Yard Ideas Blog
YardShare research library
Citable benchmarks from real yard submissions
Use these compact references for conservative, source-backed context about recurring patterns in YardShare's community archive. View the full benchmark library.
Weekend Project: Teak Maintenance
One of the items on my pre-summer to do list is to sand and oil our teak patio furniture. We've had this set for 4 years now and this is the third time I've done it. For those thinking about purchasing outdoor teak furniture, let me lay out the pros and cons for you...
Read MoreKnow Your Zone!
It's time for me to let you in on a little secret...I'm not a landscaping or gardening expert! I'm learning this along with you guys! For example, prior to starting YardShare, I had no idea what a "zone" was. Thank goodness a few of you have patiently explained it to me.
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How to Put In a Flower Bed
A bed line not only separates the lawn from your flower beds, a well designed bed line gives form to the yard. It shows that thought was put into the beds and landscaping, and that the shrubs weren’t planted just anywhere. It's a great way to turn a bare corner of the yard into a beautiful flower bed.
Read MoreCaring For Your Deck
Imagine having guests over for a bbq in your perfectly manicured backyard, but they glance down to find your deck splintering and turning grey. Realistically, your deck probably doesn’t look that bad, but I wanted to provide a few general tips to help make sure that doesn’t happen.
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Creating Privacy In Your Yard
Yards are simply an outdoor extension of your home. The front yard is like your porch…everyone can see it and walk up to it. But only those invited in can see the inside of the house…just like your back yard. So how do you create privacy in a yard where you have neighbors, streets, or public walkways within view?
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DIY Walkway in Your Yard
One way to significantly change your yard is to create a new walkway. Most people think of a walkway as simply a functional part of the yard that allows you to get from point A to point B without trouncing all over the grass, dirt, flowers, etc. But it also works as an accent to your overall landscape.
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Martini Bar? Ice Sculpture? 30.
I turned 30 a couple weeks ago, and decided to throw a birthday party for myself and 3 other good friends also turning 30 in April. The theme was..."We're Turning 30 and Sophisticated". Our friends know that is one of the most absurd statements we could possibly say about ourselves, but it does open up the floodgates for some great party ideas.
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Landscaping Styles
Have you ever walked into a backyard and paused because the landscaping is so uniquely breathtaking? It's like viewing a painting that grabs your attention and pulls you in. When a landscape is in harmony with the house and region, it can look like no other landscape design could ever fit in that space.
Read MoreBarbecue Time! World's Easiest Ribs
If you eat meat...you love ribs, right? But if you're like me, you may struggle with the juggling act of ensuring the meat gets cooked, but at the same time keeping the ribs tender. Well, here's a method that will get you the tenderness you desire, but still have that bbq flavor you want.
Read MoreGet Your Yard Ready For Summer
The first warm day in April arrives and stores put out mulch, rose bushes and spring flowers. Every year I get the itch to plant new flowers, but it’s best to put some thought into what goes into an established yard. So I turn first to yard maintenance and spend time surveying for any winter damage.
Read MoreAbout Yard Ideas
Our landscaping blog is built around the real yards shared by our community. Each article takes a topic, from outdoor kitchens to garden design, and pairs practical advice with photos from homeowners and pros who've actually done the work.
You'll find ideas for projects of every scale: front yard curb appeal, backyard patios, fire pits, water features, container gardens, and more. Whether you're a weekend DIYer or planning a major landscape redesign, there's something here to get you started.
Browse all yards to see the full collection, or explore by feature, garden type, yard size, or climate zone.
YardShare data benchmarks
Use these compact research pages when you want quantified patterns from real submitted yards:
- Real Yard Trend Report: archive-wide outdoor-living and feature-pattern signals.
- Real Yard Water-Wise Transformations 2026: 68 lower-water yards with recurring stone, hardscape, and front-yard structure.
- Real Yard Curb-Appeal / Arrival-Sequence Patterns 2026: 175 front-entry yards focused on paths, driveway edges, stone, and hardscape.