How do you make a CONCRETE back yard look inviting and green?

Marcy
by Marcy
It used to be a parking lot for a dentist.
  9 answers
  • Kathryn Sanderson Kathryn Sanderson on Apr 15, 2017

    My mom had a concrete patio at her last apartment. She made it look inviting and green by using lots of container plants. She also planted flowers and things in the little strips of soil around the edges of the patio. It's doable. It sounds like your yard is a lot bigger than a patio, though.

  • Marcy Marcy on Apr 16, 2017

    It is, it was a dentist's parking lot and completely concrete.


  • Marcy Marcy on Apr 16, 2017

    thank you though, I do use the planters and large pots, even attached a large bath tub liner with pictures of a forest screen on stockade fence behind seating area to get some sense of greenery.

  • Susan Larimore Susan Larimore on Apr 16, 2017

    use painted cinder blocks to make raised garden beds ,flowers,vegs, whatever you like. you already have walk between/around them.drill drain holes if you need to for run off.


  • Johnchip Johnchip on Apr 16, 2017

    You can paint/stain the concrete to give it some interest. I would also consider a fountain, pond, water feature. gazebo or some pergola feature would also help create area/spaces. Dividing the large space into various 'places of interest' will help break up the 'lot' effect. And of course plants, plants, plants.

  • Elaine Elaine on Apr 16, 2017

    How large is the concrete area? Besides the obvious answers of adding planters of flowers and shrubs, don't forget to look for outdoor carpeting to define the dining area and other areas. Perhaps, you have another area for lounging with chaise lounge chairs, if so, buy an outdoor carpet for that area too. Remember to go large with planters - fewer but larger are much nicer than a lot of fussy, small pots to give it a sophisticated look. If you have room inside the house for the cold weather, a trick I would do is buy some palm trees, keep them outside for the Summer then bring them in for the Winter. If you have a partially shaded area, the palms would like that so they don't get burned by the sun. Avoid banana palms, though, as strong winds can easily tear their beautiful leaves.

  • Eroque022810 Eroque022810 on Apr 16, 2017

    Have you thought about painting it in a way that would define areas kind of like an English garden. There are shrubs that can go into planters that you can use to define areas. You can have a formal garden or you can have a floral one that is not so defined. I would have a sitting and grilling area then I would gradually lead you to a fire pit are with seating. For me an herb garden would be great. Then using tips from this site I would add a tiered area for glowers. Put idea on paper first then see where sun hits and for how long so that you don't have to sit in blazing sun or place sun plants in shade and shade in sunny area. Take it slow and add each year. Planters are very expensive so make sure you can leave them out in winter as well this way you can have shrubs to look at which are green all year depending on what you get. I wish I had cement our yard isn't that large but to large for me and the sun really beats down but not in budget yet,I want a screened porch. I don't ask for much right.? Hey you could add a shed in back area to hold your planting tools and paint it so that it is also a focal point and trust me people will appreciate not walking on just paver that can wobble. Thick of it as a very large patio. Have any idea how you can paint it to look like pavers,they sell stencils that would look awesome. Make it the project for one year then add something every year until you are happy. Gardens take a long time to develop even in grassy area so not a big deal. Good luck,have fun.

  • Marcy Marcy on Apr 17, 2017

    thank you to all for some great ideas.....I have sectioned off seections, added a mural of a forest scene attached to a stockade fence in one area,have large containers(two on bottom one on top) placed like a triangle i will use some other ideas thanks again!!

  • Marcy Marcy on Apr 17, 2017

    thank you again!