Whether you plan on doing it yourself or hiring a contractor, you should know what you want your lawn to look like before you start renovating. Here’s how to create a new and impressive backyard that will be the perfect canvas for any patio or garden.
Build a Patio
A patio is the sturdy foundation and hub of a backyard, no matter the patio design. Due to the number of materials with which you can create a patio, patios are also highly customizable. Although every patio should have an inch of concrete mix over 8 to 10 inches of gravel, what you put on top is entirely up to you. Here are just a few of the many materials you can use:
- Patterned or tinted concrete
- Brick
- Bluestone
- Quartzite
- Pavers
- Slate
- Granite
- Sand
Or you can mix and match to your heart’s content.
In addition, there are a few key components to remember. Ensure that you or your contractor adds an irrigation system to the patio’s base. Standing water is the enemy, so also make sure your patio surface is smooth and at a slight angle that leads to soil or drains.
Plant With the Seasons
Trees and shrubs are great ways to reduce any noise pollution in your backyard, and flowers are just beautiful to look at. However, your garden can quickly turn sad with the change of the seasons, so you’ll want to keep perennials in your yard to keep it green year round. If you and or your gardener is up for the challenge, here are a few gorgeous seasonal plants to keep in mind:
- Spring: tulips, daffodils, primroses, or lupine
- Summer: marigolds, zinnias, hibiscus, or purple coneflowers
- Fall: chrysanthemums, purple fountain grass, dianthus, or flowering kale
- Winter: snowdrops, cyclamen, camellias, or starflowers
These are just a few of the many seasonal plants. Just be sure to keep in mind what can actually grow in your area and how bad the weather gets throughout the year.
Add Pathways and Accessories
Suppose you have a larger backyard or want to give the illusion of length with winding garden paths of gravel, mulch, sand, or stones cutting nicely through all the greens. If you use the right material, you can also work pathways into your garden. Arbors and archways also add horizontal flair to your garden, and you can twist in greenery such as moss and ivy.
Fountains and artificial streams also add an air of peace and tranquility, and you can build them into your backyard’s irrigation system. There are fountains for almost any style you’d like to achieve; wall fountains, tiered fountains, and spring fountains are just a few. You can also have the fountain fuel a stream if you want to combine the two.
These tips for creating a new and impressive backyard will help you create the backyard of your dreams. So start brainstorming that patio plan and make your vision come true!
