2) Add an arch. Either over a gate or a bench. I bought one at a major craft store chain at the end of summer (when it was on clearance) for $17. It was green metal and it required some assembly. I also spray painted it with a dark oiled bronze paint. We cemented it in about a foot deep using a level. This guarantees it won’t blow over into your neighbor’s yard and that it will look level and professional. I grew an evergreen blooming vine up one side called Carolina Jesamine which grows rapidly and blooms yellow in early Spring. On the other side of the arch, I grew a climbing rose so that I would have blooms from March – Oct and because the Jesamine is an evergreen, there would be some thing green and climbing all year round.

3) Create an outside seating area. Find a shaded corner of your yard and add a bench. I have done this in two houses. The first house I found two picnic benches for free at the end of a yard sale. Apparently someone else bought only the picnic table. The seller had painted the benches pink. Go figure, nobody wanted to buy two pink picnic benches… except me. I was happy to take them off her hands for FREE. I of course changed the paint color. I went with dark green and sanded the edges for a shabby garden look. They fit perfectly against the fence around my patio. I placed large oversized potted plants on either side and they added not only charm but functionality to my landscaping. I have also purchased a concrete bench at a flee market for under $20 and placed it under a tree next to a birdbath. Benches are a great way to add charm and functionality.

4) Add a bird bath. Bird baths are not that expensive. You can usually pick one up from a garden supply center for under $100 during the peak season and on discount at the end of the summer. I once made one out of a concrete pedestal that I bought at a craft store (with a coupon) that I used as the base. I then bought a large planter saucer base to set on top as the dish part.. I always use my bird baths as an excuse to plant gobs of cottage like perennials around the base. I usually encircle my bird baths with bulbs, iris, lambs ear, and hostas.

5) Label your flower beds. This is a trick I learned from a house that my husband and I LOVED when we were house hunting during one of our many corporate moves. This owner had purchased little copper plant labels and hand written the common names on them and spiked them down into her flower beds. You don’t need to be a very knowledgeable gardener to do this. You can also find some inexpensive plant labels on-line from either a garden source or possibly from e-bay. You can just use common flower names. Save the original potted plant labels to cheat if you can’t remember the names of the plants. This tip adds loads of charm to your landscaping as well as providing a gift for the next owner.