What happens when people don't have those type of budgets.

The reason the dinning area is under the gazebo is because of mosquito’s. I keep seeing these designs and none are functional. I spray the yard but still from May to end of July there are just too many bugs to eat in an unscreened area.

I love my dining table under my structure. Living in the tropics we get heavy rain as well as extreme heat during the day. The structure allows us to enjoy the outdoors in all weather.

I literally use the Sims 4 for PC. Base game is free, and you can use it to build basics for a 3D walk-through if you're confident to do it on your own. Takes some getting used to, but once you figure out how to build in game, it can boost your confidence in DIY for home and land. You can even add little people to it, or mods for items not usually in game. Good luck all, and thank you for the video. ❤

I was pretty skeptical about this video at first, it’s so easy to Monday morning quarterback on anything. However there are some pretty good tips throughout this video and I found it to be very informative and helpful. I like the idea of moving away from the house and creating destinations as well as not limiting a covered structure to one thing like hot tub or table.

I just started watching! I’m an interior designer but my mom was a master gardener and I have a black thumb! Interiors and 3-D are my strengths, but I’m honestly so intimidated thinking about going outside, especially thinking about plants!!! We bought a mid-century house and the large backyard has so many Different things we’ve inherited. It’s got so much potential, and we want to use it, but it’s pretty overwhelming looking at what’s there and how to make something cohesive that will work for us. I know I can come up with a good plan, but I am doing lots of research. Your videos have helped a lot. I have already measured and drawn out the yard, now we need to discuss as a family what we want, (I have a history of just doing what I want 😂 as a designer- my poor husband is in tech but started in graphic design!) I will focus on creating rooms, and then work up the courage to think about plants (I can hopefully not kill)! I’m in South Seattle, WA, lots of rain.

Hi Micah, I discovered you and your team just about 45 days ago!! I LOVE that you promote outdoor living & want to avoid future mistakes. NEED YOU & YOUR DESIGN Team to create those destinations throughout the backyard in Milwaukee, Wisconsin! Your creativity for that 3D design is requested ! Help us to see the covered structure, kitchen/bar & fire pit!! I'd love to hear from you in Brew city!!

Been watching your videos for years. Finally just signed up for an appointment. Really enjoy the content and hope you guys can help make my yard great.

I just found you! I need to watch your videos over and over and over until it sinks in, ( says the one with the gazebo over the hot tub) I'm so impressed with your knowledge and advice! Finally! someone that goes beyond which fertilizer to use. (At least with that if you get it wrong you can still easily correct it, unlike design). I'm in the Greater Toronto area. I doubt you're coming up this way, but hey keep making those videos.

Hey Micah! I’m in Atlanta Georgia. I have a new house and my backyard is on a slope. Please help.

Great tips and advice - thank you, Micah! I was just a little surprised by your advice to put a dining table outside a backyard structure...We live in a 100F+ California summer zone, and, honestly, there is NO dining without a solid shade. Actually, it is really quite hard to enjoy your backyard in such a heat, anyways. Q: What would be your advice for a backyard enjoyment design for such extreme heat? Thanks!

Hi Micah! I’m from Windsor Ontario Canada. We have recently had to remove an old deck after our house was sprayed by a skunk. We now have a huge unusable area in our backyard. My son used to go through the patio doors to get to our little above ground pool but I’m not even sure we can set that up this year. I love your videos. They are very inspiring and I’m learning a lot. Thanks for reading!

Love love your channel Micah! Considering moving from Beaverton to Tennessee or Texas next year and getting future design ideas for backyard outdoor living! I don’t want the be one who makes mistakes but want to do it right the first time!

Hey M! It’s B! Empty nesters here- just moved into a home we’re remodeling that’s on 5+ acres in Fort Worth, Texas. I’m a city girl, and have no clue where to start. Husband is pure country and is happy on a tractor and a horse. :) (He’s happy with just about anything I do, as long as I don’t tear up his front pasture or mess with his barn lol) SO- I’ve been thinking about tons of ideas on our home remodel, but each night when we sit out on the deck, my hubby and I only talk about the vast space around our home and how much we love being outside. So now I’m rethinking where I want to spend our money, and what is most important with regard to the home vs outdoors… I’m a newby to your channel but I appreciated your genuineness and valued your idea of a 3D living space design vs just a 2D landscaping approach. I’d be very interested in getting your thoughts on a design for our property.

Very much agree. Also for larger interior Reno’s too.

You are doing a wonderful thing, I watch your videos, I can’t afford you but I am inspired by you hopefully my little diy projects will work out!

If you want a west Texas challenge!!! Call me!! My backward is large and nothing but caliche and rocks!! 🙋🏻‍♀️ Odessa, Tx! Oilfield country!

We need help...oh boy. Northeast of Boston Massachusetts. At least with design because we have to go in stages. The project in the next couple of months is the indoor kitchen. So maybe a stage of the backyard the summer. Something we can build upon. We replaced one of the decks a few years ago. It's the space between the house and the barn

Hello, I'm so glad I found your channel. I have a flat backyard and I don't have a clue what to do with it. I have recently had a couple of large pine trees cut to open up the space. Now I have no clue. "I need help." Thanks for sharing!🥰❤

Hey, I’m in North Carolina. I am wanting to turn our small backyard into a beautiful living space that has to have privacy. I watch your videos all the time and get overwhelmed when I have to know where everything should be placed. Oh and I’m working on a budget. I have retired working in the school system and just want a nice functional back yard…Thanks!

Not getting a backyard designer was my biggest mistake, well.. going with the cheapest bid also kick my ass 😅

Hey there Micah… I’ve been watching and getting inspired by your videos for the past 6 months now. Moved from Fresno, California to New Bern, North Carolina 3 months ago. My wife and I Definitely could use your creative mind and expertise to help design our blank canvas backyard out here. It’s a whole new world for us. Hope you find a way to come say hey! Tom

Good evening, Micah. I am from Houston, Texas and my husband and I just bought a home in Orange, Texas, which is 112 miles east of Houston. The home sits on .67 acres and we are in desperate need of a 3-D design to help us move into a phase of OUTDOOR LIVING! This is the primary reason we moved out of the busy city - to have enough yard to live peacefully and elegantly outdoors. Please help us - we close on the home next week, but there are lots of pictures online of this property. Thank you!

I hear you and raise you a series of design mistakes going on behind you on that mantel.....

I had no idea there was