What can I do with my backyard?

Rozsa Carnegie
by Rozsa Carnegie

Help my backyard please, its all mulch/dirt right now. Grass wont grow. I would like to keep my pond. What can I do? Thought about turf instead of grass. Also need deck ideas.

  4 answers
  • Jacqueline Jacqueline on May 09, 2019

    If you don’t want any grass at all, you could get it graveled with the small pebbles. If you want SOME grass, gravel the majority and turf or sod the rest. Have you done soil testing to see why grass won’t grow? It could be a simple fix of nutrients you can add yourself to get the soil right. Could be nitrates, too much or too little. Google soil testing, I believe there are places that test your soil for free or next to nothing. Home and Garden type places. Lowes and Home Depot dell Soil Testing Kits to DIY. I just recently read about other places but I can’t remember where I read to it offer a link. You could probably have your soil ready in no time.

  • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on May 09, 2019

    A deck and a long walkway would keep the mud off your porch, probably, and will keep your shoes from ruining the grass and forming more mud. My choice would not be to cover the yard with artificial turk, but replacing the grass with healthy living turf may be a wonderful idea. Although normally seen in a front yard, with the proper prep work, the new turf could completely enhance the back yard. Best wishes!

  • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on May 09, 2019

    No grass at all....ornamental Dwarf Mondo grass in some areas(comes in black & green colors,no maintenance grows in shade) and Creeping Lemon Thyme(bug repellent) in some;large wood deck off of along whole back of house stepping down to area out in yard, firepit area, cement patio or pavers(more initial cost/work less long term cost and care than wood deck or gravel),paver walkways(less maintenance/cleaner than gravel) adding Perennial,Annual and Bulbs/ Flowers all around for year round color.Use the large stones lying around to create garden bed/patio edges around patio/pavers all around firepit.

  • 17335038 17335038 on May 14, 2019

    With the pond already in place, the yard certainly has potential. However, as long as the huge tree is there, you will have a loosing battle trying to grow lawn. If you do have your heart set upon green grass, then section off only selected small areas , border them in, then start new with turf. Think of how a mini-golf course looks: with separate small green areas, and hardscape walkways in between.


    Sections of lawn though are difficult and time consuming to maintain. They are not big enough for a mower, yet still need to be fertilized, weeded, and watered. Mulch is another coverage option. It does need to be replaced regularly though, especially if you live where it snows in the winter.


    I concur with others who have recommended going with materials and features that are low or no-maintenance - river rock, pea gravel, paving stones, etc.