Wouldn’t it be nice to come home to a beautiful backyard that offers somewhere for you and the family to relax? Sometimes, you have the space for such a backyard, but you lack the inspiration to create something magical that becomes the envy of all your neighbours.

If you’re asking yourself: how can I make my backyard better? Then you’re in the right place. Keep reading to learn about some of the most effective ways to turn an ordinary yard into something extraordinary.

1. Plant a New Tree in Your Backyard

Unless you’ve purchased a well-established home with a backyard bursting with flora, you may not have a tree. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have one.

Trees bring so much value to any property while providing shelter, shade, privacy, and even oxygen. Did you know one tree can provide a full day of oxygen for a family of four?

While trees can take many years to grow from seedlings, you can also purchase reasonably well-established ones to speed up the process. You could have that dream tyre swing in no time.

2. Add Outdoor Furniture

When your backyard is a blank canvas, there are opportunities galore for improvement. Why not start with outdoor furniture, and maybe even a hammock or swing?

The best part is, when you ask: how can I make my backyard beautiful on a low budget? Outdoor furniture appears as a solution more often than not.

While purchasing a brand new outdoor furniture set is an option, you can also pick up many high-quality sets secondhand. Once you decide where to put it, an entire backyard theme can be realised, allowing for an easier landscaping journey.

3. Put Up a Fence

Without a fence, it’s not always easy to know where your property boundary ends, and your neighbour’s begins. However, this isn’t the only reason to consider putting up a fence.

Fences and hedges can help you build a better backyard or front yard by offering an incredible amount of security and privacy. You can entertain friends and family in the comfort of your property without having to worry about being your neighbours’ form of entertainment.

Best of all, there’s no shortage of options to suit the style of your home. There’s something for everyone, from white picket fences and corrugated iron, to wood panels, concrete block, and brick.

4. Create an Outdoor Living Space

There’s something quite refreshing about having bare grass from which to create your perfectly landscaped yard. However, it’s not always easy to come up with ideas and bring them to life.

Starting with your outdoor living space may be one of the best decisions you can make. When you purchase outdoor furniture, you can begin to form an area with outdoor lighting, art pieces, pavers, gravel, low-care plants, and even a cooking station like an outdoor kitchen or barbecue.

5. Install a Water Feature

One of the best things we can do for ourselves and our families is prioritising our mental health. That’s why many homeowners are starting to see the value in building a backyard that can become a retreat for rest and relaxation.

To assist with this process, consider installing a water feature in your backyard. Studies have already shown that nature, including the trickling of water, can impact stress regulation while slowing down our stress response and promoting feelings of calm.

You can also pair a water feature with ponds, water lilies, a seating area, and lighting. When you’re having a particularly stressful day, you’ve then got a nice spot to sit and destress.

6. Put Thought into Plants

With plenty of options for outdoor living and entertainment, it’s now time to focus on the plants you’d like to use to tie the entire look together.

Many homeowners prefer easy-care and low-maintenance plants like grasses and tussocks. When paired with stones, they can be both contemporary and aesthetically pleasing. Before you venture into your local garden store, consider sketching out a plan.

Calculate how many plants you’ll need, the volume of landscaping materials like gravel and mulch, and whether you’ll use garden boxes, your ground, or pots. The more you plan, the easier it can be to know what you need to shop for and remain within your budget.

7. Ask for Help

As much as Aotearoa is a nation of DIYers, that doesn’t mean we all are. Sometimes, we’ve got great ideas but not the skills to bring them to life. Fortunately, no matter where you live in NZ, you’ll likely find someone to help.

Lawn care experts can help with hedge trimming, garden clean-ups, lawn mowing, and more, while builders will likely be more than happy to lend a helping hand with building a fence. As daunting as the prospect might be of creating your dream low-cost backyard, it can be entirely achievable with a few wise ideas and the right people for the job.

7 Ways to Build a Better Backyard