Is that bare patch of grass mocking you from the front porch? Starting your own garden is actually a lot easier than you’d think. You just need a little inspiration first! Here are six ideas for transforming your yard into something beautiful and putting those Better Homes and Gardens people to shame.

1: Clear A Path
If you don’t know where to begin, how about giving yourself a walkway? You can literally create any kind of path you’d like, including a straight walk to the back door or a winding curve all the way around the home. Beginners should stick with paving or stepping stones, though once you’ve advanced your gardening skills a bit, you can go back and add gravel or lay brick. You might also choose to leave the path entirely undoctored, just framing a line of grass with stones, and your own tread will naturally flatten the earth over time.

2: Plant A Shrub Garden
Shrubs are extremely easy to raise, making them perfect for the first-timer who isn’t quite sure if their thumb is green or more of a questionable seafoam. Hydrangeas and geraniums will flourish with very little effort on your part, and if you cultivate them in a dazzling array of colors, your little shrub garden will become the highlight of your yard.

3: Create A “Zen Zone”
Get away from it all by turning a corner of your yard into a place of tranquility. Plant bonsai trees to create cool shade; make yourself a little oasis with a bamboo fence; dig a small pond running over rocks to soothe you with the sounds of running water. In case you couldn’t tell, these are all time-honored Japanese garden ideas, but you don’t have to come from the Land of the Rising Sun to appreciate their dedication to beauty and reflection.

4: Edge Your Beds
“Edging” in this context simply means creating a break between the grass and your intended flowerbed. It can be accomplished by using a shovel or bio-degradable spray to mark lines in the ground where you want to start digging up grass and adding mulch. It’s as simple as that! Then you can started by creating a square garden, a circular garden, a garden wrapping around your house, et cetera. Don’t be afraid to play around with fun shapes or unique designs that will make your yard pop.

5: Replace Your Grass
What? You mean I’m not stuck with the dingy grass I inherited with my property? That’s right! It’s entirely possible to renovate your lawn through a process called “overseeding.” In layman’s terms, it means choosing a new species of grass for your lawn and then sprinkling it with impunity over the old stuff. Through a dedicated application of water, sunshine and periodic reseeding, you can give your yard a complete facelift. For even more ideas for lawn care, click here.

6: Add Accessories
Gardens aren’t all about the flowers. For example, if you’re building a themed “Caribbean night” garden, you can install tiki torches and wicker chairs arranged in a semi-circle around the grill. If you’re going for a storybook feel, wrap lines of fairy lights around your tree trunks and invest in a few birdbaths that would make any Disney princess envious.

These are just six ways to punch up your yard into something special. If you’re intrigued by the possibilities, or if you’d like more inspiration for easy garden ideas, visit us at our blog!