[This article was first published in August 2019 and has been expanded and revised.]

Summer is a great time to complete those backyard renovation projects you've been planning for so long. But what you do with all the junk and debris that's left?

Planning a renovation project can be both fun and inspiring. And, if you're a dedicated DIY-type of homeowner, digging and building can be gratifying and enjoyable. But disposing of and hauling away all the debris, trash and old junk probably won't be.

Planning a DIY Backyard Makeover this Summer?

Every homeowner loves having inviting and attractive outdoor spaces around their home. But as many of these owners know, keeping the backyard looking clean, accessible, and useable can be a challenge.

Which is why the lure of backyard renovation projects is so strong!

However, regardless of whether you are simply adding to your existing layout and landscaping, or planning to totally remove and replace it, renovations require a great deal of work.

Planning is essential but a common mistake made by many homeowners is to simply get an idea or two, rush down to the local garden center and buy stuff, then start planting and installing. The results might look nice, but the real risk is simply ending up with a cluttered landscape vista.

This doesn't mean you have to engage the services of a professional landscape designer or buy the latest landscape design software. In fact, unless you truly are going for a complete overhaul and renovation, a piece of paper and a few guidelines will be enough for planning.

Some of the things you might want to consider is the condition of your existing fences, decks or patios, sheds and maybe even an old hot tub that may need to be removed (and replaced?) 

These things will also add to the items on your task list as well as to the piles of debris that will require proper disposal. In fact, hot tub removal and disposal is a major chore all by itself! With these peripheral items added to your plan, you can then focus on exactly what you want to add, remove or change. 

The Benefits of Backyard Renovations for Homeowners

Backyard renovations offer homeowners a multitude of benefits, from transforming their outdoor spaces into havens of relaxation to casual entertainment to increased property value. And not only do these projects enhance the aesthetics of a home but they also provide some practical advantages that can significantly improve the overall quality of life for homeowners.

Here are few of them.

First and foremost, a renovated backyard creates an inviting retreat where homeowners can unwind and enjoy the beauty of nature. By incorporating elements such as lush landscaping, comfortable seating areas, and soothing water features, homeowners can create a serene oasis right in their own backyard. This peaceful environment offers an escape from the stresses of daily life, allowing homeowners to recharge in a tranquil place without leaving the comfort of their home.

Secondly, backyard renovations provide great opportunities for socializing and entertaining. By installing a patio or deck, complete with outdoor furniture and a barbecue area, you can create an ideal setting for hosting gatherings and events. Whether it's a casual family barbecue or an elegant evening dinner party, a well-designed backyard can accommodate various activities and create memorable moments with loved ones. 

Thirdly, backyard renovations can help promote a healthier lifestyle. Incorporating major features such as a swimming pool, a sports court, or even an outdoor fitness area can encourage physical activity and outdoor recreation. Imagine swimming laps, shooting hoops, or practicing yoga in the privacy of your own backyard! Additionally, depending on where one lives, a well-designed landscape can include vegetable gardens or fruit trees, enabling homeowners to cultivate their own fresh produce, fostering a healthier diet and a connection to nature.

And as a bonus, quality backyard renovations have a positive impact on property value.

A well-maintained and beautifully designed outdoor space enhances the overall appeal of a home, making it more attractive to potential buyers. By investing in backyard renovations, homeowners can increase the market value of their property, potentially yielding a higher return on investment when it comes time to sell.

Simply put, backyard renovations can provide a homeowner with a wider variety of benefits. From creating a peaceful retreat to providing opportunities for socializing, improving health, and increasing property value, these projects can enhance the overall quality of life for homeowners.

In other words, by simply transforming their outdoor spaces into functional and aesthetically pleasing areas, homeowners can enjoy the numerous advantages of a beautifully renovated backyard.

Basic Backyard Renovation Tips

While the possibilities with your backyard (and front and side yards, as well!) are seemingly endless, there are some pro tips that can be incorporated to enhance your renovation plans.

