We’re about to tackle a major backyard renovation. Right now the space is largely unusable: a nasty, nonworking hot tub, a pergola that’s falling apart, and a few dead trees. With Arlo likely to start walking soon, we need a safe, open area where he can run and play.
Last week I attended The Home Depot’s Garden to Grill event hosted with Popsugar. The day included seminars on gardening, lawn care, fencing, decking, and grilling — exactly the topics I needed. I picked up a lot of useful ideas and inspiration, and I wanted to share what I learned as we begin conversations with designers, contractors and arborists. We’re just getting started, and it’s a little overwhelming, but here’s what stood out to me so far.
Decking + Fencing
One of the first topics covered was decking and fencing. At the event they built a demonstration deck using Veranda Decking, which gave me a great chance to see the material in person. Veranda uses recycled wood fibers and polymers, is eco-friendly, and resists mold and mildew — all useful qualities for a family outdoor space. We’re weighing options to replace our crumbling patio and pergola, and an easy-care composite deck is high on our list. Do you have a deck or patio? Is it covered? How often do you use it?
They also showcased Alta Fencing as part of the stage build. I’m not a fan of our current fence — it looks dated and worn — and the Alta product felt like a clear upgrade. It’s pre-stained and treated to resist warping, termites, rot and decay. Now my mission is to convince Jeff we should upgrade. One question we’re already debating: should we leave a new fence stained or paint it? Thoughts welcome.
I also tried Mendocino redwood fencing during a DIY segment led by Erica of P.S. I Made This. We used solid redwood to build small herb planters. I’ll admit I worried about splinters, but I made it through and now have a little planter to show for it. I’ll likely leave full fence installation to professionals, but the hands-on experience helped clarify material choices.
Gardening + Live Plants
Gardening is a weak spot for me — friends jokingly call me “The Girl Who Kills Air Plants.” Because of that, we’ve started working with a landscape designer who’s been incredibly helpful. The goal is a lush yard that’s still low-maintenance. I’m curious about adding an herb garden, especially after learning about fun varieties like chocolate mint. Growing easy herbs could also be a fun way to involve Arlo in the yard. If you have an herb garden, tell me: do you love it? What would you recommend for beginners?
Grilling and Outdoor Living
There’s no photo of the grilling demos because I was busy sampling food from John & Vinny’s team — no complaints there. One of our main goals is to extend our living space outdoors since our dining room is tiny. We’re thinking about an outdoor kitchen and want to go big: an excellent grill, plenty of prep space, storage, and maybe a pizza oven for weekend pizza nights. The idea of “garden to grill” appeals to me: grow herbs in raised beds and harvest fresh basil for pizzas. If you’ve built an outdoor kitchen, what do you use most? What would you do again?
Above all, I want to know what you love about your backyard. What do you use the most? What has been the best decision you’ve made for outdoor living? I feel confident about our interior design, but the exterior is a new realm. I’m collecting ideas before finalizing plans, and I’ll share our progress once we move forward.
Thank you to The Home Depot and Popsugar for hosting an inspiring event — it definitely jump-started my thinking.
This post was created in partnership with The Home Depot. All content and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that keep Studio DIY going. Read more about my editorial policies here.