During spring and summer plenty of bright, scented flowers should attract dazzling butterflies and hummingbirds. Evergreen shrubbery and small trees will create safe feeding and roosting areas for a host of wild birds all year round.

But homeowners who have tried to keep a garden looking beautiful in a neighborhood often visited by deer has a few other choice words for these animals. Most of the time, the reason they are in our yards is that housing developments have encroached on their natural habitat. How can we find a way to co-exist?

There are many problems that can literally be dug up in your yard when you’re looking at renovating in your new backyard. Some of the backyard hazards are from utilities and city services while some will be from previous home owners.

Make your bulbs look like they just popped up by planting them in random clusters instead of in orderly rows. As a rule of thumb, plant larger bulbs, such as tulips or daffodils in groups of five to 15 bulbs. Smaller bulbs, such grape hyacinth or crocus stand out best in groups of 15 to 25.

Rugosa Rose: This Siberian native knows all about tough climates. the Rosa rugosa endures extreme temperature shifts, drought, wind and salt spray. Expect scented blooms from string to fall accompanied by colorful rose hips that will attract the birds.

There are many elements in a well designed outdoor living space. A good arrangement of furniture, clear access to the inside of your house, noise levels from surrounding streets or properties, all of these things help determine how useable your outdoor space will be. But, even the best designed outdoor living space can be ruined if there isn't appropriate lighting.

Here are some examples of the plants that can be grown from market fruits. This is by no means an exhaustive list - you can find more information on the Internet or your local nursery.

Xeriscaping is a form of gardening that was designed for dry areas where watering can be a challenge. By spending some extra planning time choosing the specific plants and garden design, you can conserve water and save time on maintenance.

With a little planning and a few supplies you can create your own one-of-a-kind backyard fountain during a weekend. If all goes well, you may have time to sit back with a cold drink and quietly relax to the sound of your very own babbling brook.

To begin your foray into the world of composting, you will need a bin. While containers aren't technically needed for composting, they do improve its aesthetics, and help keep pests out of your pile. You can build your own simple container, or invest in a large bin or tumbler, depending on how much work you want to put into your composting.