What can I do with a small back yard?

30 Small Backyard Ideas

1. Trim Trees. When shopping for your shrubbery, be savvy and select upward growing trees. …
2. Murphy Picnic Set. Enjoy meals al fresco with a hideaway picnic set that you can fold up when not in use.
3. Side Gardening. …
4. A White Backyard. …
5. Mosaic Pathway. …
6. A Grassy Nook. …
7. Vertical Box Gardening. …
8. Water Feature.

What can I put in my backyard instead of grass?
Eco-Friendly Alternatives to a Grassy Lawn

• Groundcovers. Groundcovers sprawl across the ground but don’t grow tall, eliminating the need to mow, providing the perfect alternative to grass. …
• Corsican Mint. …
• Creeping Thyme. …
• Clover. …
• Ornamental Grasses. …
• Evergreen Moss. …
• Native Perennial Beds. …
• Artificial Turf.

What is the cheapest way to landscape a backyard?

10 Ideas for Backyard Landscaping on a Budget

1. 10 Cheap Landscaping Ideas for the Backyard.
2. Use Mulch Alternatives. …
3. Repurpose Old Tires. …
4. Go Vertical With Your Gardening. …
5. Add a Splash of Color. …
6. Plant Useful Plants. …
7. Opt for Natural Perennial Ground Covers. …
8. Build an Outdoor Fire Pit.

How do you do a backyard makeover on a budget?
Your DIY Guide to a Backyard Makeover on a Budget

1. Build a DIY Deck or Patio. Photo via @seekingalexi. …
2. Lay Down an Outdoor Rug. Photo via @alexandmike. …
3. Create a Stone Path. Photo via @plaids.and.poppies. …
4. Construct a Tree Bench. …
5. Set Up a Trellis. …
6. Create Shade with a Pergola. …
7. Invest in a Fountain. …
8. Use a Stock Tank Pool.

How do you make a small backyard into an oasis?

10 Ways to Turn Your Outdoor Space Into an Oasis

1. Retractable Shade. To shade a hot-spot, consider a retractable shade like the one on this pergola. …
2. Privacy Screens. …
3. Grow a Living Wall. …
4. Space for Kids and Grown Ups. …
5. Paver Pedestal System. …
6. Add Texture and Interest. …
7. Plant an Herb Wall. …
8. Privacy and Parties.

What is the easiest ground cover to grow?

The Best Low-Maintenance Ground Covers for Your Garden

• Heuchera. 1/11. An evergreen perennial, heuchera is known for its vibrant foliage, which ranges in color from silver to green to brown. …
• Honeysuckle. 2/11. …
• Brass Buttons. 3/11. …
• Creeping Phlox. 4/11. …
• Creeping Jenny. 5/11. …
• Stonecrop. 6/11. …
• Vinca Minor. 7/11. …
• Lamium. 8/11.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

What ground cover can you walk on?

Here are some good groundcovers you can walk on: Thyme (Thymus sp.) – Includes several walkable groundcovers such as woolly thyme, red creeping thyme, and mother-of-thyme.

What is the cheapest alternative to grass?

• Moss. If you have a shady yard, or a shady area in your yard, moss can be a great, low-maintenance alternative to grass. …
• Gravel. Gravel is an economical, simple alternative that can be used anywhere you need a ground cover. …
• Wood Chips or Bark. …
• Mulch.

How do I make a backyard oasis?

12 Tips for Creating a Backyard Oasis this Summer

1. Focus on privacy. …
2. Eliminate (or control) any bug problems. …
3. Create a conversation area. …
4. Build a deck or patio space. …
5. Ground the space with an outdoor rug. …
6. Add a dining table and chairs. …
7. Use weather-proof materials. …
8. Add at least one comfortable, loungey piece of furniture.

How do you make a back yard?

11 Steps to a Better Backyard

1. Build an arbor or a pergola. …
2. Add a walkway. …
3. Locate utilities before digging in. …
4. Know the mature size of a plant at planting time. …
5. Design primary paths to be at least 5 feet wide. …
6. Don’t crowd pathways or patios. …
7. Allow at least 3 feet of open space around patio furniture to ensure easy passage.

What is considered a small backyard?

What is a good budget for landscaping?

A general rule of thumb is to spend 10% of your home’s value on landscaping. So, if you have a $400,000 house then a landscaping budget of $40,000 is appropriate.

What is a good ground cover?

While grass is typically the best way to fill out empty space, sometimes low-growing plants are a better — and prettier — option. There are so many options to choose from, including old favorites like Pachysandra and Vinca, as well as small shrubs, perennials, and annuals.

What is a good substitute for mulch?

