Before you contemplate specific backyard landscaping designs, you have to ask yourself some basic questions. What are you looking for from your yard? Are you trying to create an entertainment area where you can host friends for cookouts? Or is kicking back and relaxing in a meditation garden more your style? If you have kids and/or pets, you’ll have to take their needs into account when designing your yard.
In presenting the design tips below, I treat all those issues and more. As food forthought before you begin, consider some DIY landscape design basics, such as the difference between designing for real estate value and designing for your own needs. Also, browse our landscape design photos to get your creative juices flowing.