I would make my yard water conscious and build a beautiful covered patio!!

I would hire a company to take out ALL the invasive plants and shrubs on our 10 acre property. The first to go would be a huge swath of Vinca minor (myrtle) that the former owners planted. It should never be planted in rural areas as it is invasive!

Vinca is invasive even in dry So. California.

I would replace a rotting wooden retaining wall.

$10,000 in my garden...man oh man, that's a chunk of change to go crazy with! I'd start with a pond stocked with fish, a waterfall feature, great plants, lighting, a little house for my cat (complete with skylight, lot's of windows and mini yard), a new patio and deck. Even then, I'd still have at least money left over to use inside. : )

Living in the Midwest, we spend as much time outside as possible. I'd like to create a cozy neighbor-friendly seating area in the front of my home. In the backyard, I'd love to refinish our fire pit seating area, buy a new grill and pizza oven and turn the area behind the pond into a Japanese garden and retrofit the pond. I miss my waterfall!

A stone patio in a nice shady spot as the deck is always in full sun. Better outdoor furniture and new shingles for the gazebo for sure!

I would encourage my husband to let someone else build our Japanese Tea House in the trees (I refuse to call it a treehouse....) and our outdoor entertainment area. $10,000 would not cover it, but it may cover the cost of labor. Then we could enjoy it sooner.

Back patio! We have an awesome wooded yard with deer, birds, groundhogs and an occasional fox... And this awful deck with a 4" step down in the middle of what would otherwise be an outdoor dining area. Plus, the railing obscures the view of the woods. With a patio, we could add a small fire pit, a cage set and a couple comfy chairs--I'd be set for the summer!

Hire someone to tear everything out of our small backyard and have them put in a easy care design where we could relax and enjoy the summers. I am retired with a bad back and no longer able to keep up with the high maintence garden I have.

I'd have someone build a retaining wall to keep my house from falling down a 30 ft cliff.

Have a serpentine brick wall with arched gate on one side of the backyard to enter a "room" in the front side yard.

@Mary Rhorne: on my street we have a tradition of "Driveway Friday." A text goes out and everyone comes out around 7 with something to share, their favorite drink and glow sticks and smores
for the kids. Love my neighbors!

Windfall is here.....I've gotten a hot tub and a Sun Setter awning for sun protection. I have a slight slope to my back yard so I would like to terrace it. Level for tub, another for fire pit and an grilling/lounging area. I would like to incorporate some raised bed gardens. I will need some "privacy" from close neighbors, so maybe fencing.

I would hire a landscaper as well to redo everything. Would love a water feature, maybe a koi pond.

Natural Swimming Pool for the kiddos & Hydroponics/Aquaponics for the whole family!

I want a spa!

I'd put in a garden shed with cottage charm

I'd build a zen garden in the backyard with my favourite cherry blossom tree - it would be ultimate sanctuary for my yoga practice!

I'd build a patio, have a 60 year old silver maple removed, reconfigure the back end of my yard after the removal, and get three new, smaller trees (hepticodium, dwarf river birch, and a serviceberry 'autumn brilliance').

I would design a Japanese garden in the front of my home. Rocks, plants, water element and levels with contrasting surfaces, like shiny, matte, varied textures. Also, include solar and security lighting for night time viewing of the garden.

I'd put in a nice fence to keep my dog in, and landscape the backyard to make it pretty and shady...I live in south florida :)

I would build a hockey/skating area. The winters are much longer than the short summer here in the great white north.

endless pool or greenhouse!

Replace my poorly built pergola (still fixing last owners DIY). Would love to fix the paving and steps near the laundry too (another "interesting" DIY).

Stone walls and paths.

We are meeting with a landscape designer in the next week or two for a consultation and ballpark of what a backyard re-do will cost. I have a feeling it will be in the $5,000 to $10,000 range for our fairly small backyard (20' x 25' or so). We want to rip out everything - old brick planters, grass, old pavers, and concrete. Lower the yard by 6" to prevent flooding into bonus room (converted from patio so no threshold currently), facade over cinder block walls to adjoining properties, new patio, new planters, small grass strip for dog, awning or sail cover for shade, and maybe a wood burning pizza oven if code allows.

We will likely have to scale back our wish list to keep closer to the $5k range - as $10k+ would be a stretch for our budget.

The good news is we will likely be able to re-do our front yard for little out-of-pocket. We just learned that our city has a program that pays $3+ per sq ft to remove lawn and put in drought tolerant plants. No more mowing!

I have a lovely terraced travertine-paved back patio that I love to entertain on, but right in the middle is a horrid hot tub that we installed at ground level but is not not functioning. First thing I'd do is either replace it with new or find something else to do with that ugly hole!

I would replace patio with a nice covered deck with seating area, landscape entire back yard and add a gazebo with a walkway to back door.

I would have my yard professionally done, front and back. And would have a l0x20ft building build for tractor and all yard equipment.

Outdoor kitchen/eating area with gazebo, fireplace and water feature.

Add a new fence and a water feature. Or hire someone to finish all the projects I have already started - like that dry creek bed.

We have an open patio (don't use, too much sun). We need a 3 season room but roof lines are a problem. $10,000 would get us half way there. Are you offering any funds?

A pottery studio!!!

I'd love a stone pathway from my back porch to a beautiful stone fire pit with built in stone bench. I'd then continue the stone path down to the lake - where we would need large boulders defining a sandy beach area. Can you tell I've been thinking of this for a while? Lol. It is our big project we have planned for next spring - hopefully!

I would go for a pool...A small one of course :)

Replace my privet hedge with fencing - if I never saw a hedge trimmer ever again, it still would be too soon!

Oh boy, I read that figure as $10m, not $10k! Wishful thinking perhaps :) For my $10k fantasy: Thinning out the jungle of golden cane and date palms that have taken over one corner of the yard and adding a corner pergola & decking, with deck & garden lighting, stepping down to the spa. Landscaping the retaining wall if any cash remained after that

Having a peaceful patio, already exiting concrete, and plants that attract birds and other wildlife to enjoy. A pergola extension would cool us down in the deep of summer. Furniture that is comfortable and inviting, pulling us outside into the height of beauty and peace.

As the raised veggie beds and barbeque area in progress, glass fencing for the pool, water tanks and new paving

Id have Raised planter boxes put in around the outside of our yard so my mother in-law doesn't have to spend hours on the ground with a bad back to do the gardening!..

mature trees... and a back verandah with a pizza oven.

I would do some paving with travertine pavers, get rid of the old stock standard cheapest you can find that are already there. I love travertine

PIZZA OVEN!!!!! Oh, and some paving ........did I mention the pizza oven?

$100 on a hammock and the rest would cover wages while I kick back and take a well deserved and over due break.

I would put it towards building a shed/office room to work from

Just spent $33k on three retaining walls and stairs. It cost a bomb! No grass yet

Yes, you shouldn't smoke grass when you're spending that kind of money.

(I'm just jealous, Hilda, lovely stone)

concrete a large area that is currently in gravel, relay my lawn, make my bank area for accessible / usable, extend my front deck.