Ideas for Patio Gardens in the South

If it isn't broke don't fix it, is a motto bandied about often. And in the case of the Southern patio garden it is apt, indeed. Classical southern patios typically sport black wrought iron metal patio furniture, without the cushions. It is common to see arbors jutting out from the house, situated just above the patio and covered with wisteria vines. Bricks are still the choice du jour for patio flooring,as well.

Southern patio gardens can be so beautiful and soothing. Southerners seem to have mastered the art of combining relaxation with flower growing and gardening. So the phrase "If it isn't broke don't fix it", is apt, indeed, when describing a Southern patio garden.

Southern Patio Gardens and Side Arbors

The South can be very warm with the sun beating down on guests seated at a garden patio. A side arbor, an overhead wooden protrusion that extends above the patio from the home, provides ample shade for visitors. The side arbor wood color looks good darker when the home is painted white, and lighter colored if the home is brick or natural in color.

Wooden slats sitting atop protruding arbor boards should be approximately one foot in distance from each other, providing just enough space to allow light to filter through the climbing vines growing overhead. Amethyst falls wisteria and etoile violet clematis are excellent vines for climbing up the Southern side arbor columns, adding a whisper of privacy and a modicum of sun shield for patio guests below.

Southern Patio Gardens and Limestone or Brick Flooring

Your patio flooring sets the stage for the rest of this outdoor dining and socializing venue. For patios that adjoin a pool area, opt for limestone pavers. Limestone pavers are cooler, thus kinder to bare feet in the summer time. Brick set in sand, is a durable and attractive option flooring option. Bricks offer additional bonuses; they provide a no-glare surface, mellow color, pleasant texture and are the easiest paving material to install.

To estimate how much it would cost to lay bricks yourself for a patio, plan to purchase approximately 500 bricks for every 100 square feet of patio.

Southern Patio Gardens and Wrought Iron Furniture

Patio furniture options abound but there is one classical patio furniture option that just can't be beat: iron. Wood eventually rots, even if it is treated. Plastic patio furniture ruins a formal patio look. Patio furniture adorned with big plush cushions is a magnet for mildew and cushions become faded with sun exposure.

But iron is a metal and it stands the classical test of time. Rowdy children won't destroy the patio furniture made of iron metal. And neither will the elements or insects, which is why it was the patio furniture of choice in the homes selected for inclusion in a book entitled, "Private Gardens of Georgia." Iron looks good, year after year, when other materials would have to be replaced. Iron's durability makes it cost effective, too, since replacing it might not need to happen in your lifetime.

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Source
"Private Gardens of Georgia"; Polly McLeod Mattox and Helen Mattox Bost; 2008
University of Missouri