There is a new trend among homeowners. In an effort to decrease maintenance while utilizing their entire landscape, homeowners are replacing their backyards with patios and edging the patio with low care shrubbery. (see MSN’s Tired of mowing the lawn? Pave it over.) Similar to the “grass-to-garden” trend, this is the “grass-to-concrete” trend. Replacing the grass is especially appealing to those getting older and others who don’t have the time or ability to care for a lawn. Baby Boomers are looking for ways to make their aging easier, and are finding solutions such as these.

But a patio may not be the correct choice for an elderly person. Yes, there is little-to-no-maintenance, and concrete or brick provides an even surface to walk on, but that much concrete has it’s own problems. For starters, if you are worried about falling, you do not want to fall on concrete. It’s hard. Brick and other paving surfaces buckle and become tripping hazards. Then there are problems with heat reflection and drainage. Instead, install a surface with more “give,” like decking.

Decking can be constructed of wood, or of new composite lumber such as Trex, which does not have to be stained and will not warp or fade. There is almost no upkeep with a composite decking and while it will not last as long as concrete, if you are worried about your age it will probably out-last you. It does tend to cost more that concrete, but if the idea is to make the space safe and comfortable, choose a deck. Besides, a deck adds more resale appeal to a home than a slab of concrete.

What about steps? With a concrete patio, you would have to step down onto it. An “on-grade” deck is built just above the ground, so you could have the deck at the same level as your inside floor. Then there would be no steps to worry about: just walk into your new outside room the same way you would into any room in your house.

Let’s move on to the greenery. Lawns are hard work, and use too much water, fertilizer, and, let’s face it, money. Not many people will be sad to see them reduced in size. In your own backyard, unless you need a place to play sports you do not really use them. But just because the grass is gone doesn’t mean creating some sort of barren, gravel-filled solution.

Shrubs and small trees provide beauty and shelter, and add comfort and ambience to your outdoor room. The trick with selecting your plants is to make sure of two things: one, how big it will ultimately get, and two, if it is suitable for the spot you want to put it. Picking plants that will not get too big is of primary importance if you do not want to have to trim them constantly. Resist the urge to buy tiny, cheap, fast-growing shrubs-they will soon outgrow their place. Instead, spend a little money and buy mature shrubs that will fill out the shrub border the day you put them in, and will not try to eat your deck. Buying plants that are happy in your climate, and are resistant to bugs and diseases saves you time and money. Also be careful about sun and water requirements: if you put a plant that likes a sunny dry place in a shady wet one, it will always look bad, or worse, die.

Selecting the right plants for your yard may seem like a lot of trouble, but a little trouble now will save you a lot of trouble down the road. Even if you hire a landscaper, have them tell you what plants they have selected: a simple internet search on the plant name will tell you if they have picked a twelve-foot shrub for your four-foot border. Sometimes people pick fast-growing plants for cheap instant impact, but if you want a no-maintenance yard, you do not want to have to trim those shrubs constantly.

Trees provide shelter, beauty, and a “ceiling” for your outdoor room. Take as much care in selecting your trees as you do your shrubs. Try to find ones described as “small ornamental” or “patio tree.” These will be the correct size-you do not want them to eat your deck either. Add them to your shrub border, or make “cut-outs” in your deck to accommodate them if your deck is large. Benches can circle a tree, creating a nice feature and extra seating. Deciduous trees provide shade in the summer and allow the sunshine through to warm your outdoor room in the winter.

Replacing your backyard with a deck and shrub border creates a beautiful and useable space that you can enjoy well into your golden years. Prettier than a patio and less work than a garden, decking your backyard eliminates lawn maintenance and adds value to your home. Go ahead: build your own backyard room.