Looking for backyard garden ideas now that it’s warm? From unique projects to explore to garden beds and structures to build, you’ll find planting info, decor inspiration, DIY landscapes, and tons of garden fun to try. Whether you have a small or large yard, there’s a project (or 100) for you.

100 Backyard Garden Ideas

For many of these projects, you will need basic tools and equipment. (Note: this post contains affiliate links which may give us a commission at no additional cost to you.) Some of the tools you will probably need include: power drill and drill bits, miter saw, wood glue, sand paper, stones, seeds, plants, containers, and a whole lot of imagination.

Make these a family or couple’s project, or surprise a loved one with a gorgeous garden feature!

Things to Build

How to Build a Backyard Garden Pond

Pond Kit from Amazon + Rocks + Tropical Plants + Water

 

A Backyard Makeover With Raised Garden Beds

 

How to Spruce Up the Garden with Raised Garden Beds

Wooden boards (2x10s and 1x3s) + Terra cotta pots + Mulch + Garden soil + Stencil

 

How to Start & Maintain a Backyard Compost

Composting bins + Accessories

 

What Is Square Foot Gardening? Check Out My Backyard Vegetable Garden!

Pieces of wood (or raised bed kits) + boards + chicken wire + plastic ties + cutting sheers + power drill+ soil + many seeds

 

Love Your Garden, Keep a Flock of Backyard Chickens!

 

How to Build a Raised Garden Bed for Vegetables

Stones + Wall blocks + Level + Mallet + Landscape Construction Adhesive + Vegetable seeds

 

Planting a Succulent Garden

Perlite soil + Mulch + Rocks

 

DIY Pond: How to Make a Backyard Oasis with Waterfall

Pond liner + Wall stones + ABS pipe + Waterfall spillway + 2″ flexible PVC pipe + 2″ rigid ABS pipe + 1 inch water tubing + Skimmer pump GPH + GPH + Flexible PVC couplings + Skimmer box + UV light filter + Black insulation foam + Statues

 

Easy Two-Tiered Planter For Our Pizza Garden

Plastic pots + Nature’s Care soil + Plant markers + Plants

 

How to Build a Raised Garden Bed with a Cucumber Trellis

3 2″x2″x8′ boards + 1 2’x8′ lattice + Brad nailer + 1″ brad nails + Circular saw

 

The Patio in the Vegetable Garden

Pavers + Landscaping fabric + Patio furniture + Tablecloth

 

How to Build a DIY Raised Garden Bed and Protect it With a Metal Fence

(12) – 1″ x 6″ x 8 feet cedar boards* + Corner brackets for exterior use + Miter saw, Circular saw or Jigsaw + Power drill with driving bits and drilling bits + Exterior screws (1-1/4″) + Corner clamps + Newspaper or lawn/leaf bags + Metal fencing + Deer netting + Heavy-duty stapler + Shovel + Wheelbarrow + Level + Tape measure + Hammer + 1 yard of soil

 

Cinder Block Raised Garden Bed

Cinder blocks + soil + plants

 

MAKING A DIY PLANTER BOX FOR THE GARDEN

Cedar boards + Kiln dried pine studs + Self tapping screws + Table saw + Mitre saw + Power drill + Kreg Pocket Hole Jigs and Clamp + Wood glue + Set square + Pencil or pen + 4ft clamp + 6″ clamp + Measuring device + 5/8′ Forstner Bit

 

HOW TO BUILD A WOODEN WALKWAY FOR THE BACKYARD

Boardwalk planks + Support beams + Grip tape

 

HOW TO EASILY MAKE A BEAUTIFUL STONE WALKWAY

Round pointed digging shovel + Square pointed shovel + 8×8 steel tamper + Large crushed stone + Metal bow rake + Metal stakes

 

Transforming a Rusty Old Bar Cart

Rust-Oleum + Primer + Paint + Paintbrushes

 

