If you live in a place where your free time is precious, learning how to make the most of your yard without constant maintenance is definitely a priority. Which is why these easy landscaping ideas (that I’ve been dreaming of for my own space) are so helpful.
Like many people, one of the issues I have is finding the time for mowing, weeding, and pruning. So I’m always trying to find ways to get a gorgeous look that pretty much takes care of itself.
1. Square Away Your Landscaping
I love how landscaping stones laid out so neatly give this yard a sleek and modern feel. It’s such a cool look. Creating geometric patterns with square pavers is a great way to bring some visual interest into your backyard.
When you frame patches of earth with the paving stones, it creates this effect of built-in planters. For a garden that basically cares for itself, you can fill these low beds with meadow species like smooth aster and bee balm.
They’ll also do wonders for your local ecosystem by attracting pollinators.
2. All Fired Up
If you’re more about entertaining than you are about gardening, your yard should totally reflect that. This space is so calming, with its plush upholstered outdoor chairs all set up around a big fire pit.
Behind it, some really clever custom construction creates this dual-purpose area that can be a deck and also provide extra bench seating. What a smart use of space!
3. Beautiful and Easy Landscape For Front Yard
When we talk about easy landscaping, having a low-maintenance front yard is key. It ensures your home has awesome curb appeal while cutting down on the time you need to keep it looking beautiful.
When you’re designing your front yard, you definitely have to think about your climate and how that will shape your landscape. For instance, in a tropical place like Florida, a healthy green lawn is totally doable.
But in dry spots like Arizona, you might want to look into xeriscaping.
Xeriscaping is a style that needs very little or no irrigation at all. I love this water-conserving approach, which involves finding native plants that flourish naturally in your area.
Using native landscaping is also so much better for the environment because it needs fewer resources and supports local plants and animals.
If your plants happen to need extra water beyond what the rain provides, an automated watering system is an amazing investment.
Plants really do best when they get watered in the morning or evening. Setting up an irrigation timer lets your yard get watered at the perfect time without you having to think about it.
4. Rock Landscape Design
This backyard is generously sized and has this really distinct upward slope. You could bring in professional landscapers to grade the land and make it a level surface, but that can get pretty expensive.
Plus, it can be a missed opportunity! I think this yard is so striking because it makes use of its existing natural features. They’ve used large stones to build a staircase and mark out separate seating areas. So smart!
5. Splendid Succulents
Potted succulents have been a huge interior decor trend lately, but they can also make your backyard beautiful.
These sturdy plants do so well in warm, dry spots with lots of sunlight and usually only need to be watered once a week at the most. For anyone living in desert areas, these plants are a fantastic option.
6. Start From Scratch
If your yard just isn’t working for your lifestyle, don’t be afraid to start over. It can be a big project, but so worth it! Pull out old bushes or weeds and clear out as much space as you can, but try to leave the larger shade trees.
Spread some rich soil across the cleared area you’ve made, then think about and install hardscaping elements like pavers and a deck. To finish it off, plant some easy-to-care-for native foliage in the fresh soil and just let nature do its thing.
7. Tweak Your Townhouse
One of the most appealing things about living in a townhome is the low-maintenance lifestyle. Often, homeowner’s association fees will cover exterior upkeep, snow removal, and professional lawn care.
But there can be some downsides to living in a planned community. A big one is that the homes can feel almost identical to one another.
I love how a garden bed filled with a mix of foliage gives this home a sense of character and makes it feel unique.
8. Something Old, Something New
Huge shade trees can really add value to your home and bring this sense of history and importance. But they can be tricky to work into a low-key landscaping plan.
A great idea is to create separation between the trees and the rest of the yard by building a custom garden boundary to frame them.
The gray bricks here are such a tasteful choice and go perfectly with the clean lines of the raw cedar fence. And using artificial turf is a no-fuss alternative to grass that will stay green all year.
