Is A Big Backyard Worth It?
Is a big backyard worth it? In this article, we consider the pros and cons of having a big backyard to figure out if it is really worth the hassle. We share things you might not have thought of as well as run through some of the costs.
Having the space to build a pool or grow vegetables is a luxury most people don’t have. That being said, it is easy to forget how much things cost to maintain. This is why it isn’t so clear as to whether big backyards are better than small backyards.
You may not be into all the upkeep that goes into a bug backyard, or the cost is not something that you can justify as of right now. So, today, we will try and figure out if a big backyard is worth it. By the end of the article, you should have a better idea if you need to invest in this aspect of your home right now as well as how big the yards should be.
Are Big Backyards Overrated?
A big backyard is great for children, pets, building extensions, gardening, hosting barbeques, and for practicing many hobbies. But how often will you really use your entire yard?
If you live in an area with amazing green infrastructure, a big backyard isn’t totally necessary. Not to mention the HOAs, city red tape, and everything else that can make it difficult and expensive to do things in your yard.
There’s also the cost of maintenance. Landscaping can add up to 10% extra value to your home, but that’s only when you invest a lot of time and money into developing and maintaining it.
Maintainance Costs of Big Backyards
Depending on the size of your backyard, maintenance costs can be huge unless you plan to do a lot of the work yourself. Landscaping can cost thousands to tens of thousands of dollars to add some features to your yard. Grass cutting alone will be hundreds of dollars a month and that doesn’t take into account all the other lawn care services that you will likely need.
Hedges need to be cut 2 – 4 times a year which will likely cost thousands. Tree surgery isn’t cheap and in fact, a trip to the doctor’s surgery is likely to cost less. Power washing is a regular task for patios, driveways, paths, and any hard ground. If you want to keep your ground moist and fertile you better be prepared tp set up an elaborate sprinkler system and then pay for the water to pump through it.
This is just a small list of jobs that can soon add up to the tens of thousands every year when you have a big backyard.
5 Benefits of Big Backyards Vs Small Backyards
Here are some of the benefits of owning a big backyard vs small backyard:
1. Increasing Home Value
It’s not just land, but something that can add one to ten percent extra value to your home. The numbers can skyrocket depending on the rest of the landscaping and other things you’ve built, like playgrounds and garages. Having enough space for a pool is enough to add value without even installing one.
Most important is the ability to expand the home itself. You can buy a starter home with a large backyard for a reasonable price, then over the years expand it to a house for a large family. In some areas, this is impossible due to local regulations, but you can still add gazebos, solariums, and patios. These “unnecessary” and very posh additions translate into higher asking prices when you’re ready to sell your home.
The final thing to consider is the time itself. As the years go by, cities expand and there’s less and less space for everyone. Even in the suburbs! Just by existing, a big backyard will gain value over time. Once it’s time for urbanization to hit your neighborhood, that little piece of land will be worth a lot more than you could ever expect.
2. Improving Quality of Life
You can do some gardening, play sports, organize get-togethers, and even swim if you have enough space for a pool. Even have a wedding!
Big yards are especially important for people who are tied to their homes. This can be anyone from a stay-at-home parent, to remote workers, and even people with mobility issues.
The latter ones will benefit the most and will experience a huge improvement in their recovery and/or lifestyle. Not to mention, a bigger yard offers more space to build with accessibility in mind.
3. More Safe Space
If you have kids, the safest place for them to truly play free is your backyard. You still need to keep them under total supervision in your local park or playground, no matter how safe your neighborhood is.
It’s not a matter of stranger danger alone. Your yard is your responsibility, so you know that the environment is safe from things that can cut or otherwise hurt them. Especially when we are talking about children with allergies or other health issues – you’re keeping them safe and your home and other supplies are right there in case something goes wrong.
We’ll cover later how much backyard space kids need.
4. Let Your Creativity Loose
You can turn a tiny backyard into a paradise with some creativity and elbow grease. However, a big backyard gives you more space for big ideas. And it makes it more convenient to do so.
If you take a trip to any home improvement store with a small backyard in mind, you will struggle to find things that fit. US manufacturers and businesses are used to big American backyards and often don’t think too much about the footprint of their furniture and decorations. This means that you are less likely to have to compromise your vision due to a lack of space.
