You’ve heard of landscaping your garden, now get ready for sand-scaping your backyard. This trend is growing in popularity and for all the right reasons. It’s a budget-friendly, easy-to-complete makeover solution that can completely transform your backyard. So if you’re looking for a fresh new look, or you simply want to bring the coast or desert a little closer to home, sand-scaping might be just what you’re looking for.
5 Sand-scaping Ideas For Your Backyard
Develop A Desert
If you’re a fan of desert plants, sandy dunes, and cacti, then a desert backyard might be just what you’re looking for. It’s an incredibly eco-friendly way of using your backyard. It requires minimal intervention both in terms of fertilizer and maintenance.
You could add any number of plants including the vibrant desert rose. There are hundreds of different cactus varieties plus its cousin the Aloe Vera. Even if you’re not living in a warm part of the country, you can still sand-scape a desert scene. You’ll just need to bring in your warm loving plants over the cooler months.
Dedicate A Play Space
Kids love playing with sand. If you’re creating a whole backyard dedicated to sand it only makes sense for you to include a section that is specifically for them. This will keep their toys in one particular spot. Surrounding a sandpit with decking where adults can sit is a nice combination of style and purpose.
Use Coastal Plants
If you want to really create a coastal vibe, make sure that you’re using coastal plants that can easily blend with rocks, boulders, and sand. Some good coastal plant options include:
- Geranium Palmatum
- Erigeron Glaucus
- Horned Poppy
- Agapanthus
- Phormium Cookianum
- Sea Campion
- Sea Holly
A good place to start sourcing plants is to visit your closest coastline. If that’s too far to achieve, compare your average temperature to a coastline of a similar temperature and seek similar plants.
Create A Beach Path
When you visited the beach, you will have taken one of those natural beach paths between the dunes down toward the beach. A natural path made of sand between shrubs and bushes. These are very easy to recreate and the beauty is there doesn’t have to be any real definition to them.
Aim to contrast the path with some bright, dry-soil plants that ebb and flow around the edges of the path.
Build Sand Into Geometric Gardens
Some gardens are built to be structured. They thrive on symmetry and reflection. The issue is that this can cause some stark lines and a sense of harshness. Employing sand between these features, such as between plants or on paths, can be a great way to add a softening touch.
Types Of Sand For Sand-scaping
The type of sand you use in your garden is really up to you. There’s a variety of different styles that offer different aesthetics, and many types of sand serve a particular purpose. No matter which you choose, you’ll end up asking yourself, “How much sand do I need?” The answer to that depends on the size and scope of your project, but there are some handy calculators out there to help you.
Many people tend to opt for white sand as their choice. That’s thanks to its warm aesthetic, soft feel under barefoot, and uniform feel. It, however, isn’t for everyone.
- Concrete Sand: Mainly used as a level for patios and walkways. It is created by mixing cement and sand. It’s not ideal as decorative sand as it can create cement dust.
- Mason Sand: Used by contractors nationwide, this sand is the backbone of many construction projects. It is mixed with concrete and mortar to strengthen structures and bonds. It’s a great option if you’re building up foundations in a particular area of your garden.
- Lawn Sand: This sand is made specifically for lawns. It’s a combination of very fine sand, ammonia, and iron sulphates. It helps to reduce lawn moss and helps the lawn to grow lusciously.
Key Takeaways
Some people don’t love sand. They find it coarse, rough, or irritating. Plus it can get everywhere. It is, however, a great option if you’re looking to try something a little different in your backyard.
- Combining sand-scaping with the right plants can create stunning coastal or desert themes.
- Sand-scaped backyards can be great for adults and kids too.
- Pick your sand based on your overall aesthetic and style.