9. Level Up Your Landscaping
This narrow backyard feels a little flat with its chain-link fence and concrete patio stones. But adding a back deck elevates the space, both figuratively and literally.
I think adding a second level makes this backyard feel much more spacious. The well-designed deck also pulls your attention away from older features like the uneven, jagged paving stones.
Leaving the deck unpainted was a great choice; it ensures it doesn’t look disconnected from the rest of the space.
10. Have Fun with Foliage
If you’re looking for a low-impact way to freshen up a dated home, you should try playing with your vegetation. Mixing and matching different types of plants and garden filler is a simple way to give your front yard a whole new look.
The basic shrubs and brown mulch at the back of the garden are a nice complement to the home’s brick facade.
A row of white landscaping stones filled with jagged giant dracaena creates a sharp contrast against the more traditional landscaping behind it. Then, the front gets a burst of color from a row of marigolds. So pretty!
11. Add Character with Pretty Perennials
A lot of people go for plants instead of flowers in their landscaping because they last longer. But if you prefer how flowers look, you can always pick perennials.
While annual and biennial flowers don’t last very long, perennials live for at least two years, and often much longer. The initial planting can be time and labor-intensive, I’ll admit, but after that, perennials need relatively little care.
The potted topiary trees are an elegant but expected choice for this upscale home. It’s the wild, colorful blooms that really make it stand out.
12. Take Advantage of Temperate Climates
Some climates are just perfect for year-round outdoor living. If you’re lucky enough to live in one of those places, you should absolutely enjoy it to the fullest.
This chic home has a full outdoor kitchen that’s just perfect for hosting weekend cookouts. I love how the stone patio extends through several arches and into the yard, which gives the whole space a feeling of continuity.
13. Smart Low Maintenance Backyard
The secret to a low-maintenance backyard is designing an outdoor living space with simple, practical elements. Your backyard landscaping should be beautiful while giving you an outdoor area that is perfect for entertaining.
Some great low-maintenance ideas for your backyard could be building a wooden deck or a stone patio, planting easy-to-care-for evergreen trees and shrubs, designing a small flower bed with brick edging, using potted plants, and installing good lighting to highlight your favorite spots.
You really want your home’s outdoor area to match your lifestyle. If you enjoy exercising and playing games, a multi-sport game court might be a great fit for your backyard.
These multipurpose paved courts can be used for all sorts of sports, like basketball, volleyball, and tennis. They also take up a lot of room, so you’ll have very little greenery to look after.
For people who love hosting family and friends, transforming their backyards into an outdoor entertaining space is a fantastic idea. You can build a deck or use paving stones to create separate living areas.
Set up a simple grill or even a full outdoor kitchen, complete with a durable outdoor dining table. You can also group some outdoor furniture around a fire pit for a more relaxed hangout spot.
Once again, native landscaping is going to be your best bet for a low-maintenance backyard. Use bricks to outline your flower beds, and then surround the plants with mulch or landscaping stones to cut down on weeding.
14. Create A Haven By Hardscaping
Hardscaping can be any non-living part used in landscaping. This includes things like gravel, patios, pergolas, and so much more. The more hardscaping you add to your yard, the less work you’ll have to do tending to plants.
In this yard, hardscaping was used to create such a soothing retreat. The minimalist gray slate tiles in this multi-tiered backyard are framed on all sides by a high wooden fence that gives plenty of privacy, while the gravel-filled planters feature sharp rows of topiary shrubs.
15. Made In The Shade
If the area around your house gets a lot of shade, it’s so important to pick plants that will thrive in those conditions. This garden is just overflowing with shade-loving tropical foliage like purple cordyline, hostas, and elephant ears.
I love how the tropical shade plants here are arranged so artfully, but you could also use them to create a lush backyard jungle. So dreamy!
16. Zeroscaping
Zeroscaping is just perfect for people who live in arid, desert climates. A zeroscaped yard has very few plants and is mostly made up of hardscape elements like gravel, walkways, and retaining walls.