Building Steps On A Slope

Ground Contact 2″ x 8″ x 8′ boards + Ground Contact 6″ x 6″ x 8′ posts + 3″ Deckmate Deck Screws + Fill + Landscape fabric + Wood stain and protector + Stones

 

OUR BACKYARD DIY PALLET DECK WITH OUTDOOR RUG

Solid Teak Wood Interlocking Flooring Tiles + Outdoor rugs Patio RV Camping Rug Mat + Metal retro chairs + Beach umbrella

 

Make this Simple DIY Pergola for Your Patio

Two 10′ treated 4″ x 4″s for upright posts + One 8′ treated 4″ x 4″ for top beam + Two Brackets + Seven 2′ sections of 2″ x 2″ for cross pieces + Small pieces of 1/2″ x 4″ to cover brackets + Concrete mix + Posthole digger + Post level + Measuring tape + Saw + Screwdriver and screws + Hammer and nails

 

How to Plant a Window Box Garden :: Tutorial & Planting Tips

Black plastic trash bags + Potting mix + Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food + Latex gloves + Ice Pick

 

Small Garden Ideas

Easy Mini Greenhouse for Small Garden Spaces

Plastic storage bin with lid + DIY seed containers + Small plant pots + Seedling Starter Soil + Seeds + Paper

 

DIY Gardening Gift Basket With Painted Planter and Garden Markers

Plant mister  or watering can + Gardening gloves + Sun hat or visor + Spade + Trowel + Pruning shears + Clippers + Sunscreen + Plant seeds + Twine + Potting soil + Planter or pot + Wooden plant markers + Acrylic paint + Paintbrushes + Painter’s tape + Tissue paper + Small plant mister + Pruning clippers + Plant seed packets

 

DIY Garden Markers

Wooden spoons + Black craft paint and brush + White paint and brush + Polurethane

 

Tips For Planting A One Pot Container Herb Garden

Pot + Potting soil + Washi tape + Permanent markers + Paint sticks

 

 

Container Gardening When Space is Limited

Container (5 gallon bucket, kid pool, wooden planter box, etc.) + soil + seeds

 

The Learning Garden – Starting Seeds Indoors

 

My Urban Backyard Patio

Garden stools + Outdoor pillows + Plant stands + Patio table and chairs

 

Kitchen Herb Garden (Tabletop or Wall Mounted)

Scrap plywood + Nail gun + Handsaw + Decorative trim + Homeright Finish Max + Copper label tags + Plants

 

Succulent Garden

Mini greenhouse + FloraCraft foam sheets + Decorative rocks

 

Coffee Pot Terrarium

Coffee pot carafe + Succulents + Sand + Terrarium rocks + 2 large polished rocks

 

Free Herb Plant Labels for Mason Jars and Pots

High gloss photo paper + Glue stick + Modge Podge

 

SENSATIONAL CONTAINER FLOWER GARDENING LIKE A PRO

Plant holder (container) + Large flower pot + White ceramic garden pot + Whisky barrel

Kid-Friendly Backyard Garden Ideas

Growing Potatoes With Kids: A Backyard Gardening Activity

Potato packets + journal

 

G is for Garden Sensory Bin

Sensory bin + Grass + Pine cones + Rocks + Water

Kid’s Craft Idea: Garden Wind Chimes

Old gardening pot + Water-proof string or leather lace + Assorted beads + Paint + Washers + Kitchen tray + Waterproof sealer spray

 

Backyard Fairy Garden

Crate + Filler for crate + Moss + Tiny rocks + Miniatures

 

Painted Rock Garden Markers

Smooth rocks + Patio Paint + Black paint maker + Paintbrushes + DecoArts paints + Pencil + Toothpick + Patio Paint clear coat + Clear outdoor sealer

 

HOW TO MAKE KID MADE GARDEN SIGNS

Air dry clay + Various acrylic paints and paintbrushes + Wooden skewer + Rolling pin + Wax paper + Clear acrylic sealer (Modge Podge) + Twine

 

