It’s a beautiful day when the sun is shining and the birds are chirping. You go outside to enjoy the natural setting but your backyard is nothing like a welcoming place where you can reconnect with nature. If this scenario sounds familiar to you, your backyard most likely needs a complete refresh. Here are 5 landscaping ideas and tips to help you reinvent your backyard:
Get to know your property
First things first, before you even start to plan your landscaping project, you need to get to know your property. There are a number of characteristics that you must determine before you start planning the outdoor space of your property.
First of all, you need to determine the size of your backyard. Then, you need to see how much free space you can use in your project. For example, if there is an old huge tree in the middle of your outdoor space, you need to determine whether your landscaping project will be around the tree or whether you want to cut it down.
However, landscaping experts advise homeowners to avoid destroying the natural elements that already exist in their outdoor space. Instead, it is recommended to find a way to integrate them nicely in their landscaping projects.
Secondly, once you have determined the available space you can work with, it is time to decide what can be done about the gardening area. Start by determining what type of soil you have in your garden. For example, not all types of soils are suitable for grass, especially in sand wet areas. So, depending on the type of plants you want to have in your garden and the type of soil you need for them to grow, you need to use a topsoil volume and price calculator to determine how much soil you will need for your gardening project.
Next, another factor that will influence the gardening area of your outdoor space is the climate of your area. So, when choosing the plants for your gardening project, make sure you choose plants that can grow in an environment with your type of climate.
Use borrowed views
This is a pro tip and may sound more complicated than it is in reality. However, all that it takes is to take a look at your immediate surroundings and see if there is any spectacular view that you can include in your landscaping project.
For example, does your neighbor have a spectacular big old tree in their yard that is also visible from your backyard? If yes, you should certainly avoid to cover that view but rather use it in your project.
Using surrounding elements in your landscaping project can make a huge difference in the final results. If your surroundings already offer you such amazing elements, why not include them in your project? So, don’t raise that high brick fence but rather let the view be part of your outdoor experience.
Build pallets furniture
Pallet furniture is one of the newest and most popular trends in the landscaping industry. pallets are not only extremely cheap and easy to use in your outdoor projects, but they can also look extremely fashionable in your yard if you customize them properly. You can find a number of DIY projects on how to build outdoor furniture using pallets.
You can even build a fun swing for your kids and hang it on that large tree you have in your yard. Every garden needs a seating area in order for you to enjoy spending time in nature in your own backyard. So, you can use pallets to build benches and a table where you can have your breakfast or morning coffee.
If you also have a pool in your backyard, you can also use pallets to build a bar which can be extremely useful if you are planning to host a few pool parties this summer.
There is no limit to how many things you can build using pallets for your outdoor area. All you have to do is to use your imagination and create outdoor elements in a cheap and sustainable way.
Create an experience
Go outside in your backyard and close your eyes for a few seconds. Imagine what you would like to hear or what you would like to see when you open your eyes. Would you like to hear the calming sound of water? Then, you should certainly add a water feature in your garden. Would you like to think of your backyard as a corner where you can connect with nature in the concrete jungle? Then, you should plant more trees and flowers. That’s how you manage to make an outdoor space that gives a full experience of senses, not just a visual one.
There are several elements that you can include in your landscaping project such as a swimming pool, fountains, retaining walls, or fire pits that will create a full experience for the senses. There will be nothing more relaxing after a stressful day at work than to sit in your backyard with your family and enjoy the experience of natural elements that you have created.
Use outdoor lighting
Although lighting is hardly your priority in your landscaping project, you should really take this idea seriously. Outdoor lighting can contribute to the experience you create in your backyard more than you would even imagine right now.
Outdoor lighting isn’t only necessary to be able to see the walking path during dark nights. It can also enhance the way your garden looks offering a spectacular experience during the nighttime.
Whether you choose to use LED fairy lights, solar spotlights, or string lights , you need to calculate how much are you want to illuminate. Also, you can choose subtle lighting for the seating area of your outdoor which will create a more private setting for romantic dinners in your backyard.
Landscaping can seem intimidating when you are not a pro and you are just starting your first project. However, with a little bit of research and tips from experts, you can reshape the way your backyard will look.