Designing a Back Yard Landscaping Plan

Planning the landscaping for your back yard can be a lot of fun. You usually have more space to play with in the back yard than you do in the front, and you probably have several different zones with different needs where you can play with different plants.

In my yard there are areas of sun and deep shade, a flat place for a vegetable garden, a patio filled with herbs in pots, even a sunny spot where a previous owner planted spring flower bulbs in the yard. There are trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables, giving me ample opportunity to try new things and learn more about plants every day.

When you are planning your own back yard landscaping, odds are there will be some things already in place. You probably aren't starting from scratch on a new lot. Even if you are, there might already be trees or sod when you start making your plan.

Mark out your plans

The first step, then, is to look at what you already have. If you're making big plans you might want to measure your back yard and draw out the existing features on a piece of graph paper. Mark out where the fence is, where your patio is and how large it is, where any trees are and so on. You might also want to label features such as hills, sunny spots, the gate in the fence, your air conditioner, and whatever else is permanent that should be taken into account when you make your plans.

The second step for back yard landscaping is to decide what you want out of your back yard. Do you plan to do a lot of grilling and entertaining on the patio? Do you have children who need a play area? Do you want a vegetable garden or a spot for flowers you can cut and bring into the house? What about a compost pile? A seating area away from the main patio? A hammock? More shade? Make a list and ask everyone in the family what they would like out of the new backyard.

This wish list will probably include more things than you can do with your space or your budget, but it will give you a place to start when planning your new back yard landscaping. Prioritize your list based on what you most want and the changes that will most affect your happiness with the yard and the amount of time you will use it.

Of course plants are one of the most important aspects to your back yard landscaping plan, but it makes sense to decide what non-plant additions you want to make to your back yard, if any, before you start planting new plants. For instance, if you want to take out the play area since your kids are grown and want to add a hammock and a fireplace, you'll want to place those features first so that you can landscape around them. You don't want to go to the time and effort of placing plants only to have to move them when you realize you planted up the perfect spot for your new storage shed.

Including your plants

Once you have all the large elements in place, which would include any new trees you want to put in, you can reassess the yard and start thinking about the plants that you want to include in your back yard landscaping. As always, consider the amount of sun or shade the plants will get, what other plants are nearby so your colors or nutrient needs don't clash, and what you need in terms of maintenance. There are many beautiful plants that are easy to care for and will make spending time in your back yard a much more enjoyable experience.

If you're clueless as to what plants you would like to include in your back yard landscaping, go for a walk around your neighborhood. Look at the plants that your neighbors have chosen for their yards. Don't go breaking into other people's fences, but look at what you can see. If someone has a really great front yard, make it an excuse to get to know them and ask if you can see their back yard. Most people are happy to share their gardening knowledge and let you know what plants have worked well for them.

Looking at established plants that are already in your neighborhood will make it easier for you to imagine them in your own yard than if you just saw them in the garden center. If your town has a botanical garden, rose garden, or lavishly landscaped park, go walk around, take notes, take pictures, and ask questions if there are knowledgeable people around. Sure these places have bigger budgets than you do, but they can also help you dream big and pick great plants for your back yard.