Cathy Carr, APLDTraditional Landscape, DC Metro

Planting notes. Plant hardy geraniums in spring or fall, when the soil is warm and easily worked. They do not need any special fertilizers.‘Rozanne’ geranium does not need deadheading, but the whole plant can be sheared back to the main crown in midsummer if desired to maintain a more compact habit. Personally, I think this stunning ground cover should be left to do just that — cover the ground.When the foliage dies down in late fall, trim it away. In warmer areas the foliage is often evergreen.

Prep the furniture. Remove cushions and give everything a good dusting; sweep and wipe down your furniture before assessing its state.If it's painted and starting to peel, give it a sanding and a fresh coat of paint. If it's wicker, use spray paint.If it's metal, you may need a wire brush and special paint made for metal furniture, like Rust-Oleum. If it's wood, determine if it needs staining or another protective wood finish.

Assess, repair, replace and store outdoor furniture.Check for any repairs you can take care of over the winter. If you need a winter project, you may want to re-stain or repaint at your leisure. I like to give my pieces a fresh coat during that first fluky warm weekend pre-spring. This way, my wonky stacking for storage doesn't ruin my work.Determine whether any pieces are beyond repair; you may just get lucky and find a replacement at a deep discount this time of year. Clean and store furniture you're saving for next year.

Creating a space that's calm, restful and inviting is what a traditional landscape is all about, and those are just the notes this inviting patio hits.

General idea, except we could use square pavers for your patio.

A planting bed like this adjacent to the patio may be a really great option... Perhaps we could integrate a nice potager for herbs and more refined veggies within the area.

Dry-laid bluestone squares and rectangles