Backyard Before and After Transformation

This is how we took our backyard from a lumpy weed-covered patch to a beautiful plant-covered hangout. 

We first moved into this home in 2019, and our yard was essentially a blank canvas. Because we were so focused on the house, we left the backyard alone until 2023. 

Our goal was to turn this flat, boring backyard into a secret garden-inspired hangout. We wanted a seating area where we could relax, some pathways connecting everything together, a garden area, and some trees.

We started by sketching out our ideas and thinking about the best layout to accomplish everything.

Here is an Amazon Link to some of the products we used for this before and after project.

(This post contains affiliate links)

WATCH THE FULL TRANSFORMATION:

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

We started by leveling out the ground where the seating area would be. The main goal was to get rid of all the grass and plant more drought-tolerant plants.

This was the most back-breaking part of the project!

Once everything was level, we added 2.5 inches of compacted road base and one inch of sand over that. 

Then laid the pavers over that. 

We added 2ft concrete footings where we would attach the pergola. The footings are extra strong, so in the future we could always build a more substantial patio cover, and we wouldn’t need to rip up what we have already done.

Between the pavers, we decided to add small rocks. At first, this was a nightmare because every time someone would walk through, little rocks would go flying everywhere.

That is until we found Easihold! This is a type of glue that you mix with the rock to keep it in place. 

The directions say how much you need, but through trial and error, we realized you have to use a little more than it says on the bottle. 

Around the edge of our walkway, we dug a deep trench and added a French drain because we needed a place for the water to go when it rains. 

In the past, the water would gather in low areas, and we wanted a way for the water to sink into our property.

A French drain is a simple yet effective way to redirect water away from an area, often used to prevent water from pooling around foundations, in yards, or behind retaining walls.

Here’s how it works:

French Drain Basic Concept

A French drain collects and diverts water through a gravel-filled trench that contains a perforated pipe. The water flows into the gravel, then into the pipe, and is carried away from the problem area.

Components of a French Drain

1. Trench
   Dug in the ground along the area where water collects (usually sloped slightly to aid flow).

2. Gravel or Rock
   Fills the trench and provides a path for water to flow freely toward the pipe.

3. Perforated Pipe
   A pipe with holes that runs along the bottom of the trench. It collects water from the surrounding gravel and transports it elsewhere (like a storm drain, dry well, or lower area of the yard).

4. Landscape Fabric (optional but common)
   Often used to wrap the pipe and line the trench. It keeps soil from clogging the gravel or pipe.

5. Outlet
   The pipe empties into a designated area where the water can safely disperse.

How It Works – Step by Step

1. Water seeps into the trench through the top layer of gravel.

2. It flows downward into the perforated pipe.

3. The pipe carries the water away from the area (by gravity, since the trench is slightly sloped).

4. The water exits safely away from foundations, lawns, or other water-sensitive spots.

Putting in the French drain. Click Here to see the sock drain we used in this project. 

Now that we had a flat paved seating area, it was time to add some shade!

We live in So Cal, so it is sunny most days of the year, which is why we wanted to add a secondary living space outside.

Here is a link to the Pergola we purchased from Wayfair.

This is a lightweight pergola, and the best part is that we can open and close the shade cloth. On cooler days, we like to have it open, but it’s great to have shade on really hot days too.

Making Concrete Pavers

We decided to pour some concrete pavers in place. This was a great way to save money and very easy.

Creative Pathway

We wanted a path that connected the sitting area to the rest of our yard. That is where this flagstone pathway comes in. 

Using some of the flagstone pavers we already had scattered in our front yard from the previous owners, we designed this into a pathway using mortar to hold it in place.

We found our patio furniture at Costco. This was easy to put together, and we still love it 2 years after we bought it.

Planting Fruit Trees

Here we are adding an orange tree. I am looking forward to the day when this tree grows tall enough to make shade for us.

A few years ago, we added three raised garden beds. If you are interested in making these simple garden beds, check out this post on how to make a simple raised garden bed.

We added some paver paths surrounding the garden beds to make it easy to reach each bed.

Here we are planting our lemon tree. After 2 years, we already have lemons growing each year.

It’s so nice to walk out in our garden and pick a fresh lemon to use when making dinner.

The Archway

One of the best things we did was add this archway! Once my husband finished making this, we planted a potato vine, which has white flowers and stays green all year long.

How We Made This Archway:

Click Here to Watch

Here is the Before:

Here is the after:

Backyard Before and After:

The Arch after the potato vine filled in!

BACKYARD LIGHTING

We decided to add some solar lights to our backyard once the project was complete.

We are super happy with these lights we found on Amazon. 

Click here to see the spotlights

Click here to see the path lights

Two years later, and these lights are still working great!

This is what it looks like at night with all the solar lights.

Side Yard Before and After:

Our goal for our side yard was to get rid of the weeds and have a simple pathway.

Since this isn’t an area where we would hang out, we just wanted something easy to take care of.

We went with a simple design of DG, a paver path, ground cover, and some succulents.

How we did the Project

We started this project by cutting the weeds and grass very low. Then we used solarization to kill everything. 

This is the exact process we used:

What Is Solarization?

Solarization involves covering the soil with clear plastic for several weeks during the hottest part of the year. The sun heats up the soil under the plastic, often reaching temperatures of 120–140°F (49–60°C), which kills weeds, seeds, grass, and many soil-borne pathogens.

What You’ll Need

• Clear plastic sheeting (2–4 mil thick; clear works better than black for heating)

• Garden tools (shovel, rake, hose)

• Optional: landscape staples or bricks to hold down the edges

Step-by-Step: How to Solarize Your Soil

1. Choose the right time

   • Late spring to mid-summer is ideal when you’ll get 4–8 weeks of full sun.

   • Soil temps need to stay above 110°F (43°C) to be effective.

2. Clear the area

   Mow or cut down tall weeds and grass. Remove large debris or rocks.

3. Water the soil thoroughly.

    

   Moist soil conducts heat better. Water it deeply—it should be damp at least 6 inches down.

4. Lay down clear plastic

   • Stretch it tightly over the area.

   • Bury the edges or secure them with rocks, bricks, or landscape staples to trap the heat.

5. Leave it in place for 4–8 weeks

   • Longer is better, especially for killing tougher weed seeds and roots.

   • Avoid disturbing it—tears or gaps will let heat escape.

6. Remove the plastic

   • The grass and weeds underneath should be brown, cooked, and easy to pull.

   • You can now plant directly or lightly till the top layer.

Benefits of Solarization

• Kills weed seeds, grass, and seedlings without chemicals

• Reduces fungal and bacterial pathogens

• Can even destroy some nematodes and insect larvae

• Prepares a clean bed for planting

We added another French drain along this sidewalk.

Adding mortar to lock in these pavers.

Then we found this log and decided to drill holes and add succulents. 

We also made this stone mosaic walkway around our raised garden bed.

Here is the finished side yard.

Succulents in the wood. 

Patio Stencil Seating Area

I started by grinding the concrete because there were layers of paint and stain. 

Before I painted the concrete, I primed it with a concrete sealer.

Once it was clean, I rolled it with a gray porch and patio paint. 

Then I laid out a grid using a chalk line. 

We found this stencil on Amazon that came as a four-pack. 

We also used these tiny brushes to paint the stencil.

This was the most time-consuming part of the project. If you don’t like tedious projects, then do not do a stencil!

The process was to tack down the stencil and fill it in with paint, then skip the next square and move to one space over. Tack it down again and paint. Once they are dry, go back and fill in the missing squares. 

Between each painting session, you have to wipe off the stencil so it doesn’t make a mess on the next square.

Painting The Stencil

This is how the pattern turned out. As you can see, we only had a few more squares to go. 

We love the way it turned out. It looks like there is a rug out here, but it’s just paint. 

The last part of our patio transformation was to add a table and benches. We found an affordable option on Amazon.

I was very pleased with the quality, considering it was very affordable. We have had this for about a year now, and it’s holding up great. 

Here is the Link to the Table and benches. This was easy to make, compact, and has held up well.

This is what the final patio area looks like.

This backyard before and after transformation happened over the span of two years, of course, with long breaks between each big project. 

It’s so fun to see what can be accomplished after some hard work.