The few plants that are included in this type of landscaping are cactus, succulents, and native plants that need very little water. While zeroscaping doesn’t mean zero effort, it’s pretty darn close.
17. Play With Patterns
This intricate walkway looks so custom and high-end, but you can actually recreate it as a DIY project in just one afternoon. First, put up a small barrier to create a border, then fill the path with gravel.
Next, use a mix of square and triangular tiles to lay out a diamond-shaped pattern. Lining the edges of the path with small bushes gives it a crisp, sharp look.
18. Go To The Mat
For anyone who loves the look of grass but doesn’t want to deal with a lawn, mat rush is the perfect compromise. It’s also known as lomandra, and this versatile grass-like plant is often used as ground cover or filler for garden beds.
This tough plant is drought tolerant, which makes it a great choice for people who live in arid climates.
19. Luxury Landscaping Design
This luxurious, low-maintenance backyard design is such a great option for families who love to entertain. Back in the 1970s, conversation pits were a huge thing in interior design.
These architectural features have built-in seating arranged to be centrally-focused, encouraging guests to interact. This outdoor area offers a contemporary take on that classic conversation pit.
I love how the wooden bench seating frames a fire pit, so it can be used all year round.
20. Garden Getaway
With a courtyard this cute and cozy, you’ll feel like you’re on vacation every time you step outside. A simple wooden fence feels so chic and elevated with the addition of an ornamental curved top trellis.
Meanwhile, an assortment of untamed meadow plants, including wild lavender, really evokes the French countryside. That charming wrought iron garden table is the perfect spot to enjoy a croissant and a cafe au lait.
21. All Decked Out
Putting in a deck is a simple way to make an overgrown yard feel so much more manageable. This space is enclosed by a tall wooden fence with slim horizontal slats.
Even though the planks of the deck are wider, they still pair seamlessly with the fence because of the consistent wood color. Instead of decking over the entire backyard, you can leave some areas untouched.
The natural foliage will grow up and create a really interesting focal point.
22. Amazing Backyard
This grand home comes with a similarly huge backyard that’s beautiful to look at but a challenge to care for. Adding evenly-spaced square slate pavers is a simple but really clever solution.
You can still see the grass peeking out between the stones, even though you’ve significantly cut down on the area that needs mowing. All you need is a handheld electric yard edger to trim the grass around the tiles.
23. Make Unpredictable Choices
With its sharp lines and tons of windows, this home is definitely modern, but the unique architecture and landscaping choices make it feel surprisingly inviting.
One wing of the home is wrapped in honey-toned wood planks, which have such a warm and welcoming vibe. Meanwhile, the rounded garden mound in the front yard helps soften the lines and angles of the house.
A semicircle of orderly paving stones helps bridge the gap between the two styles. It’s a perfect blend!
24. Low-Key Luxury
This outdoor living space is the perfect mix of high-style and low-maintenance. White gravel is the main ground cover here, and it’s especially noticeable in the seating area, which has oversized high-end chairs grouped around a chic fire pit.
White concrete paving stones have been layered over the gravel in one part of the yard. This helps to divide the space into distinct areas and provides a stable surface for the outdoor dining table.
Wild lavender bushes are easy to maintain and bring in so much color and vibrancy. And you can even keep the party going at night, thanks to the stylish Edison bulb string lights.
25. Colorize Your Colonial
This stately home has a classic colonial style with elements like the brick facade and large slatted shutters. Because colonial architecture is usually pretty understated, landscaping does a lot of the heavy lifting for curb appeal.
Colorful flowers like pink hibiscus and red phlox add a touch of whimsy to this otherwise serious-looking home.
26. Go Wild For Wildflowers
When you plant a neat, pristine garden bed with perfectly spaced flowers, you’re really setting yourself up for a lot of upkeep. People often have to spend tons of time pulling out weeds and wildflowers to keep that uncluttered look.
