A tranquil backyard oasis

More than somewhere to dry laundry and store mops and buckets, with a bit of imagination a backyard can be transformed into a tranquil, green oasis – Deana Luchia

There are yards and there are yards. While writers of real estate brochures are prone to labelling any roofless space as a yard, a small, dark and dank, drain-filled shaft does not offer any scope for cultivating plants or for dining al fresco.

It can never be anything other than what it is. A proper yard however, is a huge asset. At the very least, a yard provides you with somewhere to sit outside, a spot of fresh air. At its best, it can be an extra room, a place where the whole family eats, plays, relaxes, or has parties – everyone’s favourite ‘room’.

That said, there are plenty of home owners with good-sized, light-filled yards, who do nothing with them – yards that are home to mops and buckets, a place to dry the laundry, the final resting place of old bikes and skateboards.

Plants are key to a yard’s transformation (once it’s been cleared and retractable clothes lines have replaced bulky driers). Forget about anything delicate, the best yard plants are those that remain lush and green throughout the year, perennials that are happy to sit in pots and don’t need much care.

Having a permanently green ‘wall’ of plants instantly lifts the look of a yard; you can add smaller pots of brightly coloured (shortlived) flowers in summer. Polygolas are a good choice, remaining green all year round and having small purpleflowers for many months.

Umbrella plants are also easy, as are hibiscus (much sturdier than they appear with their large, delicate-looking flowers), chicas and succulents. Mix things up with different shades of green, different shaped leaves and plant heights.

Pots don’t have to be ceramic; plastic pots work well when they are uniform in size, shape and colour. Add a couple of trellises too, selecting plants that are fragrant such as jasmine or magnolia or with huge flowers such as the yellow trumpet flower. You can also have a few hanging plants dotted around. These can house ivy, succulents or ferns (tricky to grow but well worth the effort).

Creating a green yard can be expensive, but start with a few plants and then take cuttings, from your own yard (umbrella plants and yellow trumpet flowers grow very swiftly from cuttings) or from friends. Simply cut off just below a stem joint, keep in water for a week or so until roots have formed and then pot.

Garden furniture is an essential part of your yard’s makeover. Keep things simple, weather resistant and small. You don’t want to give all your outdoor space over to a table and chairs for eight. A small circular or square table and chairs for four is more than enough.

While weather-resistant furniture is necessary, it’s not always that attractive, so add bright cushions and tablecloths to liven things up. Shade in summer is vital if you want to continue using your yard when the temperatures soar, so make it part of your yard’s charm – invest in large colourful umbrellas that can be folded away in winter, or attach attractive pull-out awnings – great in summer, almost invisible in winter.

Once you have a green yard, equipped with a table and chairs, it’s time for the fun part – accessories. Properly positioned lights can have a huge impact on whether or not you use your yard at night.

You can also use lanterns to great effect, be they oversized storm lanterns, Moroccan-style lanterns with coloured glass and tassels, or the tiny metallic and glass ones that take tea lights.

The use of numerous small lanterns dotted around the yard and hanging from trellises makes for an attractive, magical, look. If you use scented candles and tea lights, it’s even more inviting.

You can go a step further and add more permanent accessories such as water features (both soothing and striking to look at) and decorative mirrors. While having mirrors in the yard sounds like it shouldn’t work, they can look great, nicely reflecting the greenery and the candlelight.

Check on the suitability of frames for outdoors and try several small mismatched mirrors together.

Mosaic features are another way of creating a unique yard (make your own from pieces of coloured tiles and cement) as are eclectic groupings of wind chimes or small bells, hanging at different lengths.

Having a yard also means you can grow your own herbs. While basil and mint are largely summer herbs, rosemary thrives throughout the year and makes for an attractive green plant.

When it comes to making the most of your yard, make it reflective of your own tastes.