How Do I Make My Own Backyard Landscape?

Are you ready to turn your backyard into a pristine, peaceful retreat? The best way to start is with a plan.

By getting an overall sense of what you want for your space, you can then determine a budget and choose the right materials and plants for your landscape design.

Keep reading for tips on how to make your own backyard landscape from start (mowing, weeding) to finish (planting perennials).

How To Design The Perfect Landscape | Landscape Design 101

Takeaways
Use a variety of plants that thrive in your climate
Incorporate sustainable features for a more eco-friendly backyard
Consider the cost of materials and design complexity when budgeting for backyard landscaping
Regular maintenance is essential for a beautiful and healthy backyard landscape
Consult with a professional landscaper for more extensive projects or maintenance tasks

Table of Contents

Mow The Lawn And Weed

When it comes to your lawn, the first step is to mow the grass. If you have a small backyard, you may be able to get away with a handheld push mower.

If not, you’ll need a riding lawnmower. Before purchasing one, think about how often you’ll need to use it and what size yard you have you don’t want a ride-on that’s too small for your needs or too large for a small yard!

Once you’ve got your equipment squared away, make sure that you’re using it properly by following these tips:

Make sure that the grass is dry before cutting and try not to cut when it’s wet—this will cause clumping in the grass which can lead to disease problems.

Mow often enough so that there’s only an inch or two between cuts; this keeps weeds from taking over without sacrificing too much turf health (keep in mind: fast-growing species such as rye tend not to recover well).

Use mulching blades on your mower whenever possible; these allow for faster decomposition of clippings into nutrients for plants while also reducing fertilizer usage!

Transforming a barren backyard into a lush green paradise can seem overwhelming, but laying down turf can be a great first step. Our article on how to put turf down in your backyard provides easy-to-follow instructions to get you started.

Add Mulch

If you live in a region with harsh winters, use a light-colored mulch. For example, if your area gets snowfall, choose one that is white or tan.

If you live in an area with warmer winters or year-round sun exposure, then consider using darker colors such as brown and black (though these will heat up the soil more).

Mulches also come in different sizes: large wood chips or bark pieces, small pebbles or gravels for drainage; small shredded tree branches for aeration; pine needles for acidity; straw bales to help retain water—and even plastic sheets!

It’s important to know how much space is available before choosing which type of mulch would work best for your design aesthetic.

Trim Shrubs And Trees

Trim shrubs and trees to keep them in shape.

When trimming a shrub, it’s important to keep the height of the plant consistent throughout its life. This means that you should prune it when it is young (by cutting off branches at ground level) and then again as it grows taller.

This way, you’ll always have a short bush with evenly spaced branches that don’t stick out too far from their base. If you want to make your own landscape using this method, consider using an edger to help ensure that each branch meets up with the next one perfectly.

When trimming trees, be sure not to take off more than 10 percent of their foliage at once (if possible). Remember: You want your tree or bush looking healthy!

If you’re new to backyard landscaping, it can be hard to know where to begin. Our guide on how to start landscaping your backyard offers practical tips and ideas to help you create a beautiful outdoor space.

Weed Garden Beds

A weed garden bed is an excellent way to make your backyard landscape look beautiful, while also keeping your yard looking neat and tidy.

If you already have a garden, adding new beds in empty spaces will allow you to use the same tools on different areas of the yard and save money by doing so.

To start a weed garden bed, use a garden fork to remove weeds from the soil. Make sure that you don’t yank them because this causes damage to the roots and can make it harder for those plants to grow later on.

Also avoid using a rototiller because this will spread seeds around the area which will result in more weeds!

To get rid of existing weeds without killing nearby plants (and thus creating more), simply use a hoe or mattock (a hand tool similar to an axe) along with some sharp blades.

This method allows us not only reduce our workload but also protect other plants from being damaged too much – especially since many homeowners prefer not having too much effort involved when it comes down maintenance work like weeding out unwanted species from their gardens!

Add Color With Flowers

Planting: If you’re looking to plant flowers in your backyard, there’s no need to buy seed packets at the store.

You can also start seeds indoors, or purchase them from a nursery. Once they’ve grown into plants, transplant them into your garden when the weather warms up—if it’s too cold outside, move them inside until then!

Growing from cuttings: Cuttings are small pieces of plants that can be used for propagation. After cutting off a piece of the mother plant and allowing it to dry slightly (either in air or soil), place the end root-side down in moist dirt and wait for roots to form before moving it back outside!

Starting with bulbs: Bulbs are dormant but will burst into bloom once conditions are right (i.e., after being planted). They usually come as part of kits that include everything you’ll need for successful planting—just follow directions carefully!

Growing divisions: Divisions are basically just pups (baby plants) which come from roots rather than seeds; this means that their growth rate is much faster than other types because there’s no waiting period between germination stages like there would be if starting from scratch!