But if you fill your garden with wildflowers, you can just let them do their own thing. This yard gets pops of color from fluffy purple plume thistles and cheerful yellow black-eyed Susans.
27. Raise Your (Gardening) Stakes
If you have mobility issues, you might think any backyard garden will be too high-maintenance for you. But raised garden beds can help improve accessibility because they require less bending and stooping.
While you can grow almost anything in a raised bed, they make vegetable gardening especially easy.
28. Widen Your Walkway
This modest home feels remarkably grand, all thanks to a gravel-filled garden bed in the front yard. The edge of this feature is defined by a row of sandy-hued garden blocks that feel cohesive with the varied tan shades in the paved concrete walkway.
Extending the garden bed past a moderately-sized home like this makes it feel more majestic.
29. Amplify Your Architecture
A portico with Craftsman-style columns is the first thing that catches your eye on this creamy contemporary cottage. The gabled roof and square tapered columns work together to draw your gaze upwards.
Even the landscaping here subtly accentuates these architectural details. The easy-to-care-for emerald arborvitae trees start broad at the bottom and narrow towards the top, perfectly mirroring the shape of the columns.
30. Take The Edge Off
“Form follows function” is maybe the most important principle in Craftsman design. Basically, it means that a building’s shape should relate to its intended purpose.
But that’s balanced by the Craftsman style’s emphasis on harmony with the environment, use of natural materials, and the inclusion of organic forms.
The clean lines and sharp angles of this modern Craftsman home are softened by the winding flower beds overflowing with pink and purple perennials.
31. Break Up and Brick Up Your Backyard
When it’s full of foliage, this huge yard can be intimidating to care for. Laying down bricks over most of the yard reduces the area you’ll have to tend to regularly.
Framing the more lushly vegetated areas with bricks instantly creates garden beds. This courtyard is large enough to have multiple seating areas.
The lounge chairs on the left are perfect for soaking up the sun, while the cabana offers some shelter on a rainy day.
32. Luxury Backyard Garden
Decorative hardscaping elements like a black wrought iron fence, a cedar trellis, and a rustic granite flagstone walkway give this yard a cozy cottage charm. Whimsical landscaping choices really enhance that effect.
Wood fern ground cover adds great texture and is a low-maintenance alternative to grass. Dwarf arborvitae trees add a little character and fairytale flair. And hardy red zinnia and purple coneflowers bring a burst of brightness.
33. Lengthen Your Living Area
If you never use your backyard but love to entertain, there’s a good chance you could be using your space better.
Here, a traditional backyard has been replaced by a sophisticated outdoor seating area that flows seamlessly into the home’s interior living space.
I think porcelain tiles are chic enough for indoors and durable and waterproof enough for outdoors. Using hidden sliding pocket glass doors to separate the spaces is a brilliant touch.
34. Fabulous Faux Foliage
Because they’re so small, it’s easy to think that dwarf plants like spiral topiaries and bonsai trees would be easy to maintain. But these finicky plants require meticulous care that can be surprisingly time-consuming.
To get that look without all the extra effort, you can look for faux potted plants. You can minimize maintenance even more by replacing grass with artificial turf.
35. Bring Up Your Borders
Emerald green Bermuda grass is remarkably hands-off if you’re in the right climate.
In places like Florida, many people skip flowers and bushes entirely for an uninterrupted stretch of lawn, but there are ways you can bring other flora into your yard without losing a lot of lawn space.
Here, a narrow mulch border running around the yard provides a place to plant colorful flowers and young willow trees.
36. Revel In Romance
Layers and layers of voluminous vegetation transform a suburban side yard into a dreamy English-style cottage. I love it!
Purple fountain grass blends in so well with window planters of pink petunias, but its spiky silhouette contrasts beautifully with the bountiful blossoms of white hydrangea paniculata. Lacy silver ragwort and bold blue lobelia flowers add texture and color to this charming garden.
