| When it comes to the back yard, your designs | | | | If your back yard already has some elements in |
| should center around maximizing the amount of | | | | place-such as a swimming pool or barbecue |
| usable living space you have, rather than focusing | | | | area-your new designs will need to take these |
| totally on the appearance of the space as in the | | | | existing fixtures into account. |
| front yard. | | | | You'll also need to work with or modify the |
| Define your Needs | | | | existing terrain. For example, if your back yard is |
| The first thing to consider when designing your | | | | on a gentle slope, you may want to have that |
| back yard is what you want out of the space. Do | | | | slope partially or fully leveled to provide flat |
| you want a place for your children to play? Or, | | | | surfaces that are easier to work with. Partial |
| would you prefer an entertainment area with a | | | | leveling to create tiers of different levels is a |
| barbecue and eating area, or a quiet space with a | | | | great way of adding interest to the back yard, |
| small pond, for relaxation? Perhaps you would like | | | | and of creating 'rooms' that define the different |
| a flower garden, herb garden, or vegetable patch, | | | | areas of the space. |
| or an easy-care space that doesn't require you to | | | | Privacy in the Back Yard |
| spend your weekends doing maintenance work? | | | | Your front yard is a more public space-in the back |
| One of the most important considerations at this | | | | yard, privacy is generally a much more important |
| stage is deciding how much time you are willing to | | | | issue. A high fence or tall plants and trees will help |
| spend on maintenance. If you don't want to spend | | | | to create a private space, and reduce the effects |
| large amounts of time on yard maintenance work | | | | of noise from surrounding neighbors. |
| and gardening, you'll need to focus on creating | | | | Note that if your back yard is not currently |
| low-maintenance spaces and choosing plants that | | | | fenced and you want to add one, you may need |
| don't require special care. | | | | to check local building codes and make sure you |
| Create Clearly Defined Spaces | | | | know where you property boundaries are, to |
| Once you know what needs your back yard will | | | | ensure that you build your fence according to |
| be designed to fulfill, you can divide up the space | | | | code and within your boundaries. |
| into different areas that can carry out those | | | | Choosing Plants |
| functions. This is a particularly important aspect of | | | | When choosing plants, consider the following |
| design, not only because you need to ensure that | | | | factors: |
| each are has enough space, but also because you | | | | - The height and girth of fully mature trees and |
| want to create clearly-defined spaces that | | | | shrubs-how much space will these take up once |
| transition into each other, to create a harmonious | | | | they reach maturity? Trees and shrubs should be |
| overall effect. | | | | planted so that their root systems do not cause |
| Mapping your Back Yard | | | | disturbances as they grow. |
| One of the best ways of creating attractive | | | | - Space and height are also important |
| spaces that fulfill your desired functions is to first | | | | considerations when creating back yard 'rooms'. |
| create a map of the space you're working with. | | | | Taller plants can be used to create areas of |
| Measure out your back yard, and use graph paper | | | | privacy within the yard and help to create a |
| to create a map of the space. Then, mark out | | | | feeling of having separate spaces that serve |
| any existing structures such as swimming pool, | | | | different functions. |
| garden shed, patio and other fixtures. | | | | - Are you choosing plants that are suitable for |
| Next, take another walk in your back yard, and | | | | your climate? In a hot, dry climate choosing |
| map the natural flow of traffic to the different | | | | drought-resistant plants is crucial, and choosing |
| areas. For example, on your map plot out the | | | | trees and shrubs that tolerate frost and cold |
| movement paths you take to reach the pool, | | | | weather is important if you live in an area that |
| shed, and other fixtures. These will be the areas | | | | experiences very cold winters. |
| where you place walkways or paths. Adding | | | | - Choose plants with different textures and |
| walkways is a great way of creating 'rooms' in | | | | interest features in terms of leaf length and |
| the back yard, which can then be designed with | | | | shape, light and dark-colored leaves, and the |
| different functions in mind. With these elements | | | | overall shape of the plant. In general, choose a |
| mapped out, you can then plan how to add plants, | | | | greater number of fine-textured plants and use |
| trees and shrubs to complement the different | | | | coarser-textured plants for accents. |
| areas, and plan the uses for each area you have | | | | - Choose plants that flower at different times to |
| created. | | | | create interest in the yard all year round. |
| Working with what you Have | | | | |