Woman Transforms A Boring Grass Lawn Into A Colorful Backyard Oasis

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A grassy, green lawn is a classic landscaping feature. However, lawns are water-hungry, not very supportive of local wildlife, and quite frankly, a bit boring. Some people are in search of lawn alternatives or garden additions, whether the goal is to reduce water usage, create pollinator-friendly gardens, or just add visual interest. A video from @gardenary shows one of the countless ways to transform a plain grass lawn into an abundant backyard oasis.

The video shows the process of adding plant life to a yard to make it more lush, varied, and dimensional than a standard lawn. To achieve this, they use raised planters. Their height adds more visual elevation, can be more comfortable to work in, and allows more control over the soil and amendments than planting directly into the ground. Choose the height of the planters to create a low border or a tall wall of plant life that adds more privacy.

In the video, they use the Gardenary Cedar Raised Garden Beds, which need few tools to fit slats together and come in a variety of sizes and heights. The Eartheasy Natural Cedar Raised Garden Beds is a lower-cost option with many sizes available, though it requires a more involved installation process. If budget is a deciding factor, browse options like the Yaheetech Wooden Raised Garden Bed, which is smaller and comes in fewer sizes, but also has a smaller price tag. Choose according to your budget, space, and desired plant life. In the video, they use a mix of plants for more of an unfussy, slightly overgrown English cottage garden style, but you can plant whatever you like — ornamental flowers, shrubs, bushes, and grasses for decoration, or fruits, veggies, and herbs for your own edible garden.

An arch or arbor adds another decorative layer to this garden upgrade and also creates a pretty entryway into the lawn area. You can build a DIY garden arbor or buy one if you don't have the tools or know-how. For a romantic metal option, like shown, consider the Jardin Rose Arch. If you prefer the natural and rustic look of wood, there's the Vita Rosewood Cedar Arbor. To create a similar dense and verdant display, choose fast-growing plants like climbing roses, black-eyed Susan vine, or honeysuckle vine to climb the archway.

Note that this video doesn't show the whole completed outdoor space. It's entirely possible that they added planters along one edge of the lawn. You can have the best of both worlds, saving a grassy spot for practical uses for kids, pets, and playtime. It's up to you how much room you give to planters or keep for your lawn. Regardless, the addition of raised beds and an arched trellis gives outdoor areas more character than you can achieve with a short, manicured lawn.