37. Add A Pot of Color
Many people find potted plants are easier to care for than in-ground gardens. With a little creativity, you can totally have the best of both worlds.
This lawn is bordered by a neat gravel and brick boundary. Resting potted plants on top of the gravel is a low-effort way to level up your landscaping.
You can make a statement with exotic flowers like these vibrant orangey-red clivia plants.
38. Embrace Your Individuality
While this graphic rock garden looks so custom and high-end, it’s actually pretty simple to replicate on your own. Use plastic garden edging to map out large abstract shapes.
Then fill those shapes with landscaping pebbles in two strongly contrasting colors for a simple yet startling effect. Here, the black and white gravel has a chic modern flair when styled with spherical boxwood shrubs.
39. Beautiful Patio with Nice Plants
If you’re ready to modernize your outdoor seating spaces, it might be simpler and less expensive than you think. If you have leftover outdoor-friendly flooring after tiling your home’s interior, they can be repurposed into an upscale patio.
You can also modernize a simple wooden deck by enclosing it in a contemporary glass railing. Two simple changes to your outdoor decor can be so transformative.
40. Design For The Yard You Want
If you have big design ambitions but only a tiny yard, you don’t have to give up on your decor dreams. You just have to scale back your vision to fit your space.
Layering artificial turf over a paved concrete front yard can really brighten it up. A sizeable umbrella offers plenty of shade, and its vivid orange hue really amps up the vibrancy.
The bold color palette is echoed in the planters, which are filled with red cordyline and green ornamental grasses.
41. Affordable Outdoor Living Space
If you love the idea of spending time outside but have no interest in *actually* spending time outdoors, an indoor atrium might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
An atrium is a large, quasi-outdoor space surrounded by a building. The room’s roof can be open to the sky or covered by a skylight to protect it from the elements while letting in natural light.
I would use artificial turf and faux greenery for a no-fuss green getaway.
42. Trendy Stone Patio with Simple Plants
This upscale urban backyard is built on a slight incline, which you can see from the angled slope of the wooden fence. A multi-tiered stone patio levels out the space and makes it more usable.
The understated landscaping choices feel more dramatic thanks to the spotlight-style garden lights.
43. Punch Up Your Palette
Planned communities are more common now than ever before. And while they have a lot of benefits, they also have some downsides.
The biggest drawback is that they can feel cookie-cutter because of their similar designs and limited color palettes. A little landscaping can go a long way in helping your home stand out.
This winding garden addition made of black mulch and red barberry shrubs is an unexpected counterpart to this boxy white home.
44. Fill Up Your Space
If you have a large backyard, you might think that installing flower beds will only create more work for you. But this design actually offers less lawn to mow, thanks to the installation of a massive terraced landscaping feature.
Fill these beds with a mix of ground covers, and add some hardy flowers like peonies for a little brightness.
45. Fun and Fruitful
This yard features multiple hardscaping elements, from the stone stairs to the gravel ground cover to the laminate decking. And while the vegetation is minimal, it still makes a big difference to the overall design.
Citrus trees are surprisingly easy to care for, and they’re practical too. Just imagine plucking lemons off your tree and enjoying a glass of lemonade in this chill backyard space.
46. Invest in Gravel
Gravel is a staple in the low-maintenance landscaping world because it’s surprisingly easy to work with, even though it has an elegant appearance.
To get this look, you’ll need to start by removing grass or other plants to level out the land as much as possible. Next, lay down some landscaping fabric.
If you want to have a pathway, install that first. Finally, finish by spreading out your decorative stones.
47. Embrace Nature
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s more important than ever to take some time to be mindful. A lot of people find that enjoying the great outdoors can help them clear their minds.
This Zen-inspired path is lined with a variety of vegetation in several shades of green, including golden globe arborvitae and lime glow Japanese barberry.
