4 Rules You Should Always Follow When Landscaping a New Backyard, Lawn Pros Share

New-build homes are all the rage these days—but some people think they need a little extra love to give them the charm that older homes have. The same could be said for the outdoor spaces that come along with new builds: they’re a blank canvas just waiting to be transformed into someone’s dream backyard. 

But where do you start when there are so many routes to take? We tapped a few yard design pros for their top tips for transforming a newly built backyard. 

Divide Your Yard Into Zones 

With such a blank canvas right before your very eyes, your best option is to divide your open yard into zones—that way, planning what you want won’t feel too chaotic. Give each distinct “zone” a purpose—will it be a patio space, a space for a greenhouse, or a space for a water feature?—and get started.

“The most successful projects I’ve seen working with these smaller and somewhat bland spaces do take advantage of distinct zones,” says Ryan Farley, CEO of LawnStarter. 

He recommends using different materials to make these zones really clear. Try laying down some pavers or even concrete for your entertaining space and using stones or mulch to separate a patch of grass for pets from your garden area.

“This really helps divide the space into different areas and can turn it into a more developed and more usable yard,” he says. 

Lauren Syrowik, a home expert, acknowledges another benefit of zoning out the yard: taking your time.

“Landscaping is expensive—[making zones] gives you the opportunity to tackle projects in phases,” she says. “I would focus on hardscape, creating beds, and planting your large trees first. From there, you can start filling in with smaller bushes, shrubs, and plants.

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Create Some Privacy 

Syrowik says that the biggest issue with newly built yards is often privacy—sometimes these homes don’t even come with a fence.

“Creating a border of evergreens around your property will give you beautiful greenery all year round, and give you more solitude from your neighbors,” she says. “I like to use a mix of evergreens for a more natural feel, but you can also use all the same for a more structured look.”

Syrowik emphasizes that you should know all about what you’re growing. Plants, like the ones used for privacy, grow over time. Make sure you’re keeping mature size in mind when planning out your space.

Grow Fruits, Vegetables, and more

Growing fruits, vegetables, and other plants can turn your bland backyard into a lush oasis that’s not only gorgeous but functional too. 

“There are a variety of approaches you can take—planting fruit trees, constructing ground-level garden beds, buying raised garden beds, doing planter gardening, or a combination of those things,” says Jeremy Yamagushi, CEO of Lawn Love.

Yamagushi recommends researching what fruits and veggies grow best in your area before making a plan of what to grow.

Add Raised Beds

Growing in your yard might seem like an obvious choice, but there are strategic ways to go about it that will allow you to make the most out of your yard, and raised beds are it. 

“I’ve seen new build yards that come equipped with rather tall fencing, which can work against you in that it will shade lower-set plants potentially for most of the day,” Farley says. “Using raised beds can help get your plants up and into the sunlight.”