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
DIY Essential Oil Mosquito Repellent Spray
Lemon essential oil + Eucalyptus essential oil + Peppermint essential oil + Rubbing alcohol + Witch hazel + Water + 1 small water 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!
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Wow thank you so much for these wonderful ideas, i would like to try them out.
Thank you for including my daughter’s garden windchimes – she’ll be so pumped to see them here along with all these grown-up crafts!
Nice ideas, thank you for your work!
nice post
Such great projects here! Thank you so much for including our Rainbow Pallet Flower Garden! Happy Summer!