The weather outside may be frightful this time of year, but it’s the perfect time to think about spring – spring planning for your outdoor projects, that is. While it can be hard to look past the snowy weather to imagine sunshine, warm breezes and birds at the feeder, it is the ideal time to stock up on items to improve your outdoor retreat.

If you have a garden, there are several things you can do to make it more enjoyable for you and your guests.

Bridges add a nice touch to any garden, particularly those larger in size. Functional and beautiful, they can be used to draw attention to any area of your landscape you wish to emphasize.

If you don’t want to use a large bridge, consider adding a decorative mini bridge instead. Measuring an average of 30 inches long, they are available in several styles and make a great addition to any garden. Keep in mind that mini bridges are for decorative purposes only.

Another great way to add some style to your outdoor retreat is with a trellis. They can be used virtually anywhere outdoors to support a variety of flowering vines and vegetables. Trellises can be combined with decorative planters to complete the look.

Planters also make a nice addition to any outdoor area. Choose a basic planter, or one that is more functional, such as the seated planter pictured above. Flowers can be changed to reflect the seasons so the planter can be enjoyed year round.

There are more ways to spring-ify your outdoor area, which are inexpensive and creative. We will explore a few more of those next week.

~Shari Berg