Your backyard has the potential to be a beautiful haven that you can enjoy throughout the year. But it does take work to get it to that point, and you will have to maintain it to keep it looking nice. This post will explore a few ways to level up your garden and make a dream backyard garden.
Tidy Your Lawn
If you have a bit of space in your backyard, the chances are that you have a lawn of some kind. Lawns are great to have because they add an attractive neutral space that you can either enjoy the look of or use practically.
In the summer, children or pets can play on the lawn and run about. You can also have picnics on the lawn.
While people do have different preferences about how long they like their grass, it’s best to keep it evenly cut and neatly trimmed. Depending on the size of your lawn, you might need to invest in an appropriate lawnmower.
If you just have a small lawn, a push mower or an electric powered lawn mower will work fine. A larger lawn might require a more powerful machine, however, so you might be tempted to invest in a gas powered lawnmower or even a ride-on lawnmower that massively cuts down on the time it takes to cut your grass.
You should also think about different types of grass. Some people even prefer the look of a meadow, although it’s still good to make sure at least some of your garden is neatly trimmed. While meadows look nice and they’re great for encouraging local biodiversity, they aren’t easy to walk through or sit on.
Garden Structures
While the point of a garden is to get outside, it’s worth talking about different types of structures that can add to your backyard.
First, decking is a great option if you want somewhere to sit and relax during the summer. While wooden decking isn’t fire-proof, you can also set up a patio area for barbecuing or even sitting out with a fire pit. You can enjoy a fire pit at any time of year, especially if you also put up garden lights so you can enjoy the winter nights outside.
Other structures include garden sheds. A garden shed is an incredibly versatile structure. You can use it to store garden tools and equipment, including your trusty lawnmower. It keeps them safe from the weather or even potential thieves, especially if you get a shed with a sturdy lock.
You can also use your shed as a workshop, which is great if you want to do some dirtier work without messing up your house. Set up a work bench and a work area, and make sure to connect your shed to the utilities of your house if you want to work from it.
A greenhouse can be a great addition to your garden if you want to grow more things. Greenhouses create a hot, humid environment, which is perfect for certain plants like tomatoes and peppers. They grow more quickly and you can get a more significant harvest. You can also use greenhouses when the weather is slightly cooler.
Flowerbeds and Borders
As well as a lawn, some people like to make sure that their garden has neatly defined sections. There are a few different ways to create these borders in your outdoor space, and it often depends on the size of your garden and what aesthetics you’re after. The simplest border is a basic earth border. This is where you leave a section of bare earth around your lawn and between your flowerbeds. It’s cheap, simple, and can look great, but you do have to keep on top of weeds to keep it looking neat.
Other border options include using stones or sleepers. Small stones like pebbles or gravel work well as weed control and they’re very flexible, but they can be easily displaced. Larger stones can look great, and wooden sleepers (large, thick planks of wood) can add a nice rustic feel to a garden, but are the least flexible option.
Other, if you want to make your garden look intentional and more obviously sectioned off, you can use fences and hedges to create proper sections that can’t be easily stepped over. This is also a good option if you want to keep some parts of your garden safe, such as a pond or pool.
Water Features
That brings us neatly into another way to make your backyard beautiful, which is to add a water feature.
First, it pays to have a word of caution. While water features are lovely to look at and can be calming, they can present a danger to pets and small children. If they are left unsupervised around pools or ponds, they might fall and potentially drown. So, make sure that you keep an eye on your kids around these features. You can also get safety features to make them less dangerous, such as nets or fences.
So, what water features could work for your garden?
A pond is a very attractive option. While a fish pond is a popular and beautiful choice, some people like a more natural pond that encourages local wildlife to make a home. This might include newts or frogs, and you can make the pond more attractive by adding certain plants to it. A pond is about creating a habitat.
Another option is a water fountain, which relies on the movement of water to add to the vibes of your backyard. There’s nothing quite as relaxing as sitting near a bubbling brook of gently moving water.
Or, if you want something more active, a swimming pool might be a great option. However, it’s a good idea to fence off your pool to make sure that unwelcome visitors don’t find their way in there. You also need to manage the pool and keep it clean.
