How to Design Your Perfect Backyard

Measure the length and width of your backyard. If your backyard isn't shaped like a square or rectangle, if it has bends and turns, measure each section of the yard separately.

Sketch the backyard onto a piece of paper, placing each section of the yard in its proper position in the drawing. Use a scale, such as 1 inch or 1 centimeter for every foot of your yard so the proportions are correct.

Add the most important features or the largest features of your backyard design to the sketch first. If you want a pool or a patio, for instance, sketch it into its proper place in the drawing and use the scale you used for the rest of the drawing so the pool or patio takes up the proper amount of space. A 6-by-8-foot pool may be 6-by-8 inches in the sketch.

Incorporate large secondary features. If you intend to lay a walkway between separate areas of your backyard or if you want a water feature that takes up a considerable amount of space, such as a fountain, draw those items into the sketch next. Put each object in the position where you want it to go in the yard and make sure the walkway curves and extends as you want it.

Place plants and other decorative features where they won't interfere with your use of practical items in your backyard, such as the pool or patio. A tree, for instance, should be planted far enough from the pool so the crown doesn't hang over the pool, which can cause debris in the pool and shading, which may lead to algae growth. Generally speaking, it's a good idea to keep plants at a distance from items such as pool and hot tubs.

Don't add yard decorations to the backyard to the plan. When you begin the process of transferring your design ideas to the actual yard, you will see the available space left in the landscape for adding lawn decor.