Set this replica dinosaur fossil into your walkway or patio and you'll have a sure conversation-starter. Cast from concrete and measuring 4 ft. x 2 ft., this walkable art will last as long as any paved surface. You can get your own Patiosaurus Rex at all Patio Town locations for only $275.

Rearrange your landscape as often as you like, with artificial boulders. These hollow, zoo-quality replicas look like the real thing but are made of tough, durable fiberglass—perfect for covering well heads and other yard obstacles.

The early spring this year has lots of people thinking about starting a vegetable garden, but for many, space is a problem. However, a raised-bed planter can be tucked into just about any corner of your yard. And thanks to easy-to-use segmental retaining wall systems, most do-it-yourselfers can build one with a minimum of skill and tools.

“We’ve seen quite a few folks come in with spring fever who are anxious to start their own “Victory Garden,” says Dave Johnson, manager of Patio Town in Oakdale. “But for many of them, their yard space is limited, so we suggest a raised-bed planter that can stand alone in the yard or be built alongside your house or garage.”

A raised-bed garden has other advantages besides size, Johnson notes.

“Because they’re elevated, there’s less stooping and they’re a lot easier to tend to. With a nice capped top, you have a place to sit or place your gardening tools while you work,” says Johnson.

No expensive concrete footings or special equipment are required for building a planter with segmental retaining wall systems, Johnson explains. “A few basic tools such as a shovel, level, mallet and masonry chisel are needed. The wall itself sits on a bed of crushed gravel and sand. Depending on your design, you may want to rent a concrete saw or you can just use a masonry blade in a standard circular saw.”

Patio Town has several types of segmental wall systems from which to choose. Handywall and Ledgestone are concrete blocks that are simply stacked and glued. Versa-Lok is a premium engineered wall system that uses a series of pins to connect the courses together.

“These retaining wall systems come in a variety of natural colors and textures,” says Johnson. “We can match them to your home’s exterior or an existing patio. We’ll even help you choose the right materials and design your raised-bed garden. Just stop in and ask one of our landscaping experts on staff.”

Patio Town offers regular retaining wall installation classes for free at its three Twin Cities locations. Visit www.patiotown.com for a full schedule.

For more ideas on raised-bed planters, visit the Versa-Lok Online Image Library. Or check out the outdoor displays at Patio Town’s retail locations in Oakdale, Burnsville and Maple Grove.

This backyard living space was designed and installed by Villa this summer using Versa-Lok retaining walls and Willow Creek pavers in our new Bronze Blend color.

There may be a nip in the air, but there's still plenty of time to have Villa Landscapes give your back yard or front entry a makeover this fall. Take the chill off your outdoor gatherings with a new circular patio and fire ring.  Or get cozy around one of the handsome new fireplaces from Harmony Stone that Villa can install for you. Villa Landscapes has a talented team of landscape designers who are skilled in a variety of disciplines and areas of expertise. Take a look at our online gallery for some ideas, or come in to talk to a Villa designer to see what's possible.  It helps to take some pictures of your existing yard so they can get a preliminary idea of what they'll have to work with before making a site visit. Landscaping is one of the best investments you can make in your home to increase its value and livability. Isn't it time you had a Villa landscape?