Are you looking for a fun and easy way to make your garden stand out? With just a few hours on the weekend, you can transform your garden using one of these quick and simple project ideas. Here are just a few projects that can make your garden sparkle.

Create a Charming Half-Barrel Fountain

This is a quick and simple garden project that can provide years of texture and soothing water sounds to your garden. Visit your local nursery to get the right parts for this project. You will need a half-barrel planter, a fitted plastic liner for the barrel, a re-circulating pump, a decorative water pump and the appropriate tubing. Part of the fun of this project is that you can individualize your half-barrel fountain to blend in with your yard environment. If you enjoy brightly colored pots and yard ornaments, you can coordinate your half-barrel so that it complements your garden environment.

Make Your Own Decorative Garden Wind Chimes with Recycled Items

There are many easy ways to put together your own decorative wind chimes using recycled items that you can find around the house. Easy recycled items include old spoons, keys and CDs that you no longer need. You can use a metal hanger and sturdy cord or wire to hang antique forks and spoons from the hanger so that you can listen to the relaxing sounds of your own handmade wind chime. You can use just about any resonant material—your imagination is your only limit. You can also use old CDs to create your own dazzling hanging display. These can pull double-duty as they are reflective and are helpful in ridding your garden of pests.

Paint a Few Pots and Watch Your Garden Sparkle

Want to add a little color to your garden? Here is a very fast and simple way to brighten up any patio or deck. Buy three planters of varying shapes and sizes and paint them with bright colors that coordinate with your home. Use stencils to create your own dazzling designs on your pots. Protect your handiwork with paint sealant. Choose flowers that coordinate well with the flowerpot. For instance, for a bright yellow pot, plant blue-blooming flowers with long stems. This will create an eye-catching display that will be sure to please.

Install Window Boxes with Bright Showy Annuals

This is a classic touch that has been overlooked in recent years. Installing window boxes below your windows adds a classic and charming touch that is not easily missed. Coordinate the window boxes to complement your homes exterior. You can choose from a variety of materials, including wood, metal and plastic. Plant showy annuals that complement the window box and your home’s exterior, providing warmth and vibrancy. This is a classic way to add color and texture to an otherwise drab exterior, and you can complete this project in one short afternoon.

Add Stepping Stones to Your Garden

What could be more charming than steppingstones that lead right up to your garden gate? This project is a fast and easy way to enhance the overall appearance of your garden. You can use natural stones that are available throughout your yard and plant them firmly in a well designed garden path, or you can purchase readymade steppingstones in a variety of designs from your local nursery or home improvement garden store.

Decorative Lighting Adds Security and Sophistication to Your Night Garden

Decorative lighting has never been as affordable as it is today. Install a row of solar lights along your garden path, and enjoy the subtle yet moving glow that it imparts across your night garden when the sun goes down.

Container gardens on patios and balconies are a great way of displaying lush greens and great colors. Container gardens also add fragrance and style to your patio. To achieve a great container garden there are a few important tips that can make for a gorgeous container garden on your patio or balcony.

First of all, you should know that there are not many things that you can screw up with a container garden. You can actually be more adventurous than with a regular garden for several reasons. The area to cover and amount of flowers needed is much less than in a big front or backyard garden and therefore a lot cheaper to change when something should go wrong. Therefore you can try one thing and if it does not work, then you just change it to something else.

Containers in a container garden can also be used to enhance the look. There are many materials that containers are made from. Clay, Plastic, Stone and ceramics are all options for planters that you can use on your balcony. You can also build a wooden stand or decorate the outside of the planter to achieve just the look you are looking for. But make sure to keep in mind that containers need to have adequate drainage through holes in the bottom of the container. Also, planting containers need to be fairly large in size to offer most plants a nice growing space.

An important tip for container gardening is to make sure that the plants you choose are right for the light available on your balcony or patio. If your balcony is more in the shade than the sun, choose plants that are shade tolerant such as hosta, ivy and begonia.

When planting, a few bigger pots look nicer than many small ones. Preferably arrange plants in odd numbers that makes for a harmonic arrangement. When planting a few big plants per big pot you can always fill the bottom with smaller filler plants to complete the “potscaping”.

