Having a large backyard is a wonderful benefit for outdoor living, but it may be challenging to know exactly how to enhance the space, let alone know how to make the best use of it. Inspiration can come from your landscaping companies and listening carefully to the designer’s recommendations for letting your large backyard reach its full potential. Are you at a loss for what to do in your large backyard? Here are five landscaping options for filling the void in the Trenton, MI area.
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Focus on the Green
A large backyard only needs a few places for gathering with friends and family. In a large backyard those gathering spots won’t be anywhere near the majority of the available space. Instead, focus on how to best promote plant life, especially native plants including trees, shrubs, ground cover, ornamental grasses, flowers, edible fruits and vegetables, and more. Surrounding oneself with greenery has been proven to be a stress-reliever and mood-lifter.
Islands of Greenery
A gigantic lawn can make every other space feel tiny by comparison. To break up the monotony of grass, you could plan some islands of greenery in various areas of your backyard where you place similar plants. These can be near gathering spaces or along the path to another corner of your backyard. Best of all, these islands of greenery can fill empty spaces in between your primary landscape features with practically no size limitations.
Downsize the Lawn
Lawns adorn millions of homes and bring beauty to a landscape. The lawn is especially useful in the front yard as part of a home’s curb appeal. In the backyard, however, a lawn has few functions for homeowners without pets or kids. If you’re not a fan of lawn care, this is a golden opportunity to create a backyard that suits your lifestyle. Downsizing the lawn doesn’t necessarily mean eliminating it in the backyard entirely; it’s more about giving other landscape features the priority. You could keep a smaller portion of your lawn for games, but remember to think creatively with the remaining space.
Let Native Plants Flourish
The landscape of your home has evolved a diverse array of plant life well before you and your family arrived. An important emerging trend is to let this ecosystem continue in a healthy way. Prioritize native plants in your landscape instead of plants that aren’t as well adapted. This will not only make the landscape feel much more natural, but it will also drastically reduce the amount of watering, fertilizing, and maintenance you’ll need to perform. Native grasses, trees, shrubs, and wildflowers make up a wonderful view for any large backyard.
Interconnected Mini Patios
The back patio is the central feature of any outdoor living space, but it doesn’t need to be consolidated into just one area. In fact, some of the most successful large backyards have an array of different interconnected mini patios. In between these spaces, there will be walkways that help transport people to another mood or headspace. In between these patios, there is the perfect opportunity to include those islands of greenery. Separate the mini patios by considering your family’s favorite outdoor activities and prioritizing those. Keep in mind that every backyard needs a relaxing space to sit and talk, but make sure to include some of the classics like a fire pit, an outdoor kitchen, and of course a hot tub.
Related: LANDSCAPE DESIGN IDEAS TO MAKE YOUR LARGE OUTDOOR SPACE MORE FUNCTIONAL IN TRENTON, MI
