Photos By; Nate Grant
Photo of a contemporary side yard garden in Portland with a wood fence.

Contrasts of color and texture bring this side yard to life, as a stepping-stone path immersed in silver Dymondia winds through selections of Berberis 'Orange Rocket', Anemone 'September Charm', Miscanthus 'Morning Light', dark purple Heuchera 'Amethyst Mist', and yellow-variegated 'Butterfly' Japanese Maple. A weeping purple 'Garnet' specimen maple may be seen in the foreground. Photo © Jude Parkinson-Morgan.

Enclosed vegetable garden

Landsburg Landscape Nursery

Photo of a large country side yard full sun formal garden for summer in Minneapolis with a vegetable garden, mulch and a wood fence.

Natural Inspired Architectural Landscaping

GILL LANDSCAPES

Beautiful stone path leading to the exterior service area.
Small modern side yard shaded xeriscape in Christchurch with with path, river rock and a wood fence for winter.

Privacy from the street

Plan-it Earth Design

A long trellis with arbor provides privacy for the sunken path around the house. People walking on the sidewalk would be able to see right into the house without it. Large round boulders create a natural retaining wall around this corner property Design by Amy Whitworth Photo by Amy Whitworth

Travertine patio

Stephen Read Landscape Design

Mid-sized modern side yard full sun xeriscape in Other with a garden path, gravel and a wood fence for fall.

Allegan Lake House

VanderMeulen Builders

The pathway up form the lake.
Country side yard full sun garden in Grand Rapids with with path, natural stone pavers and a wood fence for summer.

Oakleigh East Garden

Kath Baggaley Garden Design

The addition of the pergola and deck (where once there was a cramped ugly tiled porch) add to the appeal. A combination of drought tolerant perennials flourish here including Salvia leucantha, clipped Browalia and Gaillardias. The metal obelisks support floxgloves and delphiniums in spring.

Stadgartenlounge

besgen Landschaftsarchitektur

Design ideas for a small modern side yard partial sun formal garden for summer in Cologne with a container garden, decking and a wood fence.

Hurlisano

Banyon Tree Design Studio

A super small side yard garden measures 30' long x 8'wide, and incorporates, a raised ipe deck, raised custom steel planters, paver patio, custom sliding gate, new fence, an inground fire feature, and grill. North facing next to a three-story condo

SK ARBORS & GATES

Ninzan Studio, LLC

This is an example of a mid-sized beach style side yard partial sun xeriscape for summer in Tampa with a garden path, concrete pavers and a wood fence.

River Knoll

Outdoor Lifestyles

This is an example of a traditional side yard formal garden in New York with a garden path, natural stone pavers and a wood fence.

Kleiner feiner Privatgarten

Ekvard Baar Garden Design

Photo of a small modern side yard garden for summer in Cologne with with pond, gravel and a wood fence.

Custom Gate - Side Yard After Staining

Sivesind Construction

Side gate after to staining.
This is an example of a large asian side yard garden in Other with with a gate and a wood fence.

Stadtgarten Mediteran

moving-garden - moving-angel GmbH

Stadtgarten mit Lounge, Terrasse und Stege, Miniteich, diverse Mauerung mit neu Hecken beflanzung im Mediteranem Flair
Photo of a mid-sized mediterranean side yard partial sun garden for summer in Stuttgart with a wood fence.

Mid-Century Sideyard Landscape - Fox Point, WI

Ginkgo Leaf Studio

A concrete walkway connects the new driveway to the vegetable garden on the side of the home. Renn Kuhnen Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury side yard full sun garden for summer in Milwaukee with a vegetable garden and a wood fence.

New life for an old garden

Blue Hibiscus Gardens

This is an example of a beach style side yard garden in San Francisco with a garden path and a wood fence.

CASALE DELLA LUNA - BACK VIEW

Dennis & Maren Kaiser

100 year old barn in Tuscany. The fence is made of chestnut and ready to last forever !
Photo of a large country side yard full sun garden for spring in Other with a wood fence.

The Swiss Army Jewel Box

Ian Moore Design

Each of the materials was chosen for a balance of richness and simplicity. The Kebony decking continues the rich color tone set by the oiled Cedar shingle and traditional Japanese Shou Sugi Ban siding on the rear facade of the house. The California Gold Slate for the rear yard patio adds additional texture and depth to the ground plane. The powder-coated metal railings enclose the deck and partition the dog run and bike parking area from the main rear yard. The eclectic plant mix blends California natives with other Mediterranean plants for a variety of color, texture and seasonality.

Naturgarten

Soulgarden by Alexandra Lehne

Modernität trifft auf Bauerngartenflair... individuell, farbenfroh, naturnah, bienenfreundlich. Die Bepflanzung ist auf den Bildern 2 Monate alt.
This is an example of an expansive contemporary side yard full sun garden for summer in Munich with concrete pavers and a wood fence.

Side Yard Garden Design Ideas with a Wood Fence

Get Inspired by Gardens on Houzz

A lot of the time when you get home from a long day at work, all you want to do is wind down. Where better to do this than in your very own garden at home? If you do it right, a great garden design can send you right into holiday mode. But where to start? There’s so many styles to choose from when it comes to garden design. Whether you want to create a tropical, modern, contemporary, beach style or country garden - or something else entirely - the large garden image gallery on Houzz has got you covered. Get inspired and collect your ideas to narrow down your desired garden style and features.

How to Create a Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a garden and if it’s appropriate for your climate. You may want to consider adding a deck or other landscaping features, but the plants you choose will mostly dictate your style and what kind of ongoing maintenance is required. Don’t worry if your backyard isn’t very spacious - there are many plants that can thrive even in a small space and allow you to turn your space into a little paradise of your own, regardless of size.

Decide which plants to use

The greenery you choose is critical to your look. For example, if you’re trying to create a tropical garden palm trees and bamboo are your go-to options. Other popular options are golden cane palm trees and fern for ground cover. From there you can add some colour with bright flowers like frangipani, hibiscus or bromeliads. All these are actually quite hardy plants, so once established, your tropical garden is actually quite easy to maintain. Use this structure and apply it to your style. Research which plants you need to set your base for a garden and go from there.

Add some decor

If the plants don’t quite do it for you yet, or if you want to add some extra wow-factor, consider adding some extra features. Even if you can’t accommodate a swimming pool, hot tub or pond, you could look at smaller water features. Simple rocks can also have a great effect, while statues and gnomes will add some extra character. Don’t forget to add some furniture so you have a nice place to sit and enjoy your garden!

Need some help?

Once you know what you want your garden to look like, it may be hard to make it a reality on your own. If that is the case for you, consider consulting a professional to help you with your garden design. Every photo you find on Houzz will lead you to the local pro that did the job, so you won’t have a problem picking the perfect person to help! Whether you need a gardener in Brisbane, a landscape architect in Melbourne or a fireplace installer in Sydney, you can be sure to find one on Houzz.