Also, you don’t have to choose between putting up a play area for your kids or setting up a vegetable garden. Since you have enough real estate, why not do both and maybe more?
5. Create Areas of Privacy
A big yard means there’s a lot of space between you and your next-door neighbors. At the very worst, you are getting a good buffer between your home and the one just behind you.
Even if the size alone is not enough to keep the next-door folk from being too nosey, you have space to put up tall plants, decorations, and fences that will prevent them from snooping, while looking good and adding value to your home.
However, watch out for this one. This benefit is the most difficult to give up when you have to move. Once you get used to it, it’s very difficult and frustrating to go back to a small backyard.
3 Disadvantages of Big Backyards Vs Small Backyards
Here are some of the disadvantages of owning a big backyard vs small backyard:
1. Maintainance
This is pretty straightforward – more yard, more work. More time mowing and weeding, more fertilizer, more fungicides, pesticides, etc. Watering the lawn alone can cost you an arm and the leg, If your big backyard also includes a pool, that’s an additional amount of work.
Either way, it’s either you spend more time or more money on landscapers.
2. HOA and Red Tape
HOAs and red tape are rarely fun, especially when it comes to big backyards. An overbearing and overzealous HOA can make the previous section a lot more expensive and time-consuming. Not to mention their rules and how they can prevent you from enjoying your yard to the fullest and adapting the space to all your wants and needs.
Plus, depending on where you live, you may drown in red tape when you want to add extensions or attempt more adventurous landscaping projects. If this is the main reason you want a big backyard, make sure to get all the info before purchasing. You don’t want to find yourself with great plans but no reasonable way to make them happen.
3. Cost
Big backyards are expensive to landscape initially as well as to maintain. If you want to plant annuals every year then this becomes a yearly expense also. If you want to landscape and maintain your backyard yourself then you are going to need a lot of expensive tools and materials. Hiring help is just as costly with monthly bills running anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands depending on the extravagance of the backyard.
What Is Considered a Large Backyard?
An average US yard size is about 23,000 square feet. The sizes vary by state, with Alaska averaging at over 200,000 square feet and Maryland at 7,599 square feet or 0.17 acres.
It also depends on where you live. An average yard in suburbia is up to five times smaller than one in rural areas, with townhouses often not offering more than a hundred square feet of space.
So, to answer this question, it depends. If you live anywhere close to a big city or in a densely populated state, four digits is large. In the rural area, shoot for five at least.
How Much Backyard Space Do Kids Need?
Teens and older are more likely to participate in outdoor activities outside of the home (sports teams, clubs, parks, etc), so a huge backyard is not as important to them.
Smaller children, however, thrive in big backyards. It doesn’t matter if you want to leave it open for them to run around or build a playground. Since it’s the safest place for them to run loose, the size and shape of the backyard matter more.
Kids who love sports need more space than the ones who just want to hang out outside. But keep in mind that an average UK garden is only about 130 square feet, and they still manage to squeeze in a game of soccer in there.
How Much Backyard Space Do Dogs Need?
Fact, your dog wants as much space as it can get. But how much it needs is a different thing.
The size and the number of dogs don’t matter as much as their routine and their environment. If you walk them twice a day and can play in the local park, they only need enough space to enjoy being outside and bask in the sun.
Dogs that don’t get to play in parks and walk often need more space, Medium-to-large breeds need at least 500 square feet of backyard real estate if that’s their primary source of exercise.
How Much Backyard Space Do You Need to Grow Vegetables?
You can grow a vegetable garden with almost no backyard space at all. The only question is, what do you want to grow? Many summer vegetables, chilies, berries, and herbs do well enough in vertical gardens. However, more space means not only better yield, but a greater variety of options.
If you want to feed your family year-round, you will need about 100 to 200 square feet per person. You need less space for shade-tolerant crops like spinach, lettuce, chard, leeks, and root crops. Melons and onions take up a lot more space and are the most difficult to grow in your backyard.
How Important Is a Big Backyard
A big backyard can both add value to your home and enrich your life. It’s also a perfect resource when your home gets too crowded and you need to add more space. However, don’t think you must have one at any cost. It’s an amazing investment as long as you can afford the upkeep.
SO what do you think? Is a big backyard worth it? Let us know in the comments.
