What to Do With a Big Backyard?

Pool

• Build an in-ground or above-ground pool. Pools take a lot of work, from weekly or daily cleaning and chemical treatment to pool deck maintenance. However, the pool will fill in the backyard, offering a centerpiece to your yard and home. The pool also functions as a recreation and entertainment area. Landscape the pool with flowers and shrubs to add color and softness.

Theme

• Choose a landscaping theme for the large backyard. For example, create a Japanese garden, an ornamental shrub and flower garden or a tropical garden. For each of these landscaping styles, flowers, shrubs, trees, tiles and walkways are ideal. For example, in a Japanese garden, Japanese red maple trees, cherry blossoms and orchids are welcome. For a Japanese rock garden, covering the backyard with small stones, large rocks and sand to rake for meditation transforms the lawn into a sanctuary.

Tree Farm

• Plant a tree grove, either for business purposes or for personal pleasure. For example, you can start your own tree farm from your backyard for the holiday season. Planting one or a few species of pine tree, such as a Douglas fir, white pine or blue spruce. You can market the trees for sale in the Christmas season. If you would rather not see the trees cut down and later left brown and crispy on the curb, enjoy your own pine forest instead. You can also choose other type of tree, such as linden, ash, gingko or the fragrant eucalyptus.

Entertainment Gazebo

• Create an entertainment haven with a gazebo and walkway. Center the gazebo in the yard or position it to the left or right, to allow for other objects of interest, such as gardens or a pond. A traditional gazebo is round, hexagonal or octagonal wooden structure with a wooden or stone floor. The roof is closed to keep out rain. However, other gazebos have a cloth ceiling or open, vine-threaded terraces for a softer look. Landscape the gazebo exterior with small fragrant flowers like freesia, roses or lavender. Building a stone or brick walkway from the back door of the home to the gazebo is especially inviting.

Orchard

• Plant fruit tree seeds in your backyard to create an orchard. For colder climates, choose hardy trees, such as peach, apple and pear trees. For a tropical location, plant your backyard with banana, pineapple and guava trees. For subtropical climates, plant citrus trees, such as orange, grapefruit and lemon trees. For arid climates, plant pomegranate trees, that thrive in hot weather and low humidity. You can store apples throughout the winter if the fruit is hard and healthy, according to the Michigan State University Extension.