of styles, sizes and colors. You can choose from metal, wood or care free vinyl finishes.

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About The Author:  Author: Hana Lee wants you to enjoy your backyard. To learn about frontyard and backyard landscaping ideas and metal garden sheds, outdoor storage sheds visit her site.

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