One of the things I like to do in my free time is find ways to redesign my backyard. Given its decent size, I always thought I needed more acreage to put in something bigger, but I recently learned from DIY home improvement friends that you don’t. It doesn’t matter what size yard you have; y’all can put anything back there as long as it’s something you want and it fits.
So, I decided to transform my yard into a personal forest oasis. My friends and I drew out my concept by looking at inspo pictures of national forests and even explored the yard for the right spot. I eventually settled near our inground pool; it’s a lovely space with a slight hill—the perfect space to manifest my personal sanctuary! Here’s my guide on how to create a forest oasis in your backyard.
Find a Space in Your Yard To Place a Forest
While in the yard with my friends, we combed the area for the right spot to place my forest oasis. After looking for some time, we eventually settled on a space near the pool—a slight hill that will turn into rolling gardens with plants and shrubs bursting from the ground.
Finding the space did take time, as I had to measure the area and determine what could fit. One of my landscaping contacts drew up blueprints to go off of so I could see where I would place everything.
Layer Your Forest With Different Plants
After measuring everything out, I swung by local garden centers to find the best plants. You can’t have a forest without trees and flowers. I chose plants based on the layers I wanted to see in my oasis for my setup. I wanted tall trees for shade, small trees to fill corners, and flowers and shrubs to surround walking paths.
Using layers helped me mimic what I saw in an actual forest. I designed natural pathways, making the environment feel more seamless.
Create Natural Pathways
Natural pathways don’t need to be rocky or dirt roads. They can be anything that enhances the existing landscape. I used stepping stones and a small wooden bridge that went right over my makeshift stream to create the most natural pathway, in my opinion. A natural pathway, again, doesn’t need to be bland; it could be as simple as stepping stones or wooden panels.
Build Private Spaces For Tranquility
My favorite part of this process was building private spaces for entertainment and comfort when I wanted to be alone. Instead of building an extension of my kitchen or a she-shed, I installed a greenhouse. Instead of a small conservatory, I built a deluxe walk-in greenhouse to grow my square footage. It was a great choice because it helped add more variety to the places I can visit on my property for peace and quiet.
I encourage y’all to pick the ideal part of your backyard and transform it into a place to relax and unwind after a long day. Use this guide on creating a forest oasis in your yard to help you get started! What materials will you use to create a forest sanctuary to get the most out of your next relaxing day?
