Landscape Projects You Can DIY for Your Own Yard

As the weather keeps getting warmer, we turn our attention to our outside spaces. We start spending more time in the outdoor areas of our home, which we want to enjoy to the fullest. Today I am sharing landscape projects we have done ourselves around our property and how you can also DIY any of these for your own yard.

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Inspiration for DIY Landscape Projects

For us it all began with the front yard walkways. We started the front yard project with an over all demolition by a landscape contractor who also installed lighting and irrigation. After that we took over. Here you can see a before and after situation.

Please note in the before picture above, Mr. M had already replaced the side fence on the left of the house as you’re looking at it. The side fences were his first fence projects when he mastered the art of building livestock wire fencing. More on all of this below.

Hardscape Design

Reader Tip: By clicking on the links below the images you can view the original posts with more details, step by step tutorials and additional photos.

Flagstone Walkways

We choose this style of walkway since it’s relaxed with provincial vibes. It’s somewhere between stepping stones, which is also a great alternative and paved slate. We were originally going to have a paved slate walkway installed, which would have been costly and have more of a contemporary feel. This slate flagstone pavers walkway has the countryside provincial vibes, which worked best for the aesthetic and design we prefer.

The main section of walkway goes from our front door to the curb, which is intersected with walkways which go around each side of the house. One side leads to the main driveway and garage, while the other walkway simply leads to the side yard.

The main task to forming the walkways was working with all the different shapes of the slate. It was a giant jigsaw puzzle, which was fun at times but certain spots were a bit tricky. I helped Mr. M at first but he quickly took over the entire project and cranked it out in record time.  

I recommend walking the brickyard to select your stone. When we placed our order we actual chose the exact pallets we wanted, which had the pieces we liked the best. Once we got the materials home we measured out the dimensions of the walkway and added weed barrier and a layer of the decomposed granite for the slate to rest on. More DG (decomposed granite) was added between all the pavers to make a flush surface. This sometimes requires refilling maintenance, but since we have DG throughout our property we have a load delivered when needed.

Decomposed Granite Areas

Decomposed Granite (DG) is a great alternative for hardscape spaces in landscape design.  We have used decomposed granite in a few of our outdoor spaces, proving to be a fantastic choice for various reasons. 

Decomposed granite, also known as DG, is formed from the natural weathering and erosion of natural rock. This rock or granite is tough, hard and igneous. It’s easy to lay down and create a very natural look.

We’ve used it in walkways, a secondary driveway and it’s a great way to create an outdoor room. You can see above how we used it to create a sitting area in the front of our home. It’s also our ground cover for our vegetable garden in the backyard, keeping the space natural and organic.

The DG in the vegetable garden works well since it creates a great atmosphere for the setting plus it’s easy to maintain.

Decomposed granite has become a popular hardscape material for a complexity of reasons. It’s natural, permeable, aesthetically versatile, and wonderfully inexpensive. DG can evoke a Mediterranean feel in a sitting courtyard or give cottage vibes in a quaint walkway plus it can even have a contemporary feel with linear designs. Whatever your design aesthetic might be, it can work into your style.

Fences Pretty and Practical

Mr. Masterpiece has built a few livestock, hog wire fences around our property. Let me clarify we don’t have any livestock just a happy Labrador named Misty. The fences create the aesthetic and look we want for our home. I guess it’s a suburban farmhouses look.

The first projects consisted of the small sections on each side of the house, connecting to the backyard. Each side has it’s own gate so the learning curve included the posts, fence sections and actual swinging doors. From there we added an ornamental fence in the front of the property. I use the term “we” loosely since Mr. and Master M did all the heavy lifting.

The fence in the front of the house is simply for pretty curb appeal as opposed to the last fence the boys built enclosing the vegetable garden in the back. This fence is meant to keep critters at bay, which is mainly Miss Misty.

You can find the tutorial for this type of fencing here {How to Build a Livestock Fence}. Keep in mind you can have fencing simply for ornamental purposes as we do in the front of the house or you can have more of a practical fence to enclose or separate areas.

Arbors and Trellises

Along with fences, arbors make great openings or entrances for enclosed areas. Arbors are great for climbing and trailing plant varieties.

Also keep in mind arbors can be strictly ornamental without function. They create great drama in outdoor spaces while providing structure. Trellises are also great for the same purposes. Trellises can create a great barrier for privacy, or can simply be pretty.