We're sharing some of these tips from a popular magazine to help stir your creative juices:

Plant for Year-Round Appeal

Evergreen shrubs retain their leaves or needles all year long, so they’re constantly providing cover and color. Evergreen plants advantageously placed near the house can help soften the vertical lines of the house, giving it a more inviting appearance.

Connect Points of Interest With a Walkway

Instead of trampling down the lawn between your patio, fire pit, and garden, create an attractive walkway using concrete steppingstones, natural flagstone, decorative brick, or crushed stone.

Bring a Corner to Life with a Berm

One way to add pizzazz to the landscape is to build a berm, a mound that you can cover with a rock or flower garden. Berms add color and texture to an otherwise flat, plain lawn with colored stone, flowers, or foliage.

Add an Outdoor Seating Area

Installing a patio near the edge of your lawn, away from the house, provides an outdoor escape. Building it near trees or tall flowers gives the area some privacy, while chairs or benches let you sit or lie down to read or nap.

Create Curved Lines Instead of Straight Ones

Landscapers often add edging around flower gardens, the house foundation, and sometimes sidewalks and driveways. Installing the edging in creative curves instead of perfectly straight lines adds appeal and character.

Illuminate Focal Points and Walkways

Attractive landscaping deserves to be seen after hours, which is where landscape lights come into play. The lights play many roles, from adding to the home’s attractiveness to illuminating steps and sidewalks for safety to showcasing points of interest in the landscape.

And, as we noted already, the variations and options are plenty. This is the time to really be creative and also to be thinking long-term. What you invest in and install this summer is likely to be what you have to live with for years to come, so plan wisely.

Don't Leave Your Yard Debris Sitting For Too Long

Here's an annoying fact: all those piles of dirt and yard waste tend to work loose and spread around in your yard. Before you know it, your beautiful landscape work is obscured by neglected piles of debris and rubble lying about.

In other words, once your renovation project is completed you can't leave your debris sitting there.

So the question is, "How do you get rid of all that dirt, grass, junk and everything else that's left over?"

The truth is you only have three options for landscaping debris removal:

1. Haul it out yourself. This mean having a vehicle like a truck. If you do have a truck, you then have get it loaded and the property cleaned up yourself. Then you must figure out where and how you'll dump all the mixed debris you've loaded. Oh - and pay for gas and dumping fees.

2. Ask a relative or friend. If you have a friend or relative with a truck that is willing to help take care of the task for you this can solve the problem of a having a proper vehicle. But you still have to load and dump it all yourself. And you'll likely still have to pay for gas and landfill fees.

3. Hire a professional team. Of course, this is the option we recommend. A professional firm like Junk King has all the proper vehicles and equipment along with the know-how. And we will do all of the loading and cleaning up of the debris site for you.

Call Junk King for Your Landscaping Debris Removal

You long ago learned that yard waste can come in many forms. In addition to your major DIY gardening or landscaping project that’s left dirt and debris everywhere, the winter storms may have left broken tree branches all over your yard.

And you may also have large amounts of junk and clutter in your yard that you haven’t had time to clean up.

Whatever it is and whatever the reason, Junk King provides an efficient, safe and eco-friendly yard waste removal service so you don’t need to worry about the pick up or disposal of your yard debris. Our experienced debris removal team will break down and haul off any types of yard waste you have. Unlike the backseat of your car, our junk removal trucks are made to handle those dirty yard debris items.

Our professional and insured yard waste removal team will show up at your home (or office!) and we’ll call 15 to 30 minutes before we arrive on site. Once there we’ll give you a free estimate based on how much room your junk takes up in our truck. You just point, and we haul the debris into our junk removal trucks, with no hidden fees.

Ready to get rid of your yard waste? We make it simple.

Make an appointment by booking online above or by calling 1.888.888.JUNK (5865).