In big gardens you have to fertilize your plants a few times throughout the growing season, in containers fertilizing is even more important. Since there is only so much soil around the plant in a container, nutrients are used up quickly. Therefore regular fertilizing is essential for the growth and life of your plants. There are several easy ways you can fertilize your plants. Use of pellets or fertilizer stakes that are inserted into the soil can slowly deliver fertilizer to your plants every time you water. There are also liquid or powder fertilizers that can be added to the watering can or attached to the watering hose to slowly deliver the fertilizer. These water additive fertilizers also spread better in the soil and therefore provide better nutrition for the plants.

Just as in big gardens some pruning can make all the difference. When you flowers are starting to wilt on your plants, go ahead and prune them off. If the plant does not need to feed a dying flower it will invest more in new flowers and more green.

Lastly, water is one of the important parts of the equation for a pretty container garden besides the sunlight of course. Therefore a regular watering schedule is necessary to keep your garden blooming and lush green. One missed day will surely not kill you container garden, but make sure that that one missed it day is not a reoccurring occasion. When it rains enough, do not add more water to your containers as they are more likely to mold than plants in a big back yard due to the different drainage situation.

Almost nothing is as rewarding as spending an afternoon outside, working on the family garden. Gardening as a family is a wonderful way to bond and to teach your children about their environment. Even if you don’t think that you have time to garden with your family, there are many things that you can in fact do to make certain that your garden is always in bloom. Here are some low maintenance gardening ideas for the busy family.

Create a Raised Garden Bed

Need an easy way to teach your kids about gardening? A raised garden bed is an easy way to establish a no-fuss, no-muss garden. Choose a space in your garden, patio, deck, yard or whatever space you have available, and restrict your family garden to this one raised garden bed. Make sure to plant hardy perennials that will not require constant care and attention. Keep a watering can by your raised garden so that you or your children can water the bed at a moment’s notice.

Plant Your Own Windowsill Herb Garden

Want an easy way to teach your kids some gardening basics? A windowsill herb garden is a fun and simple way to learn about the basic growth pattern of plants, and to reap the rewards of your work. Moreover, a windowsill herb garden does not take up a lot of space, nor do you need a lot of time and money to establish a healthy, thriving herb garden. Moreover, you can even enjoy the results together by using your herb gardens in a family mean.

Start Your Own Family Cactus Garden

Here is a fun and creative way to garden together as a family without having to spend a whole lot of time or money. Start a family cactus garden that adds color and texture to your garden, without taking a lot of your time. Start by picking out pots that you and your kids can paint. Let your children express their creativity by using different paint colors and craft supplies to decorate their own pot. Then it’s off to the nursery to pick out cacti. Each member of your family should choose cacti that fit into your pot. Use a soil specially prepared for cacti and help your children pick out cacti. Cacti come in a variety of shape, sizes and colors. When it comes to planting cacti, make certain that you wear thick gloves and handle the plants with care so that you do not get pricked. Cacti do not need daily maintenance, and can create an earthy and fun environment for your children and family to enjoy. Try to choose blooming cacti so you and your family can plan to enjoy seasonal blooms.

Plant a Family Tree

Want a project that the whole family can do together? Why not plant a family tree? You don’t have to wait until Arbor Day to plant a tree. Take a trip to the nursery together and pick out a tree that is suited for your area. Consult with a nursery attendant if you are not sure what kind of tree you should be planting. Let your kid’s help you choose the perfect location and dig the hole. Planting a tree together is a wonderful experience that the whole family will remember for years to come. Set up a periodical watering schedule that works for the whole family. Although it takes a bit of pre-planning, once the tree is planted, this garden project will not take up a lot of your family’s time. With luck, this low maintenance garden project will be enjoyed by future generations of garden-lovers.

You want to enjoy the soothing sound of water in your garden, but you don’t have the time, money or resources to create a pond or purchase a large fountain. Fortunately, there are many fast and easy container water garden options that are open to you. If you don’t want to spend the effort in digging (or paying someone to dig) you a pond for a water garden, here are some easy ways to achieve fast container water gardens that are lovely to see and hear.

A Versatile Container Water Garden

Do you want a water garden without all the fuss? If so, here is one quick and fun project that will have your guests oohing and ahhing. This project takes all of a half hour to set up. A container water garden is essentially a large watertight pot with floating water plants. You can use your creativity to choose the container and the type of floating plant that you would like to put on display.

