Crafting Your Green Retreat: DIY Backyard Landscaping Ideas
Looking for ideas to create a beautiful backyard for your home? We’ve covered landscaping ideas for your front yard, now let’s do the backyard and transform it into a haven for the family.
Many backyards are neglected areas, simply due to our busy lives, these spaces end up used as dumping grounds for green or general waste and other unused items. But with a bit of effort, doing a DIY landscaping job will add value to your home as well as bring joy to you and your family.
Overview:
Top 5 Ideas for your DIY backyard landscaping project
How to get rid of rubbish from your backyard landscaping
Ideas for your backyard DIY project
Have a think about what you want to add to your lifestyle, perhaps you would like an outdoor entertaining area for when you host friends and family? Or maybe your backyard is in need of some shade trees to help cool things down. Maybe it needs some clearing, pruning, repairing and mowing ahead of bushfire season. Are you interested in getting into permaculture?
There are so many options and ultimately it comes down to personal taste and how you intend to spend time in your backyard. We’ve put together some thought starters below to inspire you.
1. Add height to your garden and provide shade
Make your garden feel like a retreat and bring the temperature down a few degrees by incorporating shade trees into your landscaping plan. A bonus if they can shade the sides of your house that get the most summer sun, this is a great energy-saving hack to save you from turning on the air-con.
If you don’t want to risk losing winter sun – no problem – opt for deciduous trees which will lose their leaves in winter enabling sunlight to make its way through. Your local nursery will have great advice on which trees and plants will grow well in your climate and in your soil.
2. A shady oasis: backyard DIY landscaping ideas
Permaculture is generating increasing interest in suburban communities. Permaculture is a system that integrates land, resources, people and the environment – imitating the no-waste, closed-loop systems seen in diverse natural environments.
A bit of work and forethought is required to make this happen but you will reap the benefits, imagine eating dinner out of your backyard! There are many guides to help you achieve this and you are sure to find people in your local community doing this already. Connect with them by reaching out to your closest community garden or crop swap – they will be happy to help! We’ve written a guide on home composting which will come in handy.
3. A DIY outdoor entertainment area
Fancy a place to kick back with friends or family? Create an entertaining area with an outdoor setting in your backyard. With the ever-increasing cost of living, staying home and hosting yourself is a great way to save money and not miss out.
Consider incorporating some paths into your garden design, which can lead to an outdoor setting. Our quick and easy DIY favourite is decorative gravel aggregate paths (the kids will love it too – the sound they make underfoot is a sensory delight!).
4. Ditch the lawn and opt for groundcover
Is your backyard simply taking up too much of your time? The constant maintenance required to keep it looking cared for can be overwhelming.
This might be controversial – Australians love lawns but we know that they are extremely water-intensive and require a lot of maintenance. There are other options to keep your backyard looking fantastic with as little work as possible.
Kidney weed ‘Dichondra repens’ is a great native groundcover, it grows quickly and is much better for the environment – plus you’ll save a stack on your water bill and reduce your green waste. Time to sell the lawn mower.
5. Install an arch or trellis
Transform your outdoor space by installing an arch or trellis. This simple DIY project creates a stunning focal point. Choose climbing vines, such as honeysuckle or jasmine to weave through the trellis.
Whether framing a garden entrance, defining pathways, or establishing shade for an outdoor setting or over a deck, an arch or trellis can become a living sculpture that evolves with the seasons – there are native vines too – talk to your nursery for the best option for you. Worried about losing the winter sun? Again, there are deciduous vines such as grape vines which provide shade in summer and lose their leaves in winter.
Make a DIY landscape plan
Have you decided what you want for your backyard yet? Time to make a plan. Planning is the most important first step, consider your budget and make a wish list. You can add plants and trees and any features you wish to include.
Staying in theme will help with aesthetics, for example, if you want to grow Australian natives then consider growing Australian natives that are local to the area that you live in. This is hugely beneficial to local wildlife, bees and insects and these will also be the plants that are most likely to survive and thrive in your garden – these plants evolved in your area and you can feel good about making the kindest choice for your local environment.
Sketch your garden plan, it doesn’t need to be perfect but it will help you visualise and stay on track. Got kids? Include them – what a great family activity! Task them with the colouring in!
How to get rid of rubbish from your backyard landscaping
Another important step is making sure you implement an effective landscape waste removal plan. Dispose of your waste responsibly and make use of green waste removal options. Make sure you recycle where you can, for instance, the soil in your backyard – we’ve written a list of ways to recycle soil.
A skip is a very popular way to remove rubbish from a backyard DIY, you will be surprised how much needs to come out of a backyard before you can get started with the landscaping.
Get in touch for advice on what size skip you need as well as what can go in a skip bin. We’re happy to help.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I design my own backyard?
Designing your backyard begins with a systematic approach. Start by creating a plan that includes your preferences, budget considerations, and the intended use of the space. Develop a wish list and make a sketch. Stay within a chosen theme for cohesive aesthetics, and prioritise local native plants for a sustainable landscape. Seek inspiration from various sources and take the time to carefully plan before getting stuck into your DIY project.
Is it easy to do DIY landscaping?
Embarking on DIY landscaping is both rewarding and achievable with proper planning. Create a detailed landscape plan in the form of a sketch. Get your measurements right and utilise available resources, for example, if you are digging out soil for a garden path, put it aside for use in a raised garden bed. There are tonnes of resources out there to help you DIY, if you’ve got the time – a bit of hard work will save you a lot of money.
Does landscaping add value to a house in Australia?
Absolutely! Landscaping plays a pivotal role in increasing the value of your home. A well-designed and maintained garden contributes to enhanced curb appeal, making the property more attractive to potential buyers. Thoughtful landscaping can create additional usable space not only adding value to your home but showcasing the property as desirable and well-maintained.
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