What is your backyard to you? Well, it can be anything at all, but what it shouldn’t be is just a patch of grass or a space where the kids (and maybe the dog) run around. The fact is that your backyard is actually an extension of your home, and it’s a place where you really can get creative, relax, and have fun – or it can be if you take on some fun and enjoyable DIY projects, anyway.
The good news is there are plenty of DIY jobs you can do in your backyard, so no matter what you want the outcome to be, you’ll find something you can do yourself that’s going to transform your backyard into a lovely space to spend time. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what some of those things are.
Build A Fire Pit
Who doesn’t love gathering around a fire pit with friends and family as the evenings get cooler? They’re really great to have in your backyard, but the problem is that you’ll find they can cost a lot – just start looking and you’ll soon see you’re going to need a decent budget to get a fire put that looks the part. So in that case, if you’d rather save money (and if you want to have a great sense of accomplishment, not to mention ending up with something totally unique), why not build your own fire pit? It’s really not as hard as it seems either, which is definitely a bonus.
To get started, you’ll need to pick the right spot – it’s got to be somewhere that’s safe and flat to avoid accidents, but that’s also going to be comfortable to sit in. Then, you’ll need bricks, stones, or pavers, and arrange them in a circle around a hole (it only needs to be shallow), and that’s pretty much it. Just make sure you check any regulations first, to be on the safe side. Plus, if you want to take things up a notch, why not add some built-in seating around the fire pit? You can use bricks or stones to make benches, and then get some cushions to make things a little more comfortable.
Create A Pathway
A pathway in your backyard not only makes it look great and adds a touch of unique charm to the area, but it’s also massively practical, so it’s definitely something you should consider when it comes to DIY tasks in the backyard. It might be a path that leads to a seating area, a shed, a vegetable patch, or a kids’ play area, for example, but wherever it goes, if you can make it look good, it’ll be a nicer journey to make.
You can make a really simple pathway with easy-to-buy materials like gravel, stepping stones, or perhaps wood slices (and there are dozens of other options too), and the process is the same no matter what it is you choose to use. Start by outlining where you want your path to go and then get rid of any grass or weeds in the area, and if it’s by a hedge or bush, investing in a hedge trimmer to tidy things up is a good idea as it’ll make it easier to use the path. Once the pathway has been cleared, it’s time to lay down a weed barrier (you can buy them ready to use from any gardening store), add your chosen material, and then tamp it all down to give yourself a stable surface – and that’s your lovely garden path ready to take you where you want to go for many years to come!
Build A Raised Garden Bed
Perhaps you’re interested in growing your own vegetables or herbs, or maybe you just want a beautiful-looking backyard with plenty of flowers in it, but whichever route you want to take, you’re going to need a raised garden bed to ensure it looks good and everything grows properly – otherwise it’s not going to be fun and you might even find it’s hard to get anything to survive for too long. That’s why a raised bed could be the ideal solution, and they do come with a variety of brilliant benefits, including better soil drainage, easier access for planting and weeding, and even protection from pests. And as you might have guessed, you can make your own raised beds quite easily.
You can use various materials like wood, bricks, or even recycled or repurposed things like old pallets, for example – it’s going to depend on your budget and how you want your garden to look, but the point is you’ll have plenty of choice. You’ll also need to make sure you make your raised bed in a sunny spot to help the plants grow, and once you’ve chosen the right spot, you should measure out the full size of the bed and build the frame before filling it with soil and compost – now you’re ready to start planting.
You could even think about building a series of raised beds to give yourself more space and a gorgeous garden to look at, and the great thing is that once you know how to make one raised bed, you can make as many as you want because the process will be the same.
Install A Vertical Garden
If you’re short on space or you’re just looking to add some greenery to a blank wall, or perhaps you just want to find a DIY project to get started with, a vertical garden is sure to tick all the boxes – they’re attractive, functional, and they’ll be a fantastic feature in any backyard, so why not give it a go?
To make a vertical garden, you can use wooden pallets, metal grids, hanging planters, or a combination of things – and this really isn’t an exhaustive list either, so make sure you research other ideas that might work for you. You’ll need to attach whatever structure you’ve chosen (or made) to a wall or fence, and then you can add lots of pots and containers to it. Once they’re secure, plant a mix of flowers, herbs, or even small vegetables to create a stunning hanging or vertical garden.
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