How to Landscape a Big Back Yard

Photograph your backyard from different vantage points. The photos will help you create your landscape plan.

Lay out the photos and draw a basic sketch of your backyard, including existing trees, slopes and fencing. Make a list of the features you'd like to add to your landscape, such as flower beds, kitchen gardens or a fountain. Draw out different possible designs, incorporating the elements on your wish list. Eliminate features that don't fit with the overall landscape plan.

Install the hardscape for any walkways you want around the garden or near a patio. Pavers, flagstone, bricks, concrete and pea gravel are durable materials that complement a variety of environments.

Build fencing or plant trees along your property line for privacy. If you're using trees, purchase the largest trees you can afford so you don't have to wait a few years for seedlings to develop. Add edging around your trees to prevent weeds and grass from growing around them. Mowing around trees can be difficult, especially when multiple trees create narrow pathways and nooks.

Plant your garden in the area that receives the most sunlight. Choose perennials so you won't have to replant next year, and use companion plants for vegetables. Companion plants help prevent pests and improve the overall condition of your soil so you won't have to fertilize as often.

Add texture and color to a bare space with ground cover. Ferns, clover and moss are examples of non-flowering plants that reduce the amount of grass you need to mow.

Line a fence with a few large shrubs or rose bushes to increase privacy and add beauty to the yard's backdrop.

Install a water irrigation system near new trees, plants and gardens. Irrigation systems such as sprinklers or a seeping hose will reduce maintenance and ensure that new plants receive sufficient water while their root systems develop.