48. Cool Off In A Cabana
Cabanas can really enhance the usability of your yard by shielding people from the sun when it’s at its peak. And with the right styling, it can also serve as a chic space for alfresco entertaining.
There’s plenty of moody, romantic lighting here, thanks to lanterns with LED candles, string lights, and a fire pit. The gauzy curtains provide a little privacy without making the small space feel stifling.
49. Relax on The Roof
People who live in urban areas often have to sacrifice easily-accessible outdoor space. But with the right decor, you can transform your rooftop into a garden getaway.
This low-profile wood planter features an abundance of plant life, including hydrangeas and Japanese maple. Meanwhile, a small horizontal trellis fence helps to block out noise from the bustling city streets.
50. Comfortable Outdoor Area
This cozy outdoor space is super versatile, all thanks to its diverse seating options. A small fire pit is surrounded by faux Adirondack chairs and a charming retro freestanding porch swing.
The sturdy trellis even provides an anchor for two woven boho hammocks. To minimize sun exposure, you can also add ivy along the structure’s roof.
51. Create Discrete Outdoor Living Spaces
This enormous backyard could easily feel overwhelming to take care of, but the addition of thoughtful hardscaping is a total game-changer. Most of the lawn is covered by paving stones which lead to a comfortable seating area arranged around an outdoor fireplace.
Mulched beds with low-maintenance palm trees create a nice separation between the pavement and the pool.
52. Nature-Inspired Design
While a lot of built-in planters have a square or rectangular shape, this kidney-shaped structure is more curved. The flowing lines of the planter almost mimic the shore of a winding river.
You can fill an unconventional garden box with a mixture of greenery, including weeping figs, hostas, and common box plants.
53. Say Yes Please To Trees
Trees are a great way to make the front of your home feel more private while still honoring nature. Mature trees can be expensive and difficult to plant. But luckily, there are many fast-growing trees available you can add to your landscaping.
Hybrid poplars, quaking aspen, and pin oaks are just a few examples. The shade they cast as they grow might even lower your energy costs.
54. Get Inspired By Your Architecture
When you’re designing your landscaping plan, it’s really important to make sure it looks cohesive with the exterior of your home. With its ornate roof and stone facade, this home has a vintage European elegance.
The backyard continues that story. The patio is sheltered under a striking wooden pergola which has been paired with decorative columns.
55. Follow The Red Brick Road
Red bricks are a low-cost and low-effort way to give your home a classic feel. Brick edging gives this home a classic English cottage vibe, especially when paired with neatly lined hedges.
Using the same brick as an accent piece on elevated planters helps to tie all the elements together.
56. Calm and Contemporary
This backyard retreat is somehow upscale and unfussy at the same time. The high fence and freestanding pergola have clean lines, but the honey wood stain on both adds a touch of warmth.
Those sharp lines are echoed in the rectangular black stone planters, which are filled with spiky mat rush. The rounded box shrubs provide a contrasting geometric element while adding to the soothing aura of the space.
57. Plant A Perennial Favorite
Hostas are super popular for landscaping because they are incredibly easy to grow and have amazing longevity. Also known as plantain lilies, these plants have a lot of charm thanks to the variegated colors in their textured leaves.
Hostas love the shade, so make sure to plant these in an area where they won’t be in full sun all the time.
58. Sizzling Southwest Style
With its stuccoed walls and terra cotta roof tiles, this Spanish-inspired home is just perfect for desert living. The surrounding landscape only complements this style.
The crimson-hued blossoms on the dwarf bottlebrush plants go so well with the marigold color of the house. In warm, temperate regions, this plant can even bloom throughout the year.
59. Here Comes The Sun
This chic and simple back deck is the perfect spot to sip coffee while the sun rises, or to snuggle up and watch the sunset. Because the deck is so large, it can easily handle the oversized teak outdoor furniture.
A long hedge of azaleas provides a pop of color without blocking the view, while a privet tree to the side of the deck helps this space feel more private.
