Backyard planning
Good backyards are planned before they are bought. These guides show you how to map your yard, divide it into zones and decide where each structure belongs.
- Our first guides in this section are being written now.
Start with a site map
Draw the yard to rough scale on paper or a free planning app. Mark the house, doors and windows, fences, trees, slopes, low spots that hold water, and any utilities you know about. Before any digging, call 811, the free US service that marks buried utility lines.
Then watch the sun. Note where shade falls in the morning, at midday and late afternoon, ideally in more than one season. Sun decides where a greenhouse thrives, where a pergola is most needed and where a seating area will be too hot to use in July.
Divide the yard into zones
Most backyards hold some mix of five zones: sitting and dining, cooking, growing, play or lawn and storage and service. Put the zones you use every day closest to the house, and link them with paths wide enough for two people.
- Sitting and dining works best next to the back door, often under a pergola or gazebo.
- Cooking belongs near the dining area and within reach of gas, power and water. See outdoor kitchens.
- Growing needs the sunniest open spot, which is often further from the house. See greenhouses.
- Lawn and play fills the open space and should be easy to reach with a mower.
- Storage goes to a side or back corner, close to where the equipment is used.
Then choose the structures
Once zones are set, the structures follow. The shade structure defines the main outdoor room, so choose and size it first. Then fit the cooking and growing areas around it, and plan the paths, planting and upkeep last.