Low-Maintenance Backyard Retreat Ideas
Better Homes & Gardens features eight strategies for turning backyards into relaxing, low-upkeep retreats including resilient hardscaping with pavers or gravel to reduce mowing. The guide recommends drought-tolerant perennials, multi-zone spaces for dining and lounging, water features or fire pits for ambiance, and weatherproof furniture with easy-care planters. The focus is maximizing enjoyment while minimizing ongoing maintenance work.
- Opting for native plants can significantly reduce maintenance as they are adapted to local soil and climate conditions, requiring less water and no fertilizers. Using native vegetation also provides food and shelter for local wildlife, supporting biodiversity. - Permeable pavers are an eco-friendly hardscaping option that allows rainwater to soak into the ground, which reduces runoff and can help prevent erosion. Cost-wise, they are comparable to quality concrete pavers, typically running $8 to $15 per square foot installed. - For outdoor furniture, materials like high-density polyethylene (HDPE) lumber, often made from recycled plastics, offer the look of wood without the risk of rotting, splintering, or cracking. Other durable options include teak, which has a lifespan of 20-40 years, and powder-coated aluminum, which is lightweight and rust-resistant. - Replacing a traditional lawn with ground covers like creeping thyme or ornamental grasses can drastically cut down on mowing. Gravel is one of the most affordable ground cover materials and provides excellent drainage. - A strategically planted deciduous tree can reduce a home's cooling costs by shading it from the summer sun, with the potential to lower temperatures by up to 9 degrees. In one year, a single mature tree can absorb more than 48 pounds of carbon dioxide. - Rainwater harvesting systems, such as rain barrels connected to downspouts, can be used to collect water for irrigating gardens and filling ponds, reducing municipal water use. - Low-voltage LED and solar-powered lights are energy-efficient options for landscape lighting that can extend the use of an outdoor space after sunset.
