70 Clever Landscaping Ideas for a Beautiful Yard

japanese pachysandra, giant butterbur, and english boxwoods form an evergreen passage from the pool garden to a potting shed and greenhouse

grey gardens east hampton side gatePascal Chevallier
1

Wild Feelings

For a property as iconic as Grey Gardens, the outdoor space needed to dazzle just as much as the interiors. Landscape architect Deborah Nevins completely overhauled the grounds, planting new gardens such as the English garden. “We wanted an English garden with an overgrown, wild feeling but not so wild that it felt like Grey Gardens from the movie,” says homeowner Liz Lange.

grey gardens east hampton pool
Pascal Chevallier
2

Hollywood-esque Pool

Inspired by film producer Robert Evans’s home, the round pool brings a touch of Hollywood panache to Grey Gardens. Designer Mark D. Sikes outfitted the custom chaise lounges (Munder-Skiles) with classic cabana stripe fabric.

an olive tree shades the pool terrace furnished with a stone table and wrought iron chairsPieter Estersohn
3

Italianate Inspiration

The garden at this Bel Air estate was almost nonexistent when designer Renvy Graves Pittman moved in. In keeping with the Italianate style of the house, the backyard is now filled with a romantic mix of narrow cypresses, olives, lemons, potted kumquats and mandarins, yellow David Austin roses, lavender, and boxwood.

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richard ouellette and maxime vandal's historic farm in southeastern quebec the flower and vegetable garden’s 18 raised beds were designed around two old apple trees
ANDRÉ RIDER
4

Farm Retreats

Each weekend, design duo Richard Ouellette and Maxime Vandal escape to Humminghill Farm to enjoy the wonders of nature. They designed the flower and vegetable garden’s 18 raised beds around two old apple trees.

james doyle greenwich allée gardenALLEGRA ANDERSON
5

Billowy Borders

It took James Doyle and Matthew Willinger of James Doyle Design Associates six years to create this romantic, six-acre expanse in New England. Billowy borders of Dropmore catmint define an upper allée garden that overlooks the pond.

gil schafer stephen mohr maine meditation garden
Eric Piasecki
6

Tranquil Oasis

Old English barns, Japanese teahouses, and rocky cliffs inspired this tranquil courtyard oasis by architect Gil Schafer and landscape architect Stephen Mohr. In a central garden, Horvath and Cortland
apple trees filter sunlight to a 50-foot antique granite trough.

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historical concepts and marders bridgehampton pergolaEric Piasecki
7

Wisteria Sanctuary

Architect Andrew B. Cogar and garden designer Charlie Marder designed the backyard of this Bridgehampton, New York home to feel like a shady, all-day sanctuary. The asymmetrical pergola is
fashioned from 1920s and ’30s corrugated wire glass and cloaked in lush wisteria vine.

along the rear of the home climbing roses cloak aged brickwork
James McDonald
8

Rose-Cloaked Brickwork

To add interest to the back of her English estate, Esther Cayzer-Colvin and her friend Frances Rasch of Heale House in Wiltshire created a series of “rooms” hedged by yew and beech. Along the rear of the home, climbing roses (‘The Generous Gardener’ and ‘Felicite Perpetue’ by David Austin) cloak aged brickwork.

hollander garden side yardNeil Landino
9

Rooftop Pollinator Garden

Landscape architect Edmund Hollander of Hollander Design often creates landscape that engage all the senses to draw in people and wildlife, as illustrated at this blousy Hamptons garden. “Echinacea, lavender, and hyssop grow wonderfully in the misty salt air and are magnets for butterflies and pollinators,” says Hollander.

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front porch ideas brooke and steve giannetti los angeles
Lisa Romerein
10

Vine-Covered Pergola

Texas limestone, a vine-covered pergola, and flowering shrubs give the entrance of this California manse by Giannetti Home an aged appearance, like an old European villa.

a woman walks beneath an allee of olive trees in californiaVictoria Pearson
11

Canopy of Green

Frances Schultz knew as soon as she moved into her Santa Ynez Valley home that the grounds needed special attention. The now cathedral-like canopy of an olive orchard that was formerly “a water-thirsty croquet lawn. Now, it feels so peaceful, is always cool, and the dappled light through the trees is heavenly.”

a lush mix of lavender and iceberg roses blooms outside the front porch
Roger Davies
12

Cottage Meadows

Landscape designer Elaine Shaw relied on drought-tolerant and native plants to help settle this Napa Valley cottage into its gentle mountain landscape. A lush meadow of Spanish lavender, iceberg roses blooms, and native bent grass bloom outside the front porch.

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in the upper garden a faux bois bench is paired with slatted metal bistro chairsKelly Marshall
13

City Escapes

Living in the heart of the West Village, it was pertinent to historian Emily Eerdmans that her gallery-in-residence had a verdant space for client meetings and relaxation. A faux-bois Currey & Company bench paired with slatted metal bistro chairs (Fermob) creates a quaint spot for lunch in the upper garden.

kathryn herman design greenwich garden dining room
NEIL LANDINO
14

Loose Wildness

Loose and blousy meadows offset the formality of this French-style home overlooking Greenwich Harbor. The blend of fine fescue blend, Penstemon digitalis, and Oxeye daisy soften the slopes throughout the property while adding wildness to the grounds.

erica timbrell ross california gardenJohn Sutton
15

Clever Plantings

For an airy Bay-area cottage garden, landscape designer Erica Timbrell needed to devise a series of outdoor rooms that were welcoming to both children and adults. Wattle-enclosed beds protect strawberries, mint, and shishito peppers plants from any young guests hopping around the garden. Incrediball hydrangeas, Agastache, and Hidcote lavender border a poolside dining terrace.

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patio ideas backyard scott shrader los angeles firepitLisa Romerein
16

Fireside Living

Landscape designer Scott Shrader worked closely with interior designer Erin Martin to produce seamless transitions between this Santa Monica home and its olive orchard. Black terra-cotta doors open onto the inner courtyard where Forest Pansy trees frame a 13th-century well reclaimed as a firepit.

hoffman and ospina west hollywood garden pool seatingMANOLO LANGIS
17

Tuscan Flair

Designer Anna Hoffman mixed organic variations of green with fine materials inspired by Tuscany style to give this West Hollywood garden a transportive essence. Five century-old olive trees surround the pool area with a sense of history.

swimming pool designs carrier and company new york
Annie Schlechter
18

Bronxville Charm

Fragrant beds of hibiscus, Baby Joe, sedum, and verbena create a verdant escape at this Bronxville, New York home by Carrier and Company. A poolside bed of lilac standards and Franklin’s Gem hedge act as a tidy border for the pool.

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mexican fan palms flank the front entranceDouglas Friedman
19

Lush Entryway

Talk about making an entrance: at this California wine country estate designed by Ken Fulk, Mexican fan palms flank the front entrance which is accessed by a native grass and shrub-lined path.

the hues of aged clinker bricks nod to the low country vernacular and there are faux bois table and chairs for diningEmily J Followill
20

Outdoor Dining Boxwood Hedge

At this Lowcountry cottage designed by Beth Webb and architect Peter Block, a low boxwood hedge defines an outdoor dining terrace paved with gravel. Faux-bois table and chairs, Horchow

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