Backyard landscaping in Boise, Idaho

If you're looking into backyard landscaping in Boise, your backyard probably isn't pulling its weight. It's too hot to sit in by July. The neighbors can see right in. The kids have a patch of grass and a fence, and that's about it.

Backyard landscaping is everything that turns that space into a place you use: the patio, the plants, the lawn, the shade, the privacy and the lighting. I'm Kabe Hockema. I design the backyard, then I build it, and I'm on the job myself the whole way through. It's one part of what I do as a landscape designer in the Treasure Valley.

Start with how you'll spend time out there

Before I draw anything, I ask a lot of questions. Do you cook outside? Do you host big groups, or is it usually just the two of you? Do you need a fenced spot for the dog? Is there a kid who wants grass for soccer? Do you want a bed for tomatoes?

The answers shape the backyard more than any style choice. A family that grills four nights a week needs the patio close to the kitchen door. Someone who wants a quiet coffee spot might want it in the far corner, facing east to catch the morning sun.

Breaking the backyard into zones

A backyard works best when each area has one main job. I usually plan in zones:

• Gathering. A patio big enough for your table and chairs, with room to walk around them. Size and shape are their own decision, and I cover them on the patio design page.
• Play or lawn. Grass where you'll use it, not wall to wall. A smaller lawn takes less water and less mowing.
• Planting. Beds that soften the fence line and give you color from spring into fall.
• Quiet. A bench, a fire pit, or the sound of moving water. A small waterfall or fountain fits well here, and I plan those through outdoor water feature design.
• Work. Room for trash cans, a shed, a compost bin or raised vegetable beds, kept out of the main view.

Paths tie the zones together, so you're not cutting across wet grass to get to the patio.

Shade, privacy and wind

These three shape a lot of Treasure Valley backyards.

Summers here are hot and dry, and a west-facing yard can be hard to use by late afternoon. Shade trees take years to fill in, so I often pair a young tree with something faster, like a shade structure over the patio.

In newer subdivisions, houses sit close together. Layered planting helps: small trees in back, tall shrubs in the middle, and lower plants in front. It blocks the view without feeling like a wall.

Wind is the one people forget. Open lots on the edges of Meridian, Kuna and Star can get breezy most afternoons. A low wall, a hedge, or the house itself can shelter a seating area if the patio goes in the right spot.

The ground under your backyard

Many backyards in new subdivisions sit on compacted builder fill over clay. Water doesn't soak in, and roots struggle to spread. Before planting, I loosen and amend the beds and grade the yard so water drains away from the house. If your backyard slopes, a short wall can turn a hill nobody uses into a level patio or lawn. That's where retaining wall design comes in.

One big build or a few phases

You don't have to do the whole backyard at once. Many homeowners build in stages: grading, drainage and irrigation first, then the patio, then planting and extras. What matters is having a full plan before the first phase, so nothing gets torn out later.

To see what a full redo looks like, take a look at this full backyard renovation. If you're after a bigger outdoor room with a kitchen or a fireplace, see my outdoor living work.

What sets the price of backyard landscaping

Backyard projects range a lot in cost. The biggest drivers are:

• How much of the yard changes, and how much old material has to come out.
• The size of the patio and the material you choose.
• Walls, steps and any grading.
• Irrigation changes, like turning lawn areas into drip-watered beds.
• Features such as a fire pit, water feature or lighting.
• How many plants go in, and how big they are when they're planted.

At the consultation I'll show you where the money goes, so you can decide where to spend and where to save.

Backyards across the Treasure Valley

I build backyards in Boise and the towns around it: Eagle, Meridian, Garden City, Star, Kuna, Nampa, Caldwell, Middleton and Hidden Springs. I also take projects in Sun Valley and Ketchum, where colder winters and a shorter summer change the plant list.

Plan your backyard

If you're ready for backyard landscaping in Boise that your family will actually use, schedule a consultation. I'll come out, walk the yard with you, and talk through what's possible.