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Backyards · 50 ideas

Low-Maintenance Backyard Ideas

A low-maintenance backyard is not a bare one. These designs swap the thirsty lawn for turf or gravel, use native and drought-tolerant plants that look after themselves, and rely on materials — stone, steel, composite — that weather instead of wearing out.

Modern Classic Tropical Mediterranean Modern Farmhouse Mid-Century Modern Coastal English Cottage
Curving Artificial Turf with Fire Bowl Weathered Timber Pergola over Gravel Dining Timber Studio Overlooking a Shaded Hammock
Curving Artificial Turf with Fire Bowl Desert backyard Weathered Timber Pergola over Gravel Dining Classic backyard Timber Studio Overlooking a Shaded Hammock Modern backyard Terraced Backyard with Pool and Fire Pit Modern backyard Covered Timber Patio Beside Desert Pool Desert backyard Tan Shade Sail Over Gravel Patio Desert backyard Covered Timber Pavilion Beside Bocce Court Classic backyard Raised Timber Deck with Paver Pathway Modern backyard Curved Pool Beside Putting Green and Palms Tropical backyard Timber Pergola Beside Raised Beds and Lawn Classic backyard Cantilevered Timber Deck with Wood Hot Tub Rustic backyard Modern Lap Pool with Timber Pergola Modern backyard Craftsman Backyard with Turf and Pavers Classic backyard Covered Patio with Cedar Hot Tub Rustic backyard Putting Green and Shaded Dining Pergola Modern backyard Backyard Turf Featuring Playhouse and Trampoline Classic backyard Coastal Backyard with Fire Pit and Dining Coastal backyard English Cottage Garden with Dining Patio Cottage backyard Japanese Garden with Raked Gravel Fire Pit Japanese backyard Desert Patio Overlooking Fire Pit and Lawn Desert backyard Limestone Estate Backyard with Fire Pit French-country backyard Covered Timber Patio with Mountain View Mountain backyard Sunken Gravel Fire Pit with Wooden Bench Farmhouse backyard Beach House Deck with Sunken Fire Pit Coastal backyard Stone Cottage Yard with Fire Pit Cottage backyard Cedar Deck Beside Raked Gravel Garden Japanese backyard Desert Patio with Fire Pit and Bench Desert backyard Sunken Gravel Terrace with Stone Fire Pit French-country backyard Flagstone Patio with Fire Pit and Bench Mountain backyard Rectangular Pool Beside Timber Shade Pavilion Farmhouse backyard Concrete Plunge Pool Beside Garden Pavilion Japanese backyard Desert Pool with Louvered Shade Pavilion Desert backyard French Country Pool with Shaded Pavilion French-country backyard Circular Sunken Fire Pit with Timber Seating Farmhouse backyard Gravel Fire Pit with Built-In Seating Mid-century backyard Curved Bench Seating and Stone Fire Pit Japanese backyard Desert Lounge with Weathered Steel Fire Pit Desert backyard Limestone Fire Pit with Curved Bench Seating French-country backyard Weathered Timber Pergola Covering Outdoor Dining Farmhouse backyard Mid-Century Patio with Wooden Pergola Mid-century backyard Beach House Deck with Dining Pergola Coastal backyard Zen Dining Deck Sheltered by Pergola Japanese backyard Slatted Pergola over Desert Dining Patio Desert backyard Limestone Patio with Timber Dining Pergola French-country backyard Curved Timber Deck with Fire Pit Coastal backyard Japanese Backyard Pavilion with Stone Fire Pit Japanese backyard Desert Patio with Corten Fire Pit Desert backyard Gravel Patio with Fire Pit and String Lights French-country backyard Layered Stone and Gravel Backyard Rustic backyard Wood Gazebo Under Oak Canopy Classic backyard

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About this collection

Low-Maintenance Backyard Ideas, explained.

A low-maintenance backyard is not a bare one. These designs swap the thirsty lawn for turf or gravel, use native and drought-tolerant plants that look after themselves, and rely on materials — stone, steel, composite — that weather instead of wearing out.

The trick is structure: crisp edges, a few repeated plants and one strong focal point make a simple palette look intentional. Save the yards that match your climate, then ask your landscaper about irrigation you can mostly forget.

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