We Used Yardzen to Design Our Backyard — Here’s the Plan!

Jessica Doberneck
Jul 21
4 min read

Updated: Jul 23

I can walk into a home and know exactly what to do; take down this wall, move the couch here, etc. But when it comes to our blank slate backyard, I can visualize 90% of it, but the last 10% feels a little fuzzy. Because of that, we hired Yardzen to digitally landscape a mock up of everything I've been envisioning for our landscaping.

Remember, last year we installed the pool/spa, turf, patio pavers, and firepit. But we haven't touched anything else since then. In the mean time (and for the last 5 years), my wheels have been turning and going in circles trying to wrap my brain around what it would look like fully landscaped.

Without further ado, let me walk you through what we invision for our backyard! (Keep in mind, we purchased the landscaping only package so the mock ups for our outdoor kitchen, dining, shower, etc. were not included.)

Pool-Side

Incoming: My favorite backdrop of the whole backyard!

Dwarf Lemon trees (so the view isn't obstructed too much) and jasmine vines for a stunning Mediterranean focal point. I also love that Yardzen suggested enclosing the waterfall wall to make a proper raised garden bed. I never would have thought of that.

Anyone else dying to swim here?! I'm in love!

We were going for whimsical, neutral, natural... and we nailed it!

You'll notice we have a lot of vines covering the majority of the back wall. That was intentional - I HATE cinder block fences. They are so common in Arizona for their durability in the heat, but, man, they give prison vibes.

Back Wall / Firepit Area

One of my must-haves in planning the backyard was Desert Ironwood trees on either side of the firepit to make it feel enclosed and cozy! I wanted it to feel like someone took an ice cream scoop out of the landscaping to carve out room for the firepit; I think we accomplished just that! And I LOVE these particular trees because they have grey-ish trunks and branches, the branches sprawl out wide, and relaxing under them feels like you're in a European garden.

Doesn't that look so cozy and inviting?! The best part is, this view (above) is the view from my kitchen sink and out our living room windows/doors. EEK!!!!!

It screams, "Come s'mores with us!"

Desert Ironwood trees also bloom darling little grey-purple flowers in May right around Jane's birthday and it's so magical! I'm sure the tiny buds will be a pain to clean up, but that sounds like a problem for future me, ha!

I'm excited for this tree-lined wall for many aesthetic reasons, but it will also help block the morning sun that shines directly through our bedroom window every. single. morning. I'm particularly stoked about that!

Garden Area

If you're following me on Facebook or Instagram, you know I've been practicing my green thumb skills with two small planters of watermelon and cantaloupe. So far so good! I've wanted a garden for years, but I also know I'm terrible at keeping plants alive when life gets busy. So a practice round to prove myself was necessary haha!

These garden beds can be viewed right outside our kitchen windows, a perfect daily reminder to tend to them!

This was the only spot that made sense for a garden, however, this area sees the most sun all day long - which will be brutal in the summer. We will have to install posts for summer sun shades in order to make this a successful year-round garden. I'm not a big fan of sun shades, but when I realized those posts can also drape market lights over the garden, I was sold.

See the limestone pavers on the left? That is our outdoor dining area, and eventually we'd like to move our outdoor kitchen to the far end of the patio. A sooner project, however, will be to add a pergola and replace our window with french doors for easier access.

I'm obsessed with the creeping ground cover around the fruitless olive trees!

One requirement for this backyard was tree-lined spaces to inspire some European design. On this side, however, we will have fruitless olive trees. They are smaller and more Spanish/European, which is perfect for a garden backdrop. EEK!

Top Down - Beginning to End

Our goal with the backyard was to create a lush multi-purpose haven that felt like a European retreat with hint of desert and English garden. I want my backyard to feel like a second home. I mean, it could FIT a second, and maybe third home, we may as well use the space as such haha.

Thank you Yardzen for helping me capture 100% of what I invisioned! This is exactly what I have been dreaming of and working up in my head for the past 5 years!

As a reminder, here's where we started...

...And here's where we are at now:

Lots of work to do! This landscaping project will take a whole year, but the weather will be cooling off in the next couple of months, which means grab your gloves and sun hat because we'll be breaking ground soon! Stay tuned!

Sincerely,