PAINTED CINDER BLOCKS FUN GARDEN PROJECT FOR KIDS

Cinder blocks + Weatherproof outdoor paint (DecoArt) + Painters tape + Foam brushes + Plasic lids or containers

 

Gardening with Preschoolers: Germinating Bean Seeds

Bean seeds + Plastic zipper bags + Paper towels + Water

 

DIY Wood Sandbox Tutorial for Backyard

16 Landscape Timbers (8 feet long each) + Hammer + Framing square + 8-7″ galvanized pole barn nails + 36-5″ exterior wood screws + BLACK+DECKER Lithium Drill + 70 square feet of Wed Barrier + Utility knife + 2-3 years of sand

 

DIY Outdoor Playhouse

(3) 4×4 8-foot posts + (10) 1×4 6-foot white wood boards + (8) 1×6 5-foot white wood boards + (5) 2×4 8-foot pressure treated boards + (3) 2×4 8-foot boards + (1) 2×8 1/4 inch sheet of plywood + (5) concrete footings + Paint + Deck sealer + Circular saw + Power drill/driver + Level + Tape measure + Speed square

 

A Backyard Art Area Kids Will Love

Plastic art desk + Nature treasures like pinecones, rocks, sticks, wood rounds + Washable paint + Homemade sidewalk paint + Paintbrushes + Colored bubbles + Sidewalk chalk + Water + Dirt + Baking sheets

 

DIY Backyard Fishing Activity

Bait fish (NOT real ones) + Wire cutters + Metal paper clips + Wooden dowels or small tree branches + Twine or fishing line + Magnets + Hot glue

 

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST PINE CONE BIRD FEEDER

Pinecones + Creamy Peanut Butter + Birdseed + Twine or string + Screws

 

The Great Backyard Butterfly Experiment!

Old canning jar + String + Scissors + Colorful stickers + Nail + Hammer + Sponge + Sugar solution + Large container lid + Fruit + Block of wood

Unique Garden Ideas

Make Your Backyard Into a Wild Bird Sanctuary

Nesting materials + Brome 1024 Squirrel Buster Plus + Brome 1015 Squirrel Buster Classic + Heated Bird Bath Bowl

 

Wire Wrapped Watering Can Garden Art Crystal Tutorial

Watering can + Floral wire + Crystals + Wire cutters + Small beads + Wheelbarrow

 

How to Add Fish to a Backyard Garden Pond

Koi and/or goldfish + Pond plants + Fish bags + all-in-one Pond Master Liquid Test Kits + Commercial de-chlorinators

 

Hot To Build a Pond Waterfall Step By Step

50 gallon pond basin + 3/4″ vinyl tubing + Water garden pump + Flat box filter + Underwater pond lighting + Pond liner + Marking paint + Shovel + Level + Solar lights + Outdoor wireless remote control converter kit

 

Creating a Garden Room in Your Backyard

French double doors + Waterproof outdoor sofa + green metal outdoor table and chairs + cuboid rattan modular seating + comfy inflatable sofas + awning + gazebo + wood fence + shrub + outdoor fountain

 

Backyard Tin Can Fence Garden

 

How to make a Bubble Fountain in a Pot

Submersible pump + Clear vinyl tubing + Large waterproof pot w/no drainage holes + Drill + Bit + Medium sized rocks + Pea gravel + Small decorative river rock + Clear waterproof silicone caulk/sealant + Electrical supplies to splice the electrical cord

 

6 Ways To Create A Zen Experience In Your Backyard

Sand + Stones

 

DIY Tiered Ladder Garden

Old ladder + Paint + 1×6 cedar boards + Miter saw + Drill + Organic potting mix

 

How to Make A DIY Upcycled Rainbow Pallet Flower Garden Planter

Heat treated pallet (8 slats) + Sandpaper + Acrylic paints + Acrylic varnish + Paintbrushes + Drop cloth + Drill and drill bits + Flat head screwdriver + Worm clamps + Zinc machine bolts and wing nuts + Terra cotta flower pots + Flowers + Potting soil

 

DIY Pallet Art

Pallets + Paint

 