How to Create Your Own Unique Container Water Garden

Begin by finding a watertight pot that is the right size for your garden space and the plant you would like to feature in your water garden. A good choice is a glazed pot that can be used to grow lotus plants. These types of pots are known for their watertight structure. But if you cannot locate a traditional glazed lotus pot, any large watertight pot will do the trick. For the best effect, make sure that the watertight container you choose is at least 18 inches in height. You will also want a container that is at least 24 inches in diameter. When it comes to a water garden, aim for the size of half barrel. In fact, a half-barrel is the ideal size for your water garden, except that they are not watertight. However, many nurseries now sell plastic liners that are fitted to half barrels, which make it easy to transform a half-barrel into the perfect place to create your own water garden oasis. If you choose to use a half-barrel to create a water garden, make sure that you will be placing it in the right location. Remember that these are difficult to move and quite heavy, so they may not be ideal if you are planning to place your water garden on a deck or balcony patio.

Putting Together Your Water Garden

You will obviously need to work with aquatic plants in order to create your own water garden. You will need to fashion a platform on which your aquatic plant will sit. An easy way to achieve this effect is to use a stack of bricks on the plants can sit. However, this method should only be used if you don’t plant to move your water container garden, or if the weight of the planter does not matter. Once you have created a stable platform for your aquatic plants, you are ready to fill the container with water. Once you have filled your watertight container with water, arrange your aquatic plants on the platform in a way that you find pleasing. Let your imagination run free as you work on the composition of your aquatic plants.

Adding a Decorative Touch to Your Water Garden

If you want to hear the sound of water in your garden, you can add a neat decorative touch to your water garden by installing a re-circulating hand pump. This is an easy way to create a working water garden fountain. Simply install a small pump at the bottom of your water container garden with a short hose attached. This will keep the water circulating, which prevents the water from going stagnant.

Do you suffer from boring, dull surroundings? Do you wish you had a colorful, unique garden to call your own? You don’t need a lot of money or time to transform your garden from ho-hum to incredible. Here are a few tips for adding decorative elements that will punch up your garden in a fast and easy way.

A Colorful Container Garden Can Transform Your Surroundings

If you are looking for a fast and easy way to add color and interest to your garden, a colorful container garden is an easy way to punch up your surroundings. Purchase container or pots in variety of sizes. You can purchase coordinating pots, or you can decorate and paint your pots on your own. Choose a spot in your garden that looks drab and could stand from a facelift, and arrange your colorful containers in this area. Arrange the composition of your colorful container garden in way that is eye pleasing and easy to maintain.

Look Up – It’s a Hanging Container Garden

Hanging container plants add charm and interest to your garden. This is a great solution if you don’t have a lot of room for placing planters, pots or containers. Find a space where the hanging container will receive plenty of sun and where it will be easy to water. There are many colorful plants that do well in hanging containers. Accentuate your hanging plant with wind chimes and other decorative elements, such as bird feeders and houses. These add charm to even the smallest gardens.

Add a Lawn Sculpture to Act as a Focal Point in Your Garden

If your lawn is more blah than wow, perhaps what you really need is a focal point. Choose a space in your garden or lawn that you think could stand from more attention. Perhaps there is an elevated spot garden or lawn that appears empty or like it is missing something. This is an ideal spot to draw attention. A garden sculpture is a great way to liven up a spot that could otherwise use some attention. You can build a cement or stone foundation, purchase a pedestal and have a sculpture installed. Once you have chosen the right sculpture, you will find that this is a great spot to plant flowers. Simply creating a place for a focal point will give you greater possibilities when it comes to planting. You can accentuate the area with flower that complements your fountain.

Create Your Own Garden Water Music

Many gardeners avow that a garden is simply not complete without the sound of nature, or more specifically, the sound of water. Water provides a soothing and pleasing ambience to any garden. It is a fun and easy way to liven up any garden. There are many sources for pleasing garden water music. You can have a pond installed, or install one yourself. You can also purchase a working fountain, or create your own fountain using decorative pots, or adding a water pump to a decorative barrel. Make sure that your water fountain is re-circulating water properly in order to avoid stagnant water and insect populations. Place a garden bench by your fountain, and enjoy the sound of nature.

A Garden Arbor Adds a Romantic Touch to Any Garden

A garden arbor is a great way to add a bit of nostalgia and romance to any garden environment. This is a fast and economical way to add ambience and create a starting point for exploring your garden. You can choose to make your own garden arbor, or you can purchase a pre-made arbor. There are several materials to choose from, including wood, metal and plastic.