Back YardDoes your back yard landscaping need a boost? From time to time everyone gets a little bored with the standard back yard landscaping and wants to try something a little different. Here are some ideas that can give your back yard landscaping a much-needed kick.

Try a water feature
I know, the whole idea of a water feature is pretty scary. They seem like so much work, both to build and to maintain. But a water feature can be as simple as a backyard fountain, and actually that’s a great place to start if you’ve never had a water feature before. All you need to do to install a fountain is dig a hole for the base (such as a rigid pond liner), install the motor and plumbing, attach the fountain itself, fill it with water and turn the motor on. It’s a good afternoon project that will show you how fun it can be to have water in your yard.

Once you’ve graduated from fountains, a small pond is a good next step. Pond liners are available in many shapes and sizes at home improvement and garden supply stores. You can also use flexible pond liner to make a pond of any shape you like. Laying a garden hose on the ground can help you know where to dig, or you can spray-paint a digging line on the ground. Dig your hole, then put a couple of inches of sand in the bottom. Install any drains, then add your liner. Fill with water, landscape around it (making sure the edging is higher then the ground around it to prevent runoff into the pond that will muddy up your water) and enjoy.

If you’d like a larger water feature, you can add waterfalls, streams, a fish pond, a water garden, or whatever else you desire.

Consider planting themes
It can be a lot of fun and add a nice touch to your back yard landscaping to plant a bed or an area of your yard with a theme in mind. Whether you want a night garden full of white flowers like moonflower that bloom best after dark, or a garden that’s all blue, pick a fun theme and go with it.

Here are some ideas for theme gardens of beds that you might want to try:

Plants that are all the same color

Patriotic garden: everything is red, white or blue

Alphabet garden: pick one letter of the alphabet and all the plants have to start with that letter

Edible garden: outside of your regular vegetable garden, plant things that can be eaten but look pretty enough to grow anyway

Wildflower garden

Plants from songs or poems

Plants that are the birth flowers of all the members of your family

Use annuals to spell family members’ names or put their initials in the garden

Try something new
The great thing about back yard landscaping is that no one needs to see it but you, your family and anyone you invite into your yard. It’s not like the front yard, where strangers can see your hits as well as your misses.

If you’ve wanted to try a plant and you aren’t sure it will be successful in your yard, plant it in the back yard. Better yet, go to your local nursery or garden supply store and pick up a plan or two that you have never seen, heard of or grown before. Of course make sure conditions in your yard are right for the plant before you buy it. You just might fall in love with a plant you’d never considered.

The key to successful back yard landscaping is to be adventurous. Try new things, have fun, and share your love of with your kids, friends and family. You just might start a new trend in back yard landscaping!
Plow & Hearth