When the good weather arrives, the typical New York homeowner   wanders outside to check out the backyard. After being cooped up for months on end, warm thoughts are finally allowed to bubble to the surface:  maybe it's time to invite the neighbors over; to get some patio furniture, an umbrella, a barbeque; it might be time to plant flower beds and vegetable patches, but WAIT!

While it might be the farthest thing from your mind while you're sitting out on the deck in your shorts and sunhat, now's the time to  make plans for the next snowfall. A little planning or a little planting in the summertime can be all it takes to turn the yard around your home into a four season  outdoor living area that will extend the living space in your home, become an asset in the wintertime, distinguish it from the myriad of neglected patches of dirt that abound in four season climates, and ultimately add to your home's  resale value.

So before you blow your summer gardening budget on peonies, marigolds, and equipment   that you'll have to pack up and store for half the year, give some thought to investing in at least one of these all-weather backyard stars:

Getting into Hot Water

Cozy outdoor living in a New York state winter? Sure! Backyard party in February? You bet! The  Finns and Swedes have been  hanging outside in subzero weather for centuries and so can you.  If you really want to make the most of your yard, this is a great time to start thinking about turning the heat up high enough to last you all winter. Installing a sauna or a   hot tub on your deck will add a wealth of entertainment and recreational value to your backyard.

Turn up the Heat

What better way to heat up the backyard than by installing an outdoor fireplace? An outdoor fireplace can be used all year round but will really make your yard a spectacular place to be in the colder months. Invite the neighbors over for a barbeque in January; have your halloween party outside and in comfort; sip wine in the hot tub beside the fire while the snow falls. Depending on what you're looking for, you can try anything from an old fashioned  outdoor cooking area  to a built-in  gas fireplace that ignites at the touch of a button.

Dig in

In the middle of winter most gardens in this area are notable only for their bland nondescript looks. But creating a winter garden that's a pleasure to look at isn't difficult, it just requires a bit of planning and sensitivity to our climate. You basically have three things to work with when you're planning a garden that's going to be nice to look at  when everything's covered in snow.

- The first of these is hardiness. Anything you plant has got to be able to take the cold period. If you're not sure about tough plants for our climate, ask  your local gardening center for some suggestions.
  - Often covered in white snow, the second  thing to consider when planning your  winter garden will be  shapes. Trees that offer height or interesting shapes when the landscape is bare are a good choice.
-And finally, you'll want to think about color. Though the palette you have to work with is limited, consider trees and bushes that produce berries and will attract birds in the spring. Juniper, hawthorne and   winterberry are good choices. Evergreens are also going to add color to the colder months so planting a few of them before the first frost is a great idea.

Of course if this is your first summer in a new home, you may want to enlist the services of a good landscape gardener or contractor to help you plan and execute any long term plans for the yard around your home. It might take a few years to get everything right, but on some cold and starry night, when you're in the   hot tub next to the flickering fire, watching  the snow fall on the winterberry trees, you'll know it was worth it.

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