Designing a beautiful landscaping front yard can be challenging, but the principles also apply to backyard landscaping. Our article on designing a landscaping front yard provides expert advice on layout, plant selection, and more.

Prune Trees, Bushes And Vines For Shape

For trees, bushes and vines, pruning is a great way to keep them healthy. Prune them in the spring or fall to shape them as you see fit.

If you’re removing deadwood or branches that are diseased, you can do it any time of year, but try not to remove more than one-third of a plant’s overall canopy at once.

The best time to do this is when the plant is dormant between November and March for most temperate climates and pruned back after flowering so it has time to regrow before next year’s flowering season begins.

For large shrubs such as boxwoods or hydrangea bushes (which have multiple stems), use loppers instead of hand pruners because they’ll give you more leverage when cutting thick branches with thick stems.

For smaller shrubs like lilac bushes or roses with thin stems, use hand pruners instead because they’ll make it easier on your hands since these kinds of plants tend to have thinner branches than those found on larger shrubs

Cut Back Perennials That Are Done Flowering

Prune perennials that are done flowering. Perennials like Russian sage and Canterbury bells will send up new growth after they have finished blooming. That’s why they need to be pruned back once they have finished flowering, but not until then.

If you want to keep your perennials looking tidy and attractive all season long, don’t cut them all the way back now; just trim them down to about half their size so that you can enjoy their beautiful foliage for another few weeks.

Don’t prune back perennials that are still in bloom either! You may think this is a good idea because those plants look messy or unkempt, but if you cut off too much of their stems early in the season (think late spring or early summer), it will take them longer than usual to grow new shoots and by then it will be too late for them to bloom again before fall comes around next year.

Landscaping a backyard can be a major investment, but the benefits are priceless. Our guide on how much it costs to fully landscape a backyard offers insight on budgeting for materials, labor, and other expenses.

Replant Containers With Seasonal Flowers

The next step is to plant the containers. It’s important to match your plants with the season, so make sure you choose flowers that are in bloom at this time of year.

You should also choose perennial flowers, because they can withstand cold weather and will keep blooming all year long if they’re well cared for.

If you want to add color and beauty to your yard but don’t have much space or money, planting flowers in containers is a great option!

Container gardening allows people like me who live in apartments with tiny yards (or even no yard at all) an opportunity to grow their own plants without taking up too much space indoors or outdoors.

Clean Out The Water Feature

It’s important to make sure your water feature is clean and free of debris. Remove leaves and other debris from the water feature, including at the bottom of the pool if it has one.

Clean out any debris that has collected at the bottom of your water feature by removing all plants, plants pots and other objects from around it – they will simply rot in place and be replaced by mud when you start to use your new landscape.

Clean out any debris that may have gathered inside or on top of your pump (if applicable). Check your filter for clogs as well – this may mean removing some plants so that you can get access to them more easily.

Hosting a backyard movie night is a great way to enjoy your new landscape. Our article on how to do a backyard movie night provides tips on choosing the right equipment, setting up a cozy atmosphere, and selecting the perfect movie for the occasion.

Clean Up Leftover Debris From Winter Storms

The first thing you need to do is remove any leftover debris from winter storms. That includes:

Cleaning out gutters and downspouts.

Removing snow from roof and gutters, as well as trees and shrubs. You may want to use a snow rake or a blower to break up ice dams if you have them.

Conclusion

We hope that this post has given you some ideas on how to make your own backyard landscape.

If you’re still unsure about where to start, don’t worry! Our landscaping professionals can help guide you in the right direction with their expertise in all things outdoor living.

FAQs

How do I choose the right plants for my backyard landscape?

Select plants based on your climate, soil type, and the amount of sun and shade your backyard receives. Consider the size and growth habits of each plant, and choose plants that will complement each other in terms of color, texture, and form.

How can I make my backyard landscape more sustainable?

Consider using native plants, installing a rain garden, and using permeable paving materials to reduce runoff. Incorporate sustainable features like composting, rainwater harvesting, and a vegetable garden.

How much should I budget for backyard landscaping?

The cost of backyard landscaping varies depending on the size of your yard, the materials used, and the complexity of the design. A basic landscape design might cost between $1,000 and $5,000, while a more elaborate design could cost tens of thousands of dollars.

How often should I water my backyard landscape?

The frequency of watering depends on the type of plants you have, the climate in your area, and the amount of rainfall. Generally, most plants need to be watered deeply once or twice a week, but you should check the soil moisture level regularly to make sure it is not too dry or too wet.

How do I maintain my backyard landscape?

Regular maintenance tasks include watering, pruning, weeding, fertilizing, and pest control. You should also clean up fallen leaves and debris regularly to keep your yard looking tidy. Consider hiring a professional landscaper for more extensive maintenance tasks like trimming large trees or installing hardscaping features.

Hellen James

I am Hellen James, a landscape architect. For many years I have written about landscaping for various publications; however, recently decided to focus my writing on personal experience as a profession.