15 Yard Landscaping Ideas For Unique Outdoor Spaces
Published: 27/03/2023 | Updated: 10/09/2023Whether you want to add a few plants or completely transform your outdoor space, landscaping ideas can help you create the perfect outdoor oasis.
Whether you're just starting in gardening or have been cultivating your garden for years, here are 15 backyard landscaping ideas that will inspire you:
1. Add a Seating Area
If you want to create an outdoor space that's the perfect spot for relaxing, consider adding chairs and some comfortable seating.
There are many options available, including benches and swings that can be used as standalone pieces or combined with other elements of your yard design (like trees).
If you want something more unique than the traditional bench or swing setup, but don't want to go overboard on cost, consider putting in a hammock instead!
You could also choose from various types of sofas or chairs as well as rocking chairs if you'd rather not have something too bulky taking up space in your yard.
2. Create a Garden Path
A garden path is a great way to create a unique and functional outdoor space.
The best part about it is that you have control over the materials used and their arrangement, so you can make it as simple or elaborate as you'd like.
Make sure the path is easy to walk on by making it at least enough for one person at a time and using gentle slopes where necessary.
You might want an even surface around your garden so guests don't trip over rocks or get stuck in the mud.
You can choose a soft surface like grass or sand underfoot if you don't want weeds growing up through cracks between stones.
3. Add a Fire Pit
When it comes to outdoor entertaining, fire pits are a great way to add a little extra fun.
They can be used for cooking, roasting marshmallows, or relaxing by the fire.
A backyard fire pit is also great for keeping bugs away.
The smoke will keep mosquitoes and flies away from you and your guests while they're sitting around enjoying their evening meal!
4. Add a Garden Shed
As you may have guessed, a garden shed is a great place to store tools and supplies.
It can also be used as a workshop if you're into woodworking or metalworking.
A garden shed can even serve as a playhouse for children, or maybe even just an actual house!
You could turn it into a greenhouse by adding open windows and doors so plants can get plenty of sunlight.
5. Design Your Landscape Around Existing Trees and Bushes
The first step to creating a landscape design around existing trees and bushes is to use them as a starting point for your landscaping design.
Consider how much space you need for all of the flowering shrubs and plants you want to grow in a sitting area, then decide if there's enough room for them. If not, some trimming may be necessary.
After that, it's time to start planting!
6. Plant Native Plants
Native plants are adapted to your local climate and soil conditions, making them more likely to survive in your area.
This can be especially helpful if you're new to the area or have recently moved.
If you want to add some greenery to a small space but aren't sure where to start, ask a nursery worker for recommendations on what types of plants would do well in your yard.
Or check out our article on how native plants can attract local wildlife!
7. Make a beautiful garden path.
The first step to creating a beautiful garden path is choosing the right material.
You can use gravel or stone, but you should consider the cost of these materials and how they will look when they are used in your yard or landscape.
If you want to save money and create something more natural-looking, mulch is another option that can be used on its own or combined with other materials like wood chips or bark chips.
Your goal should be easy maintenance so try not to do anything too fancy here.
8. Add Flower Beds
Flower beds are great for adding color, texture, and visual interest to your yard.
They're also easy to create, especially if you already have some flower seeds lying around in your pantry. To make a flower bed:
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Select the location of your new flower bed. You want it to be somewhere where people will see it often--near an entryway or patio would be ideal.
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Dig out any weeds with invasive roots. These can compete with new plants for nutrients in their soil space.
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Lay down some mulch so water doesn't drain away too quickly once applied onto freshly-turned earth. This will also help prevent erosion from happening over time due to heavy rains falling.
9. Add Ground Cover to Keep Weeds at the Bay
If you're looking to create a lush, green space in your yard, ground-cover plants are an excellent way to do so.
They can be planted in large areas or with small trees as accents. They grow quickly and will fill in any bare spots where the grass is sparse or nonexistent.
Ground covers have several benefits:
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They prevent weeds from growing by blocking sunlight (the most common cause of weed growth).
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They add color and texture to your lawn.
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Some even provide medicinal benefits!
Here are some ground cover plants that can be planted around your porch and yard:
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Creeping thyme
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Dwarf creeping phlox (Pulmonaria)
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Starved Rock Stonecrop
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Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum)
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English ivy (Hedera helix)
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Lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis)
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Siberian bugloss
10. Create a Vegetable Garden for Fresh Veggies Year-Round
Whether you want to grow your food or simply enjoy the pleasure of gardening, a vegetable garden is an excellent way to create a beautiful space that will provide you and your family with healthy, organic produce.
There are many ways to create a vegetable garden, but one of the easiest and most efficient is to simply lay down mulch to prevent weeds from growing.
This will also help keep moisture in your soil so you don’t have to water too often.
Here are some tips to get you started:
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Plant vegetables that grow well in your climate.
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Choose vegetables you like to eat.
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Choose plants that are easy to grow and self-sustaining.
11. Build a Treehouse for Children
Building a treehouse for children is an excellent way to create something fun, functional, and beautiful in your backyard.
It can be as simple or complex as you want it to be, but the best part about building a treehouse for kids is that they'll have a safe and beautiful place to play outside.
Here are some things to consider:
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Make it safe and secure
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Make it fun and interesting
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Use natural materials, like wood from trees on your property (recycled if possible).
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Use recycled materials, like old windows or doors that can be repurposed as walls or furniture in the treehouse.
12. Grow Hybrid Tea Roses & Climbing Roses
Hybrid tea roses are the most popular type of rose.
They're easy to grow and maintain, they have colorful flowers and long-lasting flowers that come in a wide variety of colors, and they're fragrant.
If you want your yard to be filled with beautiful blooms year-round in summer, consider planting hybrid tea roses or climbing roses (also known as ramblers).
Both types of right plants are ideal for trellises or fences because they can climb up them without any help!
13. Add a Pergola or a Trellis
A pergola or trellis wall is an excellent addition to your outdoor space, as it can be used for several purposes.
It can be used to grow climbing plants such as clematis, honeysuckle, and roses.
It may also provide shade for a seating area and help keep out unwanted pests.
If you want to grow grapes or other fruit trees in your yard, consider installing a pergola that will give them some extra support.
14. Repurpose Old Furniture Into Planters
When you're looking for yard landscaping ideas, you can use old furniture to create a backyard planter.
You can repurpose an old dresser or table into a planter by removing the drawers and adding holes for drainage.
This will allow you to plant flowers or vegetables in it without worrying about them getting wet when it rains.
15. Build Interesting Water Features
Water features can add a soothing sound and ambiance to your yard. They're also great for creating focal points, like ponds or pools.
You can even build an elaborate water feature that will become the centerpiece of your landscape design!
Some examples include:
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A small fountain in the middle of your garden beds. This is perfect if you want something simple and low maintenance but still want something eye-catching.
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A pond with pathways. It'll give everyone who visits something new about nature.
Have Fun With These Backyard Landscaping Ideas!
So, there you have it: 15 front-yard landscaping ideas, for a unique outdoor space.
We hope that these tips have inspired you to create your beautiful landscape!
And remember, before you get started on your backyard landscaping project, it's important to define the problem. What do you want from a yard?
Do you want it to be more functional or more beautiful? Is it more important for the space to reflect who you are as a person, or for it to complement the rest of your home?
Once you have an idea of what kind of yard would work best for your needs, set some goals and make sure they're realistic.
Finally, if you need help with your landscaping project, don't hesitate to consult the experts at ShrubHub for the best landscaping options at discounted and affordable prices!