Backyard Living in Style

BY SHEILA HELMBERGER

We have learned a lot about ourselves and our homes this past year.

The extra time spent at our own addresses has given us a chance to take a good look at the curb appeal of our front yards and take a closer look at the ways we use our backyards. They are quickly becoming some of our favorite places.

Our backyards are so much more than just a place to run a lawnmower and exercise the family dog. They are a pleasant place to unwind at the end of a long day and the addition of a designated entertaining area like a tiki bar or an outdoor kitchen surrounded by beautiful blooms, lush greenery and other landscape designs can make the backyard our own personal happy place. Eye-pleasing advancements have been made in every area. From firepits to gardening, even the way we cook outdoors has changed.

This is the perfect year to roll up your sleeves and make some sweet changes.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NOR-SON CUSTOM BUILDERS

“No project is too big or too small,” says Greta Norlander, general manager of Backyard Reflections in Nisswa. “Our crews love the challenge of a tough site. Small enhancements to an existing landscape can improve a yard instantly. We say that we like to connect people with the outdoors, but in this area, our customers are already connected with the outdoors, they just need a well-designed space to enjoy it.”

Any patio layout looks great when it is surrounded by low-maintenance beds and plantings. “We are seeing a shift away from the ‘traditional’ and ‘rustic’ landscaping to a more contemporary, sleek look. Less brown, more greys and clean lines. We tailor every design to the architecture of the house and the style of the homeowners,” said Norlander.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NOR-SON CUSTOM BUILDERS

No plant is 100% deer proof, but some grasses, daylilies, marigolds, black-eyed Susans and hydrangeas are worth a try and a few examples that match our state’s growing season and soil types.

We say that we like to connect people with the outdoors, but in this area, our customers are already connected with the outdoors, they just need a well-designed space to enjoy it.

- Greta Norlander

General manager, Backyard Reflections in Nisswa

“Last year the staff at Landsburg Landscape and Nursery saw a heightened interest in backyard home gardens,” said retail sales manager Shelly Boser. Raised beds and container gardens are a popular trend and they’re a perfect fit for the new gardener. Both are easy to manage, and you can create the right soil for your crops. “The investment of good soil to start a raised bed is essential,” advises Boser. “You’re going to spend some money to put in some good black dirt but it’s going to be probably 95% weed-free. You’ll have to do more fertilizing too, but it’s going to be there for years.” Her advice is to focus on five crops to master the first year and then move on from there.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NOR-SON CUSTOM BUILDERS

Splashes of color in backyard landscaping can be a treat and come in the way of hardy plants that are dependable and fit for the climate. These include hydrangeas, daylilies and black-eyed Susans as well as others. Perennials return each year and planting things like rhubarb, berries, asparagus and chives are all pleasant to look at and prove useful too. An herb garden can be started from a kit or seeds and grown on a windowsill or a patio. They provide seasonings to embellish favorite dishes when cooking.

Besides landscaping and gardening there are endless options to invest in your own backyard space.

Fire Pits

There’s something satisfying about sitting around a crackling fire on a cool Minnesota evening. From the most basic style, easy to assemble and construct, to something much more elaborate, it will draw a small crowd.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ABRA LANDSCAPING

Fireplace kits that come with everything you need are sold by WW Thompson Concrete Products in Brainerd. Dave Anderson says they have been more popular than ever the past handful of years.

Stone, brick and concrete block all offer the chance to create your own original design to go with the colors and textures of the rest of the yard. A fantastic fire pit doesn’t have to cost a lot of money or take a lot of work. From a rustic looking model made from crushed rock or flagstone to something more formal using a paver, the result will be pleasing. The most elaborate designs include a chimney and seating.

Outdoor Kitchens

Besides the grill, whether it be charcoal or propane, the pizza oven was the first appliance to make its way onto our patios.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BARATTO BROTHERS

Today homeowners have kicked it up a notch by building designs to house the grill as well as other appliances now, including microwaves and refrigerators which allow homeowners to not only serve a meal outside but cook it from beginning to end, too.

More elaborate outdoor kitchens will have cabinets to hold pans, cooking utensils and other items as well as counter space for preparing and serving the fare.

Sculpture by Design in Pine River offers concrete countertops for outdoor bars and kitchens. Owner Brenda Thibodo says the concrete tops handle a lot of wear and tear and the sealers used in the finished product are remarkable. They are highly scratch resistant, stain resistant and heat resistant. “When we seal it, it never has to be sealed again.”

Counters and tabletops can be custom designed from color to layout. “It is all artistry,” says Thibido. “The whole piece is designed and created by us by hand.” Stamping the surface can even give it the look of wood.

Tiki Bars

Give your own home the feel of a night out with a tiki bar. The styles are varied and putting one in can be easier than you think. A completed version can be purchased already made or design your own and build it from scratch. Deck it out with a television and stereo system and your favorite local watering hole may be as close as your own backyard.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BARATTO BROTHERS

Eric Carder, director of project development at Baratto Brothers, says the company has constructed tiki bars that are open-aired, designs with metal roofs and even a versatile enclosed model that can double as storage with doors and windows that fold down.

If your bar will be lakeside, Carder suggests a call before you begin to check on any necessary permits or rules on setbacks for water-oriented structures in the area that may need to be considered.

Gazebos

A backyard gazebo offers a stable building away from the home that is shaded during the warmest of summer days. Add a comfortable set of patio furniture with cushions and it’s the perfect place for that morning cup of coffee or something chilled with ice in the evening.

A screened version will offer protection from summer pests. They come in a multitude of styles and various materials that will complement and blend into your own personal backyard style.

Midnight Sun Pools and Spa in Brainerd offers Visscher gazebos. Store manager Travis Yost said they are the perfect home for a hot tub or to be used as a structure all on their own.

Adorn the structure with hanging baskets or other flowers around the outside and it’s your own personal charming space to unwind.

Treehouses

When it comes to today’s treehouses, it turns out the actual tree is optional.

A year of working remotely has had homeowners realizing that a place to getaway without leaving our homes may have been wasted on our kids. Everyone can agree on the attraction of a retreat away from some of the noise and chaos of the main home, and a treehouse, even without the comforts of plumbing and heating, can prove quaint and inviting.

An extra elevated building located somewhere separate from the main home has become a refreshing home office for some people. It can also offer a unique, low-key space that can be used for small scale entertaining.