Garden Sheds & Landscaping
- Depending on the construction materials of your garden shed, you might be able to refresh its look and utility both inside and out. Wood sheds are easy to paint, and you might be able to paint other sheds, too; at the very least, clean them up. If your shed has windows, add shutters and window boxes. By painting the shed a color that complements or blends with house, the shed becomes a deliberate feature of the garden.
- When you create a path from the shed that leads to other areas of the garden, the shed becomes a more integral part of the landscape. The choice of materials for a path depends largely on the overall scheme you desire, the available materials and budget. One simple method is to make a path with stepping stones. Another is to lay cloth that inhibits weed growth, line the path edges with stones or other edging, and fill in with pea gravel or redwood chips. Depending on the style of the garden, the path can be curved and meandering or more formal with squared corners. The path can lead to groupings of plantings, circle around a large tree or wander toward a patio.
- Consider the shed size when planting. In some instances, planting too close to the shed can draw unwanted attention to it. Having a raised bed or sloping mound in the vicinity of the shed and planting near but not adjacent to the shed may help make the shed look purposeful without making it the center of attention. Trees and shrubs on a mound should be neutral in color, easy to maintain and provide a visual focal point that enhances rather than emphasizes the presence of the shed. Smaller plants nearby can add bright spots of color.
- The use of the shed helps determine some finishing touches. If the shed houses lawn and garden equipment and has a wide door, you can create an entryway with more stepping stones that facilitates removal and return of mower and wheelbarrow even when surrounding ground is muddy. A bench outside the shed can provide a place to change into garden shoes.