60. Embrace Eclectic Design Choices
The style of this cute cottage flows seamlessly into the garden. The DIY planters are built from weathered rocks that coordinate so well with the stone facade of the house.
At night, the gravel path is cozily lit by rustic lamps with LED candles. I love how a whimsical metal sculpture helps modernize this old-fashioned courtyard.
61. Choose The Right Color Combinations
This terraced backyard is just brimming with a multitude of colorful plants. In the front, you can see pale blue geraniums.
As you go farther back, you can enjoy plush purple woodland sage, orangey-red sneezeweeds, and delicate white camellia flowers.
When planting a diverse garden like this, be sure to choose plants that need similar levels of water and care to streamline any maintenance they might need.
62. Simplify Your Small Yard
This quaint tiny house makes the most of its tiny side yard. Even without a lawn, there’s still plenty of greenery to see.
The low row of evergreen hedges helps create a distinct boundary between the house and a snug seating area. Over time, the young olive trees will grow to cast plenty of cool shade.
63. Beautiful Outdoor Living Space with A Pergola
In places like the Pacific Northwest, frequent rain can stop people from enjoying the outdoors as much as they’d like. This tranquil seating area is sheltered by a massive wooden pergola mounted on top of elegant white columns.
The layer of weatherproof plastic on top of the grid-shaped roof protects your guests from the elements while still letting natural light filter through.
64. Serene Striking Simplicity
This uncluttered outdoor space is surprisingly stylish, thanks to a combination of crisp, clean lines and sharp angles.
Symmetrical horizontal slats give the fence a sophisticated, contemporary appeal, while large white patio tiles offset the vivid green lawn.
The raised garden bed framing the yard is filled with spiky palm bushes, which add a great pop of color and texture.
65. Private Piece of Paradise
Vertical gardens, also known as green walls, are really popular in urban landscaping. They make a striking visual statement without taking up a lot of space.
Here, a green wall is used as a partition to create a secluded escape right in the middle of a city. Vertical gardens are incredibly versatile since they can sustain several different types of plant life.
Certain herbs like mint, thyme, and rosemary are especially easy to maintain as part of a green wall. As a bonus, you can harvest the herbs and use them in your cooking, making this outdoor feature as practical as it is pretty.
66. Tasteful Turf
For a long time, artificial turf was mostly used on mini-golf courses and sports fields, but recently it has made an unexpected move into residential areas.
It can be nearly impossible to maintain a green lawn in drought-prone areas with watering restrictions. Artificial turf gives you that punch of green color and requires virtually zero ongoing care.
Turf can easily look a bit kitschy, but with the right styling, it can be surprisingly refined.
67. Plant An Unexpected Urban Garden
This narrow backyard is transformed into a remarkable retreat tucked away in an industrial area. The black fence feels modern and minimalist, and its height offers plenty of privacy.
That sense of seclusion is amplified by the lush trees and ferns that circle the perimeter. Narrow vertical stone pavers and understated outdoor furniture feel streamlined, yet so serene.
68. Create A Beautiful Terrace with Drought Tolerant Plants
Sloped yards are exceptionally tough to care for since they are prone to erosion. They are also difficult to mow and retain moisture unevenly. Installing terraced flower beds is a fantastic way to create level planting spaces in a sloped yard.
These beds are built from massive natural stone slabs, which helps this stately structure blend into the landscape. As a bonus, these beds will help protect the environment by preventing fertilizer runoff.
69. Cover Some Ground
Ground cover is any type of low-maintenance plant that grows over an area and can protect your topsoil from drought and erosion. It’s a popular landscaping term because this useful vegetation can complement other elements in your yard.
While ground cover usually refers to certain low-growing perennial plants, some creeping shrubs also fit into this category. The slight incline in front of this colonial house would be difficult to mow, so ground cover provides a really convenient alternative.
