Reclaiming The Unused Backyard Without Adding More to Your To-Do List

When was the last time you enjoyed spending time in your backyard? For a lot of families, the backyard is a dream spot for barbecues, children playing outside, or even a peaceful breakfast on a quiet morning. 

But the problem is that the dream doesn’t always match reality. Ultimately, you’re busy. Between work commitments, school schedules, and family errands, it gets tricky to manage the backyard. When the backyard falls at the bottom of your to-do list, it gets inevitably neglected, and, as a result, far less enjoyable. It’s not a place you can enjoy spending time in anymore. It becomes stressful, messy, and essentially synonymous with more work. 

Here’s the thing: Reclaiming your unused backyard means making a change for good. But it’ll be worth it. Wondering how to get started? Here are a few ideas to give your backyard the attention it deserves without taking too much of your time. 

Get it Under Control

Where do you start? The overgrown grass and weeds can make it feel overwhelming. But you don’t need to do it all yourself. There are plenty of professionals who are not only equipped for the job but also have the time and experience to get it done fast. Overgrown grass can be a problem for your small lawnmower. But when you hire lawn mowing services, you know you’ve got people coming to tackle the issue with tools that are designed for it. 

This makes it a lot easier to manage from there. It takes a lot less time to maintain the garden when you’ve got experts setting the foundation right from the start. 

Reduce the Area that Requires Constant Maintenance

One of the simplest ways to create a lower-maintenance backyard is to rethink how much lawn you truly need. 

Many families struggle with large portions of the yard being unused because it’s too much to manage. But when you start converting some of that green space into functional features, this can both reduce maintenance time and also make the garden more usable. 

Water features are a great choice to add beauty without creating additional mowing responsibilities. You can add a decorative pond or a fountain to your outdoor space, for example. It’s an amazing feature for relaxation, and, as a bonus, it also attracts wildlife into the garden. 

Similarly, a fire pit can also be a nice alternative. Besides, it can become the highlight of cozy nights outside, roasting marshmallows and sharing stories around the fire. 

Add Colors with Planting Beds

Planting beds are an alternative for those who still want a garden without mowing and trimming chores. 

Well-planned beds can provide the same visual interest as a garden while requiring less ongoing attention than a lawn. Besides, you can also use mulch directly in the bed to protect your plants, reducing the upkeep needs. 

Which low-maintenance plants are best for garden beds: 

  • Coneflowers
  • Daylilies
  • Sedum
  • Lavender
  • Hostas (for shaded areas) 
  • Etc. 

In conclusion, your backyard doesn’t have to look like something out of a magazine to bring joy. You can design a space that is welcoming while remaining manageable on your busy family schedule. 


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by
Barb Webb. Founder and Editor of Rural Mom, is an the author of "Getting Laid" and "Getting Baked". A sustainable living expert nesting in Appalachian Kentucky, when she’s not chasing chickens around the farm or engaging in mock Jedi battles, she’s making tea and writing about country living and artisan culture.
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