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Lately I’ve been doing a lot of radio and television interviews across the country, and one interviewer’s question really stood out for me; I was asked what I believe are the biggest mistakes or missed opportunities are when it comes to the backyard and outdoor design. This led to me creating a whole presentation for the fall home show circuit on the 10 biggest mistakes homeowners make. Surprisingly, it was a hit with the audiences because homeowners who try and tackle their own outdoor makeovers seem to fall into the same pitfalls over and over again. Wondering if you’ve made the same mistakes in your yard? Here are the first three in my top ten ‘no-no’s’ for your outdoor spaces

10. DESIGNING A BACKYARD FOR THE KIDS
    Now I get the value of having an outdoor space that children can play in—it gets them out of the house! The pitfall here is when we make a permanent decision outdoors to meet the needs of a five-year-old. Too often I see large jungle gyms, playhouses, or even giant sandboxes and swing sets becoming the visual focal point in the middle of a large lawn. Being able to keep an eye on your children as they play is definitely important, but should the swing set be the only thing anyone sees when they visit your home? Unfortunately, things designed for kids are usually bright and colourful and always eye-catching. When we put them in the middle of the yard in a bright sunny spot, they become the spot your eye always travels back to. My solution is to create a space for the play stuff that will convert into a flower bed or a second seating area once the children are done with it, because they always seem to outgrow all of those things at some point!
11. THE SHED
    Having storage in the backyard is always a good thing. A shed is the perfect solution for all of those awkward items that don’t seem to fit anywhere else; like wheelbarrows and grass-covered mowers. Unfortunately, we have a bad habit of putting our sheds in the worst possible locations. Too often I see the garden shed at the back of the property or on the other side of elaborate gardens. Neither are ideal locations when you need to get something out of the shed in the middle of winter. The other missed opportunity for a shed is the privacy it can create. Most sheds have a roofline that is between 8 and 10 feet tall. This is perfect for hiding neighbours! If you are thinking about a shed for spring, consider putting it to the side of the yard, close to the house. By turning the shed sideways and having the door facing the deck or patio, you have easier access and at the same time, you can create a little extra privacy for both you and your neighbour.
12. BEWARE THE MULCH
    For years I’ve challenged homeowners on the use of bright red mulch. In my opinion, red mulch in the sun is the only thing you see when looking at a garden. It overwhelms the plants. Now we have more colours than ever available like blues and purples. Who sees the beautiful plants when your eye keeps focusing on the intense mulch? Finally there is some science to support my dislike of the ‘fake’ stuff. While some mulches are organically dyed, many of the new products coming are chemically treated and the chemicals slowly leach into the soil If you are determined to go for the colour, choose a product that is safe for the environment.

Next week I will continue to countdown the biggest mistakes homeowners and DIY’ers make in their outdoor spaces with hot topics like big lawn, front flower beds and the dreaded second storey deck.

carson@carsonarthur.com