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Give Your Back Yard a Makeover

Good news for those of you getting tired of the barren landscape outside your window.  Soon the snow will melt away, the grass will start growing again and new leaves will appear on the trees.

Gardening enthusiasts across the country are already busy planning their backyard makeovers.  If you want to join them, but aren't sure where to start, pick up some gardening magazines and page through them for ideas on garden planning & layouts.  

As you weigh your options, keep in mind that the ideal landscape will be both beautiful and functional, providing everyone in your family with recreation, privacy and pleasure.

If all you have in your back yard right now is grass, a good place to start is by adding some flowers, shrubs and trees for interest. You'll also want to add features that will make the space more functional. Adults would enjoy a wooden deck where they can hang out and socialize, a gazebo they can use for storage and a paved area where they can grill.

And for the kids, how about adding a backyard play set?  Numerous studies have found that play sets are essential not only for building a child's physical strength, but for encouraging their creativity and imagination as well.

So what kind of play set should you get?

While the initial price you'll find for those offered at toy stores and discount retailers may seem reasonable, if you go that route, you will likely be sacrificing quality.  

"The kids will loose interest and stop playing on a playground that is basic no frills.  If it's not customizable or designed to be added on to or upgraded over time, it will become obsolete in no time," says Karl Jessen, owner of Detailed Play Systems, a New Jersey-based playground company that sells kits parents can buy to put customizable playground sets together themselves.

If you're thinking about building a playground set for your own child, Jessen recommends you start by sitting down with your son or daughter and making a list of the features he or she wants. For example, his company's most popular kit, the Jungle Fort Swing Set, sells for under $400 and features a 6 by 6 platform with sandbox underneath, an inclined step ladder, gangplank ramp, and a three or four-position swing set. Slides, monkey bars and a rock climbing wall are sold separately, allowing customers to fully customize the playground kit to their needs.

"The best part is how your system can change over time, to create the perfect playground for your children based on their needs and interests," says Jessen. "Accessories such as periscopes, telescopes, steering wheels and specialty swings can be added on as children grow. Or maybe they have their heart set on wave slides and trapeze bars. Whatever they love to do, from climbing to spinning, you can create the perfect set-up."

Also see related features -> Backyard Playset Safety

Outdoor Party Ideas in Your Own Backyard