It's Time for a Backyard Makeover - written by Anita Koppens

Your yard is meant to be enjoyed by family members and to be a place where memories are created. And, how you and your family choose to enjoy this is completely a personal choice. So, take a minute to think about your family as well as your immediate circumstances and establish how you can maximize the enjoyment of your yard.

Consider your family plan when you are designing your backyard. Do you have kids now? If not, do you plan on having kids one day? If so, this will alter what landscaping products you pick to include in the overall design. If you are going to have kids, you'll want to pick grasses, shrubs and flowers that will adapt to the increased amounts of traffic that kids can bring.

When developing a kid-friendly backyard, you'll also want to go ahead and pick a spot for any play equipment that you may want. You can go ahead and get that space ready now by cultivating a durable kind of grass. You'll also want to get any unlevel surfaces taken care of to prepare for backyard baseball games and running activities. Additionally, think about adding trees that are already mature so that you will have shade in the least amount of time. Maintain any shade trees that you already have or add shade-making foliage to the area. After you have designated your play area, you can now begin designing the other areas of your yard.

If your family consists of just you and one other person, you will want to consider a few important issues when you decide how to design your yard. Do you love to work in your yard growing vegetables or nurturing flowers? Are you physically capable of doing so, and can you see yourself maintaining the yard for many years to come? If the response to these questions are yes, then now is the time to develop the yard of your dreams. Go ahead and get all of the plants and flowers you have always wanted and start growing now.

Alternatively, if your idea of a "dream yard" has always been that of one that is made up of only a very small area of grass to cut (and the smaller the better, in your estimation), and the rest of the yard bursting with plants intended to call the attention of birds, butterflies and some of nature's smaller inhabitants, purchase brightly colored flora and create your own oasis in your backyard.

Some areas of the nation have a weather and climate pattern that allows for outdoor entertaining almost all year long. If this sounds like the area you live in, then an outdoor entertaining area would be ideal. You could add a gazebo, a dining area or anything else you like. Consider building a deck or other permanent structure to utilize all year long. Add a fireplace and a water feature or perhaps even an outdoor bar area to become the host or hostess you've always pictured yourself to be.