Designing your backyard landscape can be a fun and exciting project or a huge hassle. If you want your landscaping project to be stress-free, plan out what you want ahead of time and do research. Don’t rush to landscape your entire yard over a weekend. Take one project at a time and enjoy the process. Make sure you make things easy for yourself and include a watering system for garden and yard, so that you don’t need to take on extra manual labor.
If you’re not into DIY projects or you have an elaborate design in mind, you can hire professional landscapers to get the job done. But creating your own backyard design and making it come to life is a great project that the whole family can enjoy together.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out the tips below to help you design the backyard of your dreams.
Get Inspired
First, you need some inspiration. Write down everything you want to include in your backyard design. It can be anything! From your favorite flowers to an outdoor kitchen, no wish is too small or big to include. If you’re struggling to come up with ideas, it’s time to get online or check out your friend’s yard for ideas. Use sites like Pinterest to find inspiration for your design. You’ll find countless pictures of beautiful backyards that will help you figure out what your must-haves are for your own outdoor space.
Assess Your Space
Once you’ve gathered your inspiration, you’ll probably want to get to work. But before you get started, take a look at your yard’s current condition. If it’s pretty bare and you’re starting from scratch, you have a lot of freedom to design your ideal landscape. But you should keep in mind some important factors, such as:
Existing Plants and Trees: If you don’t like the plants that are in your yard currently, you can always take them out. But you can also try to incorporate them into your new yard design. If your yard has trees, it’s best to leave them unless they pose a risk to your home. Trees provide shade and a refuge for wildlife. They’ll be a beautiful feature of your landscape if you build your design around them.
Property Size and Shape: Every property is different, so get to know how much space you have available. It will help you build a better design. You might have a large open space, or maybe you have a smaller side yard. If your property is sloped, you might have to level some parts. But you can also use steps and retaining walls to make the most of the space. Get familiar with your property and take some measurements so you can have them on hand.
Sun and Wind: To create an ideal design, you need to know what parts of your yard get sun and shade during different parts of the day. Spend time outside during different times of year to see which spots are more exposed to the sun and which parts are shadier. This will help you decide what kind of plants to plant in different areas and where would be a good place for features like a fire pit, a dining area, or a pool. Pay attention to wind patterns as well. Some narrow spaces funnel wind through, which isn’t ideal for a barbecue or fire pit area since the wind will blow out your flame.
If you’re renovating your existing landscape, take note of what can stay and what needs to be removed or replaced. Do you have plants you want to keep and others you want to remove? Do you need to refresh some spaces with some new paint or decorations? Think about what you can do to improve what you already have in place, and then you’ll be able to get some new elements to include as well.
Plan Out Your Design
Once you’ve found your inspiration and you know what you’re working with, it’s time to plan out your landscape. Draw out your ideas so you can visualize your plan. Separate your yard into “rooms.” One room could be a fire pit area, another could be a vegetable garden, and another a hangout space. Look back at your list of ideas and make your rooms based on your must-haves. You can connect these spaces using paths or walkways. Choose the plants you want and where you would like to put them. Include all the details you can in your sketches and plans.
Get to Work
Now that you have a plan, it’s time to get to work. It can be overwhelming to start a big landscaping project, but don’t let that stop you. Choose one thing to work on and get started. Little by little, you’ll see how your yard comes together. If you have a large project that you can’t do on your own, you can always hire a professional.
Designing your dream backyard is a process, but it can be a fun family project. Follow these steps to successfully design and create your ideal backyard space.