Interest in backyard getaways continues to bloom, especially as people look forward to their next staycation.
People want to create an outdoor paradise at home, said David Smith, owner of Grass and More Outdoor Services, an exhibitor at the 38th annual Spring Atlanta Home Show. His clients in Georgia and Tennessee are often requesting elements such as paver patios, outdoor kitchens, arbors/pergolas and landscape lighting.
“A lot of people are staying home, but they’re still having people over,” he said.
More than 350 companies in the home remodeling and landscaping industries will showcase products and services at the March 18-20 event. As spring approaches, consider these tips for updating outdoor spaces.
Look ahead to adaptive gardening
As Baby Boomers begin to reach retirement age and as multigenerational living grows, outdoor spaces also can offer aging-in-place features. Some key components of adaptive gardening are raised garden beds and wheelchair-friendly paths.
A slate chip or “trail mix” (slate chips and granite dust) path can offer an easier surface for rolling chairs, said HGTV host Joe Washington, a home show speaker. A more expensive alternative is a concrete path with edging that prevents a wheelchair from tipping over, he said.
Grow year-round interest
A garden oasis can offer color and texture year-round. For beginners, horticulturist and home show speaker Erica Glasener suggests starting with a simple move: Place two containers by the front door or balcony.
“If you have one beautiful container, you’ll get hooked,” she said.
Use the “three bear” arrangement with small annuals and geraniums in the front, medium-sized perennials in the middle and trees and larger shrubs in the back, Washington said. The design creates visual interest because you can see all levels. Experiment with plants but still group related hues together, such as a “hot pocket” of color with bright reds, purples and oranges, said Glasener, also marketing manager of Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground. The 220-acre garden in north Georgia opens for the 2016 season on March 1.
Add interest with hardscaping and lighting
Using boulders and pavers can give landscaping a natural look. One Belgard paver style, Mega-Arbel, gives a patio or driveway the look of flagstone, Smith said. Landscape lighting can illuminate plants and the hard work to maintain the look. Smith uses brands such as FX Luminaire, Vista and Kichler, which have LED collections.
Curb appeal has evolved from using mostly green shrubbery to plants that bloom at different times of the year.
“You’ve got some plants that give you a color, maybe burgundy, yellows, reddish green,” Smith said. “It’s not just a boring green landscape in the front.”
— Emily Jenkins contributed
If You Go
Spring Atlanta Home Show
When: March 18-20 (10 a.m.-6 p.m. March 18; 10 a.m.–7 p.m. March 19; 11 a.m.–5 p.m. March 20)
Where: Cobb Galleria Centre, Two Galleria Parkway, Atlanta 30339
Cost: $10, free for children age 12 and under and adults age 65 and older (with ID)
Info: 770-798-1997, AtlantaHomeShow.com
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