backyard

Height and style

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Can we make something or buy something like this to put in front or around the AC in front? or to make a barrier of sorts in front of the house? would that be safe or would it be a place for predators to hide?

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look! casters!

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could plant spinach and peas almost all year in south garden

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south side yard and south fence. Both side fences

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another way to set up a patio at the back of the yard

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I like a patio/ deck towards the back of the garden

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I like how the steps come down to a terraced space with a shed at the end

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I like the divided spaces

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gorgeous

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I like how the steps come down and how there are raised beds around that provide a cozy space and privacy

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beautiful

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YES YES YES YES YES Naturalistic sanctuary More: How to create a nature lover’s backyard Most people looking for wild animals go on a hike or hit up a zoo. Not Lisa Albert, who wanted to bring them directly to her Portland-area garden, so she transformed her backyard landscaping, and learned that drawing them in was simply a matter of being a good host. Lisa rebuilt her garden to include a stacked rock wall (critters like to hide in the crevices), a pond, and lots of plants that provide nectar, seed, and fruit. She’s since hosted three dozen kinds of birds, butterflies, bees, lacewings, and frogs.

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I love this. What would Trixie think?

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This type of structure could solve problems for us. By turning a sloped plot into a modern play den, a designer created usable family space where none existed before. In this Greenbrae, California, front yard, Ive Haugeland (shadesofgreenla.com) placed concrete planters along the sidewalk, and filled them with ‘Firebird’ phormiums to create friendly screening without totally blocking off the yard. The raised patio is edged with concrete to help level the area and create a flat lawn and distinct spots for the family to dine, entertain, and play.

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ows tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and figs. “There’s no better fruits and vegetables than from your own garden,” Conor says. He’s so passionate about getting people to grow their own organic food that he created MinifarmBox (www.minifarmbox.com), a line of easy-to-assemble raised-bed kits.

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ndulge Your Hobbies If you love taking care of plants, build a tiny greenhouse in your backyard. A small glassed-in space will allow your plants to flourish and let you enjoy them rain or shine.

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easy privacy

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Incorporate Greenery Transform unused space on your back patio into a gardening opportunity. Case in point? The flower beds on this terrace's stair ledges, which beautify the area and help break up the sea of brick.

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Break Things Up With Levels A multi-level landscape design can create the illusion of a larger backyard. It breaks things up visually and allows you to designate each level to a different purpose. In this 2LG studio–designed yard, the bottom level is a dining patio, and the shrubbery border helps transition to the upper yard.

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Make It Multipurpose If you can't fit a separate garden, greenhouse, and dining space into your outdoor area, design your backyard in a way that makes all of them possible in one contained spot. Take notes from this patio designed by Studio Ashby. This terrace is a dining space, a romantic relaxation spot (hello, hanging chair), and a garden all at once.

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Incorporate Things You'll Actually Use This modestly-sized London backyard by Applied Studio manages to pack in a ton of functional value, from the small herb garden to the footpath and picnic area. The real highlight, though, is the indoor/outdoor structure. One half is a little relaxation and meditation area and the other is a small sauna.

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