Landscape contracting by Avid Landscape. Carpentry by Contemporary Homestead. Photograph by Meghan Montgomery.
Photo of a mid-sized transitional backyard full sun garden in Seattle with a vegetable garden and gravel.

White Oak Residence

User

The design for this residence combines contemporary and traditional styles, and includes stairs and a curving drive to provide a warm welcome to the home. A comfortable bluestone terrace and patio provide elegant outdoor entertaining spaces. Photo by Greg Premru.

Waterfall

Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors

Inspiration for a large transitional backyard partial sun outdoor sport court for summer in Chicago with with waterfall and natural stone pavers.

Boulder Retaining Walls

NS Landscapes

Boulder retaining wall.
Transitional backyard garden in Minneapolis with a retaining wall.

Medina Cottage Patio Garden

Spring Greenworks LLC

basalt water feature adds sound and interest to the garden. Its a wildlife magnet.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional backyard garden in Seattle.

White Wood Privacy Fence & Gate

Atlanta Decking & Fence Co., Inc.

White privacy fence +gate designed and built by Atlanta Decking & Fence. Photography by JS Photo FX.
Photo of a transitional backyard garden in Atlanta.

Portland Road - Kingston

Metre Squared Architecture

Gilda Cevasco
Design ideas for a small transitional backyard full sun formal garden for spring with a vertical garden and gravel.

Horizontal Fence, Arbor, HVAC Screen

Charlotte DreamScapes

This beautiful, all-cedar privacy fence warmly welcomes visitors and keeps the eyes looking around the yard. The arbor extends over the patio to continue the green-black trim to better frame the white house. The HVAC units have been fenced in with a visual screen that lets airflow through - and the panels are removable for maintenance access. We also replaced the old planter boxes on the front windows.

Laurel

California Turf and Landscaping

This is an example of a large transitional backyard full sun formal garden in Other with mulch.

Custom Mercer Island Fence

Chapman Construction, LLC

Design ideas for a large transitional backyard partial sun garden in Seattle with gravel.

Backyard Renovation in Ann Arbor, MI

Poseidon Ponds & Landscaping

This was a backyard renovation. There was an existing plastic tub pond with many perennials around it. We took out everything, saved as many perennials as we could and installed a new rubber lined, natural ecosystem pond, stream and waterfall. We redesigned the area and created a couple different seating areas along with a pathway over the stream. Transplanted the perennials and added a few new plants to add interest all year long. A year after installation we added an accent spillway bowl to the feature. They make great additions to existing water features or make great stand alone features. They can add extra movement to dead spots in ponds and more oxygen to the water. We put tropical plants in the bowl for extra filtration as well.

Portfolio

Alice Meacham Gardens

AM Gardens
Photo of a transitional backyard garden in Dorset with gravel.

Secret Garden in Lawrence Park

Jennifer Hayman Design Group

JHDG
Mid-sized transitional backyard partial sun formal garden in Toronto with a water feature and gravel for summer.

Summer Livin'

AJ's Landscaping & Outdoor Construction

Photo of a mid-sized transitional backyard partial sun formal garden in San Francisco with a water feature and mulch.

Good Garden's Own Backyard

Good Gardens LLC

This is an example of a large transitional backyard shaded garden in New York with a vegetable garden and mulch.

Durlston Road , Kingston upon Thames

AG Interiors

We designed a semi covered seating area at the bottom of the garden - great for relaxing in the summer sunshine with friends and family.
Design ideas for a transitional backyard partial sun garden in London.

Beautiful Gardens

Elise Landscapes & Nursery, LLC

This is an example of a large transitional backyard garden in New York with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Water Features

Complete Ponds

Large transitional backyard partial sun formal garden in Sacramento with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Wood Fences

Dakota Unlimited

Window pane lattice top fence designed & installed by Dakota Unlimited.
Photo of a large transitional backyard partial sun formal garden in Minneapolis with a wood fence.

Small Frontyard

Arbordale Landscaping

Cedar gate with arbour entrance to the backyard. Flagstone landing with cobblestone border.
Design ideas for a small transitional backyard partial sun garden for summer in Toronto with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Transitional Backyard Garden Design Ideas

Get Inspired by Transitional 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 transitional 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 Transitional Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a transitional 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 transitional 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 transitional 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.