I was silly and dreamed of a backyard with so much grass it felt like a park… not thinking of the cost to water. What could I do here that would be low budget?
A small food forest of fruit trees planted closely together
travelingyogi19
Depends on your location, but a no-mow/low-mow seed blend that includes micro clover and fine fescue may work better. Visit a local native plant garden center or your state’s university cooperative extension service website for specific advice.
Front_Car_3111
wild flowers native to your area.
And some fruit trees that grow in your zone
244lives
Marijuana field
MasterBaiterNJ
Wild flowers/pollinator garden or rain garden?
Lilw33n3r
Wild flowers, native plants
can_kick
A curving stone walkway through trees, native shrubs and flowers
BlueHartsBlues
Th planet needs trees. Plant a small forest. Think of the beauty and the shade.
Andyatlast
Native wildflowers
ApprehensiveCamera40
Look up the Miyawaki Method
ApeApplePine
Rain forest? Just joking. Nevermind.
Soff10
Wow. That is a clean slate. Got a wife or kids? Sit down with a piece of paper and map out a plan.
White clover? You only mow it twice per year. Also a perennial / grass bed with shrubs behind to block that neighbors garage and view of your patio.
apexChaser71
Wild wildflowers and tri-color clover
undecidedlyhappy
Bouncy house obviously
The-29th-taco
I would suggest some larger growing shade trees on your north side, that would leave full sun for any grass, garden or flowers on your south side. I would let those trees and shrubs along your fence grow in and add some more along that line since you have the space. You have the space along you fence to play with different shrub colors and textures so don’t think it has to be a line of evergreens. If it were me I would plant some smoke bushes, elderberry, weigela along the fence to give a variety of colors back there.
master_of_none86
Shipping container studio compound or hedge maze.
allinmaxtip
Baseball field would be nice
Eyezog
Plant a hardwood legacy forest. Your grandkids can sell the mature trees for fine furniture. Maple, walnut, birch, rare oak, what ever is native and naturally disease resistant. The wildlife will flourish and property value will grow along with the trees.
DawaLhamo
Food forest!
If you’re in the US, your state might have a bulk tree seedling program so you don’t break the bank. I’d get a few large statement trees: Oak, Hickory, Walnut are good options. Then a bunch of small trees/shrubs: Elderberry, Chestnut, Wild Plum, Redbud whatever is native to your area. And blueberries, raspberries, blackberries (thornless varieties will be better for you in the end), gooseberries, currants, etc. Sunchokes, sorrel. And some raised garden areas set aside for annual veggies. Plus lots of native flowers mixed in. You will have to share with the wildlife, but that’s a bonus. You have the room for a water feature, too, which will also benefit you and the wildlife.
The principles could readily apply to this much land.
I won’t lie, the process will be cumbersome. But the result will be a beautiful habitat with very little maintenance involved.
what-do-i-need-2-no
A swimming pool
The_NorthernLight
If you want some “grass” with much less watering needs, grow wild clover.
jd3marco
People…or pets, I guess. You could make money with a small cemetery.
Griffinn3rd
Ton of natives. Wildflowers, shrubs, trees, flowering plants, a good mix of annuals and perennials… if you want a clean look and not too chaotic, do stone or pea gravel walkways with the plants sectioned off in beds.
Funny_Cook6844
Archery range
mrwolfface
I’m not a landscaper, more of a dancer really but don’t see why that should matter. I’m thinking a complete ground coverage with Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova or SuperNova 2 depending on your preference for graphics and modifiers.
InkyPinkyPeony
There is a tiktok with a lady who planted 18,000 Zinnias! I would make it trees and pathways with small gardens. Splitting perennials to fill spaces as you go but def trees. Could you do a manmade pond?
ptwonline
What are you using that space for?
If nothing special then you could just let weeds and native plants take over and just keep it mowed so it doesn’t too look too messy with different heights/textures.
