Submitted by Beverly Companies
BAPA Business Partner
A patio is a wonderful thing. It gives the grill a permanent home. It keeps your outdoor furniture level. It prevents a chair leg from slowly sinking into the lawn while you attempt to eat a hamburger with dignity.
But a great backyard does not a patio alone create.
The most inviting outdoor spaces balance hardscapes with softscapes. The retaining wall and firepit need to mesh well with the trees and flowers. When the two work together, a backyard becomes more. More comfortable, more sustainable and much more likely to get used.
Build the room, then add the comfort
Hardscapes give an outdoor space structure. A patio creates a place to gather that feels purposeful. A walkway helps guests reach it without wandering through the lawn like they are searching for a hidden entrance. A retaining wall can turn an awkward slope into usable space.
Softscaping makes that structure feel like part of the yard rather than a small parking lot with nicer furniture.
Plants also provide practical benefits that are easy to overlook. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the air directly beneath a tree can be as much as 25 degrees cooler than the air above nearby blacktop. Trees and plants cool the surrounding area through shade and by releasing moisture into the air.
You do not need to turn your backyard into a forest preserve. One well placed shade tree, a few shrubs around the patio and a layered planting bed can make a noticeable difference on a hot summer afternoon.
Give the rain somewhere helpful to go
Hardscapes change how water moves through a property. That matters more than most homeowners realize.
One inch of rain falling on a 1,000 square foot roof produces approximately 623 gallons of water. That water has to go somewhere, usually very quickly.
A thoughtful design gives it a better destination than the lowest corner of the patio or the area next to the foundation. Planting beds can help absorb runoff. A shallow rain garden can collect water from a downspout and allow it to soak into the soil.
Permeable pavers may also help water filter into the ground rather than rushing toward the street.
The Morton Arboretum estimates that trees across the Chicago region intercept 1.5 billion cubic feet of water annually, saving cities and taxpayers approximately $100 million per year!
Your backyard is not personally responsible for solving regional stormwater management. That would be a lot to ask from a hydrangea. But the same principle applies at home.
Let the plants do more than decorate
A sustainable yard is not simply a yard with more plants. It is a yard with the right plants in the right places.
Choose trees and shrubs based on their mature size, sunlight needs and soil conditions. Use native or well adapted plants where practical. They can provide seasonal color while reducing unnecessary work.
The University of Minnesota Extension notes that sustainable landscaping can use less water, time and pesticides when plants are matched to the conditions of the property.
Do not forget mulch. Organic mulch helps conserve moisture, reduce runoff, protect roots from temperature swings and improve soil as it breaks down. Apply roughly three to four inches around trees and shrubs, while perennial beds generally need only a couple of inches. Keep it away from tree trunks. Mulch volcanoes are dramatic, but not in a good way.
Aim for balance, not a formula
There is no perfect ratio of patio to plants. Start with how you want to use the yard. Create enough hardscape for seating, cooking and walking. Then use softscape to provide shade, guide water, soften the edges and bring the space to life.
The best backyard does not feel like a patio was installed first and landscaping was added later as an apology. It feels like one complete space, designed to work together.
