Backyard Landscaping Without Grass
- Create a backyard to enjoy.Lewis Mulatero/Photodisc/Getty Images
Turn that grassy spot into a low maintenance backyard, relaxing oasis or practical space. Before choosing what to replace the grass with, examine the attributes of the backyard. A backyard with a big sunny hill will not make a good woodland garden. Work with the existing backyard's features, not against them, to save time and money. Choosing the right plan will help create a backyard to enjoy for years. - Potted plants and container gardens work well with a patio.Garden Patio 1 image by Bucks from Fotolia.com
For small backyards, plan to fit the patio inside the whole backyard perimeter to eliminate all the grass. A patio backyard has a floor constructed from bricks, stone, tile, gravel, cement or a combination of hard surfaces. Decorate the patio with container gardens, benches, table and chairs, fire pits and outdoor decoration. A patio will be low maintenance and durable once it is installed. A patio backyard will benefit those who enjoy spending time outdoors and need an area that does not require maintenance. - A water feature helps to create a woodland atmosphere.Garden 2 image by Chad Perry from Fotolia.com
For a backyard with existing trees on the property, turn a backyard into a woodland garden, which consists of a water feature, trees, shrubs and small gardens. Construct a plan with paths, shrubs, flowerbeds and sitting areas. Natural native plants or added low maintenance perennial plants will make good choices for a woodland garden. For backyards with a natural wet area, turning it into a small pond or adding a fountain can help incorporate a sore spot into the landscape. - Raised beds make gardening pain free.Blumentrog image by Marc Jung from Fotolia.com
Turn the whole backyard into a raised bed vegetable garden. A good option for a small to medium backyard and for a person who desires to grow her own vegetables. Instead of grass, pathways constructed from gravel, dirt or other material will go in between the raised boxes. Wood, cement, bricks or even high mounds of dirt will work to create raised beds. A mix of flowers and vegetables will create an attractive display. Raised beds also provide easy weeding and maintenance compared to planting directly in the ground. - Wildflowers are a bright and easy way to transform a backyard.Poppies image by bonjo from Fotolia.com
Make a backyard a wildflower paradise. After establishing paths, add interesting garden features like a bird bath, benches and garden decorations. The grass will need to be completely removed and the area prepared for wildflower seeds to grow. Wildflowers reseed and spread on their own, making them easy to grow. The finished backyard will not take much upkeep and will also delight the wildlife. A wildflower backyard is useful to those who like carefree natural beauty and need an easy, no-upkeep solution for a backyard.
