After moving into our new home, we faced the challenge of managing a large backyard and front yard filled with trees that constantly made the place messy. In December, we decided to remove the trees to create a cleaner environment, but now the yard feels a bit barren. We’re considering several ideas to enhance our outdoor spaces:
- Increase shaded areas for comfort during late mornings and afternoons.
- Install heating for enjoyable late afternoons and evenings.
- Create a social gathering space suitable for large groups.
- Reduce water usage to lower the cost of maintaining a large grass cover.
- Maintain curb appeal as we reduce maintenance costs.
Backyard Ideas
| Concrete | Gazebo | Palm Trees | Fire Pit + Umbrella | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pro | reduces grass cover | shade | provides shade | provides heat & shade |
| Pro | ideal for gatherings | great for gatherings | california aesthatic | looks great |
| Con | no shade, reflects heat | makes area feel smaller | requires more water | not permanent |
| Cost | $12000 | $11000 | $500 | $5000 |
Frontyard Ideas
| Dichondra Repens | Xeriscape | Turf | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro | water once a week | no watering | no watering |
| Pro | green cover looks nice | beautiful | |
| Con | can look quite different | less usable area | 10-15 year life |
| Cost | $2000 | $5000 | $15000 |
Sidewalk Ideas
| Stone | Let it dry out | |
|---|---|---|
| Pro | curb appeal | ugly |
| Con | no real use | trees can die too |
| Cost | $3000 | - |
So, what do we choose? My suggestions:
- Go with concrete, firepit, umbrella, and furniture for the backyard
- Go with dichondra repens for frontyard
- Go with stones for sidewalk