Create a Backyard Oasis

Any outdoor space is better than no outdoor space. Even the kind of deck that we call a “penalty box”—the type you’ve probably seen attached to one side of a house, sometimes on the second floor, with no sun protection and no way to get down to the ground—even that is better than no outdoor space at all. If you’re planning a new deck, though, or if you’ve got a penalty-box deck now and want to improve it, there are some important things to remember.

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  Design

  Design a Better Deck

  Any outdoor space is better than no outdoor space. Even the kind of deck that we call a “penalty box”—the type you’ve probably seen attached to one side of a house, sometimes on the second floor, with no sun protection and no way to get down to the ground—even that is better than no outdoor space at all. If you’re planning a new deck, though, or if you’ve got a penalty-box deck now and want to improve it, there are some important things to remember.

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  Design

  Creating Backyard Serenity

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  Design

  Designing With Green

  This ubiquitous color, when used well, can be just as exciting as vibrant flowers

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  Design

  10 Ground Covers for Shade

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  Design

  How to Stage a Container Plant Display

  Using five pots or fifty, create a tiered arrangement with behind-the-scenes props