Build a Brick Pathway in the Garden

Cobblestones + Edging stakes + Granite pavers + Plastic landscape edging + Sand + Spray marking paint + Knee pads + Hearing protection + Level + Rubber mallet + Safety glasses + Spade + Utility knife + Wheelbarrow

 

Colorful Upcycled Chair Bench For Your Backyard

220 Grit + 100 Grit sandpaper + Hand sander + Tack cloth + Sherwin Williams Resilience Acrylic Latex Exterior Paint + Paintbrushes + White acrylic craft paint + Pallet wood + Finish Nail Gun & Air Compressor + Spray acrylic sealant

 

How to Build Your Own Outdoor Swinging Bed

Quikrete concrete + Saw + Lumber + Screws + Drill and drill bits + Cedar mulch + Crossbeams + Hexbolts + Nuts + Washers

 

DIY Lawn Games: Backyard Blocks

Six 8-foot 2x4s + Miter saw + Power sander + Stain/paint

 

DIY Backyard Bike Storage with an Easy to Install Roof

Structure + Aluminum drip edge + Roofing felt + Nails + Shingles + Starter strip shingles + Ridge caps

 

Mini Cake Pan Floral Decor

Cake Pans

 

Succulent Arrangement – Upcycled Junk Gardening Planter for Succulents

Shallow wooden drawer with compartments + Sandpaper + Polyfiller + Behr Waterproofing Stain and Sealer + Matte black spray paint + 1″ paintbrush +

Succulents + Cactus and succulent soil

 

HOW TO MAKE UNIQUE PALLET CHAIRS

Deck stain + Foam stamps + Patio paint

 

USING OLD BLINDS FOR PLANT MARKERS

Vinyl blinds + Sturdy scissors + Permanent markers

 

How To Make Mosaic House Numbers (The Easy Way!)

Wooden or MDF house numbers, about 9.5″ tall + Black primer spray paint + Picture hangers + Mini tiles, assorted sizes + Keys + Heart charms + Lock charms + Brass shank buttons + Cube beads, 4mm + 100% silicone, black + Putty knife

 

Mosaic Pots Trio: How To Make Broken China Mosaics

3 terra cotta pots, 4″ diameter + Spray paint, white + 5-7 china plates + China knick-knacks + 1 lb. sanded grout, white + 8 oz. mosaic grout sealer + Permanent craft adhesive glue + Chisel + Hammer + Tile nippers or wheel cutters + Large resealable zipper storage bags + Protective leather gloves + Safety glasses + Bubble wrap + rag + Latex or nitrile gloves + Dropcloth + Disposable mixing container + Wooden stir stick + Sponge + Putty knife + Paper towels + Face mask + Cup for water + Pail for rinsing sponge + Paintbrush

What to Plant, and How

Salivas For Hummingbirds And Butterflies

Salvias – Hot Lips, Black & Bloom, Mexicon Sage. Butterfly Bushes – Milkweed, Penstemon, Yarrow, Lavender

 

The Best Tips for Growing Tomatoes in Your Backyard Garden

 

Tips for Growing Kale in Your Backyard Garden

 

Plant with a Companion Plant Guide to Help your Garden Thrive

 

Caring for a Rose Bush Tips, How to Care for Roses in Your Backyard Garden

Miracle-Gro or a Powdered rose fertilizer + Epsom salt + Pruning shears

 

5 Edible Flowers for Your Backyard Garden

 

Gardening Guide, Growing Sugar Snap Peas

Containers

 

How to Grow Carrots, A Backyard Gardening Guide

Purple carrots + Crimson carrots + White carrots + Yellow carrots + Chantenay + Danvers + Scarlet Nantes

 

Teddy Bear Sunflowers – A Cuddly Giant Flower

Teddy Bear Sunflowers Seeds

 

Tips & Tricks for Success

Backyard Gardening Compost – Black Gold For Your Garden

Cut grass + eggshells + coffee grounds + manure + produce scraps + wood ash +  old leaves + plant clipping + twigs, bark, pine needles, sawdust

