DIY Landscaping Ideas to Create Your Outdoor Oasis
Easy and Innovative DIY Landscaping Ideas
Looking for budget-friendly landscaping ideas for your front, back and side yards? Using simple landscape designs, you can create a beautiful yard that fits your aesthetic and budget, whether you’re a DIY pro or beginner.
“If you’re diving into a DIY landscaping project, start with a plan. Sketch out your yard and think about where the sun hits, where it’s shady, and where water tends to go. Pick plants that fit your local climate and group them based on how much water and sunlight they need.”
Kane Miller, Founder, YardYum
Common Landscaping Styles
Before you begin your DIY landscaping project, choose the vibe for your outdoor space. There’s a style for every occasion, from sustainable landscaping to Japanese gardens. Learn more about popular options to help you choose the right fit for your yard:
“Recently there has been an East Coast influence on landscape design with a coastal, Nantucket style.”
Joe Stark, Director of Marketing, Ground Works Land Design
- Desert landscaping is popular in drier areas because this style doesn’t need a lot of water. Plants like succulents, cacti and other drought-tolerant vegetation are perfect for this landscape.
- Japanese gardens are characterized by their simple and balanced design. Typically, this style includes a water element, a stone element and traditional Japanese plants, like bamboo or hydrangeas.
- Native landscaping is a great low-maintenance style that allows pollinators and local wildlife to thrive. This simple landscape design uses plants that naturally grow in your area. You’ll use less fertilizer and help the environment in the process.
3 More Popular Landscaping Styles From the Experts
- Sustainable landscaping entails eco-friendly practices such as native plants, irrigation systems for water conservation, and even xeriscaping, a complete makeover of the landscape for ultimate water efficiency.
- An ever-popular style, cottage gardens breathe life into your outdoor space by utilizing abundant plantings with a mix of flowers, herbs and vegetables. The goal is to create a vibrant, charming, informal look.
- Mediterranean gardens are a classic design. These gardens are characterized by drought-tolerant plants, gravel pathways and terracotta pots.
Gavin Warwick, Founder, Boise Landscaping Company
Low-Maintenance Front Yard Landscaping Ideas
Once you've chosen your landscaping style, personalize your front yard by combining tips from our unique DIY landscaping ideas. These hassle-free designs will make your home stand out, whether you’re landscaping a small front yard or a sprawling garden.
Pro Tip
Keep your landscaping design budget-friendly by reusing elements already in your yard, such as rocks and plant clippings.
Create a Drought-Tolerant Landscape
If you’re interested in sustainable landscaping, xeriscaping your yard is the way to go. Plant drought-tolerant plants and shrubs and use gravel instead of wood mulch to fill in your garden. Build a rain barrel to help reuse and conserve water.
Depending on the slope of your front yard, you may need to regrade your lawn to allow for proper water drainage. This way, your plants get just the water they need and your lawn doesn’t have any pooling.
Have a lot of yard debris from your landscaping project?
Rent a dumpster for easy an disposal solution!
Include Hardscaping
If you have extra rocks in your yard, hardscaping is a simple and budget-friendly landscape design. Add rock gravel to your garden or strategically place boulders on your lawn as accent pieces. Really want to bump up your cottage charm? Try a flagstone walkway leading to your front door.
Plant Perennials
A great DIY landscaping idea for beginners is adding flowers and shrubs to your yard that you don’t have to replant each year. Common perennial landscaping plants include:
- Hostas
- Russian sage
- Shasta daisies
- Butterfly bushes
- Echinacea
- Catmint
- Foxglove
“Lavender, and pretty much all perennials, will grow and replant itself every year, so you don’t have to keep replanting them year after year.”
Gavin Warwick, Founder, Boise Landscaping Company
Increase Curb Appeal
Any landscaping work done to your front yard will help improve your curb appeal. If you're not sure where to start, planting a garden out front or edging your driveway with flowers or stones are great options. Both of these projects are simple landscape designs that go a long way to boost curb appeal. Choose native or perennial plants to make your work even easier.
Enlarge Your Space With These Side Yard Landscaping Ideas
The side yard is a landscaping challenge for any homeowner. It's easy to overlook, and it's usually cramped, which can make it hard to get started. These easy tips will help you revamp your side landscape into a floral haven you can actually enjoy.
“Mirrors or reflective surfaces can help create the illusion of depth. And keep it simple — don’t overcrowd the space. Stick to a limited color palette and use fewer but more impactful plants and features.”
Kane Miller, Founder, YardYum
Create a Stepping Stone Pathway
Consider adding a stone pathway to guide visitors from the front of your house to the backyard. Flagstone is the most common rock used for walkways. Pea gravel and river rock are great additions to fill in space between the flagstone if you don’t want to use grass. An irregular placement of the stone makes the space look larger.
Construct an Arch or Pergola
When working with a smaller space, it’s important to work vertically. Build an arch at the entrance of your side yard. Some of the best climbing plants to cover your arch or pergola are honeysuckle, ivy, jasmine and roses.
Include Tall Landscaping Plants
Another way to add height to your side yard is by adding tall plants. Common landscaping plants to help enlarge your space are arborvitae, hydrangeas, pampas grass and rose of Sharon.
“Arborvitae and evergreens not only provide privacy, they can also survive both hot summer temperatures and harsh winters.”
Joe Stark, Director of Marketing, Ground Works Land Design
Easy Backyard Landscaping Ideas
The following simple landscape designs for beginners will turn your backyard into a family-friendly hangout. Whether you’re looking to create privacy in your yard or make your lawn more dog-friendly, these tips will help you achieve your backyard dreams.
Install a Patio
Turn your backyard into a relaxing hideaway by installing a paver patio. Add comfortable outdoor furniture so you can use your new patio to lounge in the sun or have an outdoor dinner party. Include planters with perennials or annuals to add a pop of color. Or consider creating a patio vegetable garden.
“Another trending style is edible gardening, where homeowners integrate edible plants like herbs, vegetables, and fruit trees into their landscapes. This not only provides fresh produce but also enhances the yard’s aesthetic appeal.”
Gene Caballero, Co-Founder, GreenPal
Plant Trees for Natural Privacy
If you’re looking to create some privacy in your backyard, planting trees is a great way to use nature to block out the outside world. Some of the best trees for privacy include Spartan juniper, Goldspire Ginkgo and hybrid willows.
“For trees, the crepe myrtle is an excellent choice because of its drought resistance and yields beautiful blooms with little upkeep. They adapt well to various conditions, require less frequent watering and fertilizing, and provide long-lasting appeal with minimal investment making them an easy choice for anyone starting a landscaping project.”
Gene Caballero, Co-Founder, GreenPal
Add Ground Cover Instead of Grass
Creeping juniper or creeping thyme are great options that will keep your landscape green. Adding ground cover requires less maintenance and less water while creating a healthy environment for pollinators.
“Vinca Minor is a type of ground cover that requires minimal maintenance and stays green all year round, which is why it’s one of my favorites.”
Gavin Warwick, Founder, Boise Landscaping Company
Have some furry friends that love to hang out in your backyard? Replacing your grass with ground cover can also make your lawn dog-friendly.
Pet Owners: Remember to Choose a Dog-Friendly Ground Cover
When choosing a new plant variety that will be covering your furry friends' yard, make sure that it's non-toxic and safe for them. Clover is a great choice for a dog-friendly backyard.
Make a Rain Garden
Include a rain garden in your backyard to capture stormwater runoff with a flair. To make a rain garden, choose a location where runoff usually gathers, typically near a slope in your yard.
- Create a basin by adding berms with soil or rocks around the perimeter of your garden to keep the water within the garden.
- Plant native flowers and grasses with deep roots.
- Add mulch around your plants.
- Be sure to water your garden during dry spells.
With a rain garden in your backyard, you’ll have an attractive and environmentally friendly instrument to keep water from flooding your yard.
Additional Outdoor Projects to Spruce Up Your Home
Revamp your home’s exterior to match your new outdoor oasis with the following guides:
