The Backyards Library

A little curiosity. A better backyard.

Gardens to explore, things to grow, and ideas for the way you live outside. Browse the stories or follow a collection below.

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Find your next good idea.

An uneven mixture of brown wood chips and small woody pieces covers the ground.

The Garden Notebook

Mulch, with room to breathe

Inspect the layer you have before adding another. Depth, exposed root flares, and a measured order matter more than a freshly covered bed.

From the notebook

An overhead view shows a rectangular pool aligned with a planted square and surrounded by lawn and paving

Project Feature

A pool framed by texture and planting

A rectangular pool is set against stone, horizontal fencing, and a planted edge.

Platinum Pools

Inside the project

Gray Loll Tall Adirondack chair with wide arms and a slatted back

Material Matters / Product noteLoll Designs

Loll Tall Adirondack: consider the seat as well as the silhouette

A higher version of a familiar lounge form makes posture part of the furniture conversation.

The product note

Two potted culinary herbs sit on a bright kitchen counter beside wooden boards.

Life Outside

Herbs for the kitchen door

Start with the meals you make, then give a few useful herbs the light, moisture, and harvesting routine they need.

From the notebook

A freeform pool curves around a rock waterfall, with submerged loungers beside the paved terrace

Project Feature

A freeform pool with a rocky edge

Travertine and moss rock give a North Texas pool a less formal outline.

Allison Landscape & Pool CompanyWhitesboro, Texas

Inside the project

Green Fermob Bistro folding chair and round table on a planted terrace

Material Matters / Product noteFermob

Fermob Bistro: the case for a folding chair with character

A compact steel chair puts flexibility, color, and storage into the same decision.

The product note

A sunlit balcony holds a chair, small table, and plants behind a railing.

Small Space Studies

A balcony with room to live

Begin with the open door, an occupied chair, and a few well-chosen plants. Leave room for the everyday work of using them.

From the notebook

A curved timber deck edge follows the swimming pool and opens onto a furnished dining platform

Project Feature

A long pool deck finds a smoother connection

Rounded corners, broad steps, and a custom bench reshape the poolside route.

Archadeck of West Central & Southwest OhioCenterville, Ohio

Inside the project

Gray POLYWOOD Lakeside dining table and four matching chairs

Material Matters / Product notePOLYWOOD

An everyday outdoor table: POLYWOOD Lakeside

A coordinated dining group is a useful prompt to draw occupied chairs on the plan.

The product note

Water droplets rest on overlapping green leaves in a close view of foliage.

The Garden Notebook

Gardening through a humid summer

Separate wet leaves from wet roots, make room for growth, and investigate recurring problems before treating them.

From the notebook

A screened porch connects the house to a curved paved patio with a low seating wall

Project Feature

A three-season room meets a curving patio

A porch conversion and an outdoor gathering area offer different ways to enjoy the yard.

Archadeck of ColumbusDublin, Ohio

Inside the project

Deckorators Voyage deck with contrasting border boards, dark railing, and an outdoor dining counter

Material Matters / Product noteDeckorators

Deckorators Voyage, from the field boards to the steps

Board widths and edge profiles need to work together at the stairs, border, and main deck.

The product note