A backyard garden is a home improvement project, a hobby, and for some, a passion, all rolled into one. While vegetable gardens certainly come to mind first when you think of gardening, a true backyard garden means taking a more holistic approach. Flower gardens, container gardening, raised beds, gazebo gardens, and even general landscaping design, can help to transform your entire backyard into a garden of sorts when you're all said and done.

Container Gardening
When planning a backyard garden, why not start small and work up? Container gardening is an excellent way to introduce yourself to gardening and get your hands dirty. It takes up a relatively small amount of space, requires less maintenance, and adds natural beauty and color to your patio or deck. You can grow everything from flowers to herbs to vegetables in container gardens, and the more you get into it the more you'll realize you can take this style of gardening as far you like.

Why Stop at the Back Porch?
Container gardens are a lot fun, but they're best when incorporated into a larger backyard plan. Whether you're wanting flowers for color or vegetables for food, you ought to look into raised bed gardens for other areas of your yard. A raised bed garden is constructed by building a raised "frame" that you fill with dirt and, eventually, plants of your choice. There are a lot of pluses to a raised bed backyard garden, including better soil, healthier plants and reduced problems with weeds and insects. The materials you choose to use are up to you. Basic raised beds can be constructed out of straight cedar planks, but more decorative raised beds can be built from stacked stone, decorative concrete blocks, and landscaping (railroad) ties. Finally, get the vision of an ugly square in the middle of your yard out of your head. Raised beds can wrap around trees, weave along a fence line, or border your new deck. Your imagination is the limit here.

Xeriscaping and Landscaping
As previously mentioned, one of the major faults homeowners make is underestimating what a garden can be. Don't think a single plot for summer veggies. Think instead an entire landscaping design. Talk to a landscape designer about putting together an optimal backyard garden for you, including shrubs, trees, walking paths, even ponds and fountains if that's your thing. Also, ask your landscaper about xeriscaping. Xeriscaping means putting in plants that are native to your area or otherwise do well in your climate. That means less maintenance work for you, a more successful garden, and a more environmentally friendly garden that won't waste water where it's scarce.

Appreciate Your New Backyard Garden with a Gazebo!
The final touch of any backyard garden is a place to sit and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Incorporating a gazebo into your garden design gives you a special place to get away from it all and appreciate your backyard retreat. Think about designing a special gazebo garden around your new gazebo as well. The sweet smell and beauty of blooming flowers in a gazebo garden will only add to the time you spend there.

Talk to a Garden Professional
Whether you're looking to improve the garden you already have or are planning to completely renovate your backyard landscape, it's a good idea to visit a nursery or talk to a landscaper before you get started. Even if you're just looking for advice before you shove out on your own, they will have a wealth of ideas and suggestions to share with you thanks to their experience in the field (no pun intended!).