Arbors and trellises not only provide structure for plants and flowers to climb, but they also create a stage for garden decor. You can hang chimes or lights or bird feeders plus so much more.

The fence tutorial unfortunately does not include the instructions for the arbor section. The good news is that I hope to convince the boys to build another arbor in the front, which I will make sure to document and share here.

Plantings Design

Planting, flowers, shrubs, trees, etc. is less labor intensive than the hardscape projects, but they require more continued attention and maintenance to keep them thriving.

Flowers and Plants

I’m a big proponent of planting what you like and not follow any rules. That being said, you do have to pay attention to the varieties which grow in your zone. Regardless of how much you love a certain something, if it can’t grow in your soil and climate, it won’t thrive.

I love hydrangeas and have a few varieties in the backyard. Fortunately they do very well in our area. In the front yard I stick to a very edited color palette of mostly whites and silvers. Some might find this boring or drab, but I find it serene. Remember what I said about doing what you like?

Flower beds are a great way to edge or encloses an area. Above the slate walkway is flanked by Snow in Summer. I love when it’s in full bloom and a bit wild.

Above you can see the Dusty Miller and Artemisia planted around the front sitting area. The plantings create a border around the space, designating the area while the DG grounds the outdoor room.

Brushes and Shrubs

Bushes and shrubs are great for so many purposes. Bushes can just be pretty for plant design, or they can be practical creating walls and barriers in the garden.

Above you can see the bushes we planted around the walkway in the front yard. They are purely for pretty vibes. There is another one in the urn on the other side to keep the entire yard balanced and cohesive, which you can see in the photo below.

You can also see the wall of shrubs against the neighbors yard, dividing the property lines and providing plenty of privacy. Keep in mind these shrubs were established through many years, but an organic wall like this is worth the wait.

Trees

Trees are also a great addition to any landscape design. Once again trees can be purely decorative, or practical or structural. Trees can provide shade and protection or simply provide a certain aesthetic. The topiary olive trees against the front fence are purely for prettiness.

While the ornamental pear trees in the back yard against the neighbors’ fences are not only pretty but also provide privacy.

We have five of these trees against the back of our property. When the landscape designer, who helped me select these trees, mentioned they would eventually provide a canopy to block the neighbor’s homes she was absolutely right. You can see how much they have grown in from the above photo, which was a few years ago to the now below.

Mulch

An important detail for garden design is mulch. Mulch is the layer of compost or bark dust applied at the base of plantings. Not only does compost give a yard a finished and polished look, but it also provides many benefits.

Mulch has crucial purposes, including water conservation, weed suppression, maintaining soil health and regulating soil temperature. It’s an easy accent to add to your yard, providing orderliness and many benefits.

Reader Tip: By clicking on the links below the images you can view the original posts with more details, step by step tutorials and additional photos.

Other Ideas

There’s a variety of other ideas you can use in your outdoor spaces to make them unique, interesting and enjoyable.

Ornamental Garden Accents and Fixtures

Fountains, statuary pieces and garden ornaments all add details, which yield a big impact.

Raised Beds

Raised beds are a great choice for vegetables, herbs or cutting flowers. Tending to plants in raised beds is easier on the body, easing stress on the back and knees. Also it allows for easier soil manipulation, drainage control and minimizing weeds.

Container Gardens

An other option is to simply plant in planters and containers. Placing containers in strategic areas on your porches, patios and outdoor spaces adds to the overall landscape design. Container gardening is super versatile since you can move the pieces around easily.

Closing Thoughts

I hope this inspires you to embark in a landscaping DIY project whether big or small. I’m trying to decide what project we should tackle next. I’m in the process of finishing a porch refresh, which I will share soon.

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter for those who celebrate. We had a nice holiday, although I am missing my mini me. Miss M is finishing her Junior year at Boulder, and she will be home for the summer in a few weeks. I cannot wait! Thank you for stopping by today and hope to “see” you again soon.

Shop the Look

• Garden Arbor
• White Picket Fence
• Decomposed Granite Gray
• Cast Iron Flower Bed Edging
• Lion Face Roman Outdoor Fountain
• Galvanized Metal Raised Bed
• Cast Stone Urn
• Herb Seed Packet Starter Kit

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The garden is not a place… it’s a journey.”

Monty Don

sharing @ between naps on the porch