Hardscape Projects

Easy Brick Patio

• A small brick patio is surprisingly easy to install and requires little more than a pile of bricks and a level. Choose a remote corner or lackluster border in your garden that is sheltered from intense sunlight and wind. The best place to set a patio may also offer a different perspective on your garden and new views of a tree, flowerbed or other features. If brick doesn't suit your home, substitute a material that matches, such as pavers, flagstone, cobblestones, pea gravel or any suitable surface. Build a patio that is at least 6 feet across to comfortably fit a small bistro table or a couple of patio lounge chairs. Once it's built, sit back with a cold drink and enjoy your new view.

Terra Cotta Fountain

• Water features bring motion to a garden, and can muffle unwanted noise from the street or general environment. They are also easy to build, especially if you use attractive, unused planters that you may have laying around. Terracotta is a good choice, but you can also use resin lookalikes, galvanized bins or ceramic glazed urns. For height and drama, stack three or four pots into a tower. Nest them with the smallest pot on top, and the largest on the bottom and rest the smaller pot on an upside-down internal supporting pot that won't be visible within the overall tower. String the water valve through the drainage hole and add a garden water pump. Then enjoy watching and hearing the soothing, spilling water.

Free-Standing Garden Arbor Bench

• A bench tucked beneath a flower- and vine-covered arbor adds romance and beauty to any garden. You can build a freestanding arbor and bench using purchased lattice frames, which serve as side panels and the overhead trellis to support flowering vines. This project will require some woodworking skills, but can be done over a weekend. Plan to build a structure that's roughly 5 feet wide, 30 inches deep and about 7 feet tall. With those dimensions, the arbor unit should be comfortable and stable enough to stand alone, although you can anchor it to the ground using concrete footings for extra security. To cut costs, consider using strong plastic lattice in place of redwood, cedar or pressure-treated lumber.