 

5 Ways Your Backyard Garden Improves Your Health

 

Soda Bottle Drip Feeder for Garden Plants – Water Plants with a Soda Bottle

 

Backyard Garden Hacks

GARDENING TO SAVE MONEY: 10 HIGH-YIELD LOW-COST PLANTS TO GROW

Rhubarb + Dwarf blueberry bushes + Blackberries + Hot peppers + Cucumbers + Green beans + Squash + Tomatoes + Lettuce and greens + Herbs

 

DIY Pallet AC Cover You Can Make In Just 45 Minutes

Circular saw + Drill + Outdoor wood screws + Pallet Buster + Wonder Bar

 

INSTALLING SUN SAIL SHADE IN A YARD

Sail shade (16’x20′) + 4″x4″x10′ post + Rope + Carabiner + Diamond pad eye + Turnbuckle + Concrete + 10″ concrete tube form + 2″ deck screws + Gravel +

Scrape board w/screws + Ladder + Drill + Concrete mixer

 

How To Clean A Cement Bird Bath

Black trash bags + Liquid bleach

 

 

 Turn that Junk Mail into Garden Mulch

Junk Mail but not envelopes with cellophane

 

Using Miracle-Gro In Your Vegetable Garden This Spring

 

DIY Vertical Garden With Drip Watering System

1/2″ drop irrigation tubing + 1/2″ cap + 1/2″ compression elbow + 3/4″ hose to 1/2″ drip lock adapter + Hose pressure reducer + Hose back flow preventer + 1/4″ hole punch + 1/4″ drip soaker hose + 1/4″ barb coupling ” 1/4″ end plug (or goof plugs)

 

Self-Watering Garden and Flower Pot Options

Garden pots with built-in water chambers + Water bottles or clay wine bottles + Bottle spikes + Soaker hose + Outdoor timer + Self-watering globes

 

7 Tricks For Fighting Garden Pests

Row covers + Bird netting + Original Dawn dish soap  + Bug house

 

TOP FIVE SHADE LOVING PLANTS FOR A SUMMER GARDEN

Stacked galvanized bucket planters + Soil Acidifier

 

10 Inexpensive Way to Spruce up the Backyard

Outdoor rugs + Candles + Hanging flowerpots + Pillows + Hammock + Lanterns + Bird feeders + Vases

 

12 backyard garden tips to try this summer

 

BACKYARD SHED MAKEOVER

Zinsser primer + T.S.P. Substitute + Furring strips + Paint + Paintbrushes + Wreath + L brackets + Windows + Sander or sandpaper + Krylon Looking Glass Spray Paint + Mount Trellis + Masking tape +

 

Trench Composting with Kitchen Scraps

 

Seasonal, Holiday and Party

ST. PATRICK’S DAY GARDEN FLAG

Burlap sheets + Ruler + Scissors + Iron + Felt or fabric + Thread + Straight pins + Sewing machine + Shamrock template + Permanent marker

 

SECRETS TO HAVING A GREEN THUMB DURING THE WINTER

 

Santa Garden Flag

OlyFun in red, black and gold + Scissors + Ruler + Marker + Sewing machine

 

DIY BACKYARD PLINKO PARTY GAME

(3) 30″x 20″ Elmer’s Foam Boards + Elmer’s Board Mate glue and/or Glue All + Duct tape + Scissors + Xacto knife + Toothpicks + Recycled lids + Glitter/stickers

 

How to Make a DIY Backyard Bean Bag Toss Game

Arrow Fastener riveter + 1/4″ plywood + Medium length rivets + Rivet washers + Mesh fabric + Sandpaper + Jigsaw + Power drill with drilling bits + Bowl for drawing circles + Stencils + Red paint + Blue paint + Roller or brush + Scissors or rotary blade + Sewing machine or no-sew tape + 1/4 boards for kickstand + Wood glue + 2 hinges for the top

With all of these great backyard garden ideas, you are all set for summer planting fun!