7 alternatives to traditional mulch

• Bark and wood chips. Frequently used on flower beds and around small bushes and shrubs, bark and wood chips are known to provide nutrients to the soil as they decay. …
• Pebbles and rocks. …
• Leaves and pine needles. …
• Grass clippings. …
• Rubber mulch. …
• Compost. …
• Newspaper.

How do I upgrade my backyard?

15 Ways to Upgrade Your Backyard This Summer

1. Downsize the Stuff. Go through the pile of kids’ bikes, gardening tools, or extra plant pots lingering in the corner of your backyard. …
2. Shine Up Areas. …
3. Look at Plants. …
4. Bring in Color. …
5. Add a Path. …
6. Invest in Furniture. …
7. Light Up a Fire Pit. …
8. Think of Movement.

How can I make my yard look nice?

12 simple front yard landscaping ideas that can add serious curb appeal

1. Add rock features. …
2. Add lighting. …
3. Upgrade a bed border. …
4. Plant ground cover to hide unsightly areas. …
5. Plant perennial shrubs in front of your house. …
6. Make a garden bed around your mailbox. …
7. Haul out old mulch and refresh. …
8. Build a flower bed around a tree.

How can I do cheap landscaping?

Affordable Landscaping Tips

1. Add a Flower Bed Border.
2. Add a Path.
3. Use a Retaining Wall.
4. Use Colours to your Advantage.
5. Build an Outdoor Firepit.
6. Use Borders.
7. Revamp your Patio with Pavers.
8. Use Simple Elements.

How do I add luxury to my backyard?

25 Inspirational Ideas to Create a Luxury Resort Style Backyard

1. Outdoor Umbrellas. The use of outdoor umbrellas adds that desired luxury resort experience to any home patio. …
2. Oversized Potted Plants. …
3. Modern Outdoor Firepit. …
4. Backyard Daybeds. …
5. Porch Swing. …
6. Poolside Lounge Area. …
7. Outdoor Fine Dining. …
8. Backyard Bar Fun.

How can I design my backyard online?

The 9 Best Free Online Landscape and Garden Design Tools

1. Better Homes & Gardens’ Plan-a-Garden. …
2. Gardena My Garden. …
3. VegPlotter. …
4. TimberTech Deck Designer. …
5. Marshalls Paving Planner. …
6. Bradstone Paving Planner. …
7. SmartDraw Backyard Design Plans. …
8. Lowe’s Deck Designer.

How can I make my patio look bigger?

Easily Make Your Garden Look Bigger

1. Level Up. Altering your outdoor space to include levels can transform your space completely. …
2. Zone Out. Another great way to instantly make your garden seem more spacious is to divide your plot into specified areas or zones. …
3. Reflection. …
4. High Standards. …
5. Trees a Crowd.

What is a good ground cover that blooms all summer?

Our Favorite Flowering Ground Covers

• Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) …
• Canadian anemone (Anemone canadensis) …
• Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) …
• Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) …
• Creeping Thyme (Thymus serphyllum) …
• Deadnettle (Lamium maculatum) …
• Hosta (Hosta sieboldiana) …
• Horned Violet (Viola cornuta)

Is there a ground cover that blooms all summer?

Lamium. Also known as deadnettle, lamium is a reliable, easy-care groundcover for shade. Most types bloom through the summer, producing clusters of pink, purple, or white flowers. Even when not in bloom, lamium has eye-catching, silver-marked green foliage that brightens up shady corners.

Do you cut back ground cover?

Pruning ground covers is usually necessary only to remove unhealthy tissue, awkward or straggling branches, or to keep a plant from becoming too invasive. Many ground covers are prone to decline as they age, however. Others are so vigorous that controlling their growth is an ongoing maintenance task.

Can I walk on creeping jenny?

Creeping Jenny works well growing between stepping stones, where it will tolerate some foot traffic. … In the late spring, creeping Jenny also produces dainty butter-yellow flowers.

What ground cover chokes out grass?

The Dragon’s blood sedum or Schorbuser Blut is considered the most versatile and toughest ground cover that can choke out weeds. Similar to creeping jenny, this type of ground cover also has stems that easily root, so it’s fast to proliferate.

Is Moss a good ground cover?

Using moss as lawn provides wonderful springy groundcover that can be walked on moderately — a no-mow alternative with rich, deep color and texture. It just might be a good choice for your lawn needs.

Perrine Juillion

Graduated from ENSAT (national agronomic school of Toulouse) in plant sciences in 2018, I pursued a CIFRE doctorate under contract with Sun’Agri and INRAE ​​in Avignon between 2019 and 2022. My thesis aimed to study dynamic agrivoltaic systems, in my case in arboriculture. I love to write and share science related Stuff Here on my Website. I am currently continuing at Sun’Agri as an R&D engineer.