Mountain homes typically are surrounded by stunning views, but landscaping those homes’ back lawns can be hard because dry, rocky soil and altitude issues pose difficulties for many plants that are common. That doesn’t mean that the mountain home is stuck with a bland, bare rear yard, though. Selecting plants that are sturdy enough for the environment and pairing them with other rugged materials can help create a landscape which complements the surrounding mountains and produces your back yard a comfortable spot to unwind.
Rethink the Yard
Because of the climate, soil conditions and watering restrictions in mountain areas, maintaining a healthy, lawn can be challenging. Instead of trying to grow grass throughout your entire back yard, consider using non-grass alternatives. Create an area for dining and entertaining by building a deck or terrace. In places where you intend to plant, cover the soil with mulch to add nutrients that promote healthy plant growth. Wood chips, ground bark or fine gravel can serve as ground cover at a mountain back yard. In spots where you need just a small grass, like a play area for kids, plant grasses that perform well in mountain states. One option is buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides), that is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9.
Go Native
Given that the difficult growing conditions within an mountain-area back lawn, it will help to choose plants that are native to the wooded area because they’re accustomed to the climate and soil conditions. Such native perennial plants with colorful blossoms to brighten up a backyard garden include hairy honeysuckle (Lonicera hispidula, USDA zones 7 through 9), that grows in full sun, partial shade or full shade, and colonial bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa, USDA zones 4 through 8), that requires partial shade. California flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum, USDA zones 8 through 10) is a yellow-blooming, evergreen shrub that may grow on the yard’s hillsides and slopes that receive full-sun exposure. If you want to add height and motion into the landscape, try common yarrow (Achillea millefolium, USDA zones 3 through 9), that requires full sun.
Keep it Natural
In regards to substances for hardtop places, furniture and other accessories at the rear yard, choose natural components that match the mountain setting. If you are planning a patio, opt for a natural stone like flagstone for a rustic appearance that fits together with the surrounding scenery. Yard furniture made from bent willows or invading are a natural match with the rugged landscape. Twig fencing may be used to create privacy and help separate places within the lawn. A mountain climate may get cold at night. A fire at a fire pit can allow the rear yard more comfy for you in the evenings, however avoid using concrete or preformed fire pits. Produce a pit from a band of boulders to keep a rugged, natural ambiance for the lawn.
Incorporate Rustic Accessories
A couple well-placed accessories might help add personality to your mountain back yard. Choosing the right hairstyle to put one of the plantings is key to them matching the landscape’s natural, rustic appearance, though. Try decorating the garden using antiques or other antique pieces. Old wine or whiskey barrels may become planters to get a patio area or add definition along a garden path. An old wheelbarrow can be repurposed to hold container plants at the middle of the garden and also serve as a focal point. Antique garden tools like spades and rakes may be used to decorate a garden fence or wall too.