If you have kids/animals running/playing on it you’ll want something a bit safer and less likely to have thorns or attract stinging insects. Normally that is where grass excels but if your water usage is too high look for other types of ground cover that is drought resistant and can survive in your zone. A mixture is always good because different plants may go dormant at different times and thrive in different conditions.
flyingtheory
a wall of tall hedges so you dont have to look at the neighbors
34 Comments
make outdoor gym, pool
A small food forest of fruit trees planted closely together
Depends on your location, but a no-mow/low-mow seed blend that includes micro clover and fine fescue may work better. Visit a local native plant garden center or your state’s university cooperative extension service website for specific advice.
wild flowers native to your area.
And some fruit trees that grow in your zone
Marijuana field
Wild flowers/pollinator garden or rain garden?
Wild flowers, native plants
A curving stone walkway through trees, native shrubs and flowers
Th planet needs trees. Plant a small forest. Think of the beauty and the shade.
Native wildflowers
Look up the Miyawaki Method
Rain forest? Just joking. Nevermind.
Wow. That is a clean slate. Got a wife or kids? Sit down with a piece of paper and map out a plan.
Flower farm
https://share.icloud.com/photos/06ckaGNSWse2RjpqNbJSI3goQ
Swimming pool
Golf driving range
White clover? You only mow it twice per year. Also a perennial / grass bed with shrubs behind to block that neighbors garage and view of your patio.
Wild wildflowers and tri-color clover
Bouncy house obviously
I would suggest some larger growing shade trees on your north side, that would leave full sun for any grass, garden or flowers on your south side. I would let those trees and shrubs along your fence grow in and add some more along that line since you have the space. You have the space along you fence to play with different shrub colors and textures so don’t think it has to be a line of evergreens. If it were me I would plant some smoke bushes, elderberry, weigela along the fence to give a variety of colors back there.
Shipping container studio compound or hedge maze.
Baseball field would be nice
Plant a hardwood legacy forest. Your grandkids can sell the mature trees for fine furniture. Maple, walnut, birch, rare oak, what ever is native and naturally disease resistant. The wildlife will flourish and property value will grow along with the trees.
Food forest!
If you’re in the US, your state might have a bulk tree seedling program so you don’t break the bank. I’d get a few large statement trees: Oak, Hickory, Walnut are good options. Then a bunch of small trees/shrubs: Elderberry, Chestnut, Wild Plum, Redbud whatever is native to your area. And blueberries, raspberries, blackberries (thornless varieties will be better for you in the end), gooseberries, currants, etc. Sunchokes, sorrel. And some raised garden areas set aside for annual veggies. Plus lots of native flowers mixed in. You will have to share with the wildlife, but that’s a bonus. You have the room for a water feature, too, which will also benefit you and the wildlife.
Start researching heavily the topic of prairie restoration. It’s a huge movement right now. Start here – [https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/Restoration-Guide-Crop-to-Conservation-Prairie.pdf](https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/Restoration-Guide-Crop-to-Conservation-Prairie.pdf)
The principles could readily apply to this much land.
I won’t lie, the process will be cumbersome. But the result will be a beautiful habitat with very little maintenance involved.
A swimming pool
If you want some “grass” with much less watering needs, grow wild clover.
People…or pets, I guess. You could make money with a small cemetery.
Ton of natives. Wildflowers, shrubs, trees, flowering plants, a good mix of annuals and perennials… if you want a clean look and not too chaotic, do stone or pea gravel walkways with the plants sectioned off in beds.
Archery range
I’m not a landscaper, more of a dancer really but don’t see why that should matter. I’m thinking a complete ground coverage with Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova or SuperNova 2 depending on your preference for graphics and modifiers.
There is a tiktok with a lady who planted 18,000 Zinnias! I would make it trees and pathways with small gardens. Splitting perennials to fill spaces as you go but def trees. Could you do a manmade pond?
What are you using that space for?
If nothing special then you could just let weeds and native plants take over and just keep it mowed so it doesn’t too look too messy with different heights/textures.
If you have kids/animals running/playing on it you’ll want something a bit safer and less likely to have thorns or attract stinging insects. Normally that is where grass excels but if your water usage is too high look for other types of ground cover that is drought resistant and can survive in your zone. A mixture is always good because different plants may go dormant at different times and thrive in different conditions.
a wall of tall hedges so you dont have to look at the neighbors