Ready to revamp your front or back yard?
BEFORE: Overgrown Side Yard
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Side yardsare a commonly overlooked space.
Test Garden Tip:Usingtall container gardensas a screen can help separate spaces feel even more like distinct rooms.
Credit: Andreas Trauttmansdorf
Mixingpatio paver materialsis an effective way to make an impact.
Here, stone chips transition to pea gravel, which thentransition to flagstone.
They’re also mostlydeer-resistant plants.
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A simple color scheme makes this garden feel planned out and easy on the eye.
Evergreens provide year-round privacyand act as windbreaks.
The small water feature next to the patio adds ambiance.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
BEFORE: Inconvenient Slope
Thisunfortunate cornerreally took away from the good looks of an otherwise attractive house.
AFTER: Beautiful Terrace
A terrace offers a good solution forhandling a difficult slope.
Plus it adds resale value to the home, so the project is a well worth the extra effort.
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The same stucco was used on the wall and the house, which helps tie everything together.
Although purple-leaf plants are beautiful on their own, they become a powerfulgarden design toolwhen repeated throughout a planting.
Shots of silver from thedusty millersurrounding a cobalt-blue container is a perfect way to create more interest.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
The bed looks attractive all year long, thanks to plants with multi-season interest.
Dwarf Albertaspruce,ornamental grasses, and variegated red-twigdogwood, for example, even look good in winter.
Test Garden Tip:Keep your planting low-maintenance with alayer of mulch to stop weedsand conserve moisture.
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From there, the yard became a fresh slate for a mix of stones, boulders, andeasy-care plants.
The landscape feels lighter and more open when filled with the silvery-blue foliage of ornamental grasses and perennials.
Test Garden Tip:When you plant trees, keep a sense of scale in mind.
Credit: Andreas Trauttmansdorf
A giant tree next to a one-story house will make the house seem smaller.
AFTER: A Pretty Patio
This charmingflagstone patiocreates a perfect retreat for this Midwestern gardener.
In this garden before and after, the garage wall adds privacy and shade to the patio.
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Plus, it’s now the perfect spot to hang outdoor-friendly artwork, which can soften the wall.
A mix of annuals, perennials, and shrubs creates a beautiful planting with season-long appeal.
As one season ends, replace annuals with a new crop to keep your garden looking fresh.
Credit: Laurie Black
For example, floweringcabbageandpansiesare a colorful fix for summer-wornpetunias.
It begged for a garden renovation to make it more comfortable.
AFTER: A Cool Outdoor Retreat
This multistep project created lots of living opportunitiesand less mowing!
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Plantings around the patio and pergola help soften it and create visual interest.
Choosefragrant plantsfor extra appeal!
Installing an outdoor fireplace gives your outdoor living spot even more versatility.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
A bold red color theme catches the eye and warms up the cold feel of the cement.
Or DIY your own customized rug design by painting an inexpensive, plain one.
Aseries of container gardensalong the edge of the patio creates a boundary between the lawn and patio.
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BEFORE: Unkempt Corner
Make a statement in your landscape by filling in a corner.
It’s a great way to make mowing easier and add another touch of color to your landscape.
This opened the door for a new, lush planting.
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The curved edge of the bed softens the 90-degree angle of the corner and creates more visual interest.
It’s another great example of how foliage color and texture can be just as pretty as flowers.
Putting the tree-form smoke bush in a big pot creates a dramatic focal point.
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Test Garden Tip:Use containers in beds and borders.
They’re perfect for swapping out color in an instant or filling any bare spots.
This front-yard planting is filled with plants that look good in all seasons to create an ever-changing display.
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Also look for small evergreens, grasses, and plants with interesting habitssuch as corkscrewwillowfor lasting winter looks.
This planting also takes advantage of color to create extra impact.
The contrasting purple-and-chartreuse color theme looks great and personalizes the garden.
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Look for flower and foliage colors that will accent your house colors.
A thicklayer of mulchmakes maintenance easy; itkeeps weeds at bayand reduces the need for watering.
This Midwestern home had just a singlecrabappleand a fewspireaswhen the homeowner moved in.
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AFTER: An Eye-Catching Landscape
It didn’t take long to spice up the yard.
This homeowner added a wider bed around hiscrabappleand filled it withcolorful perennialsthat stay showy spring to fall.
Don’t forget the way your garden will look from inside your house.
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A smallretaining wallbreaks up the slope, giving the yard a little extra oomph.
Stone edging around the bedmatches the wall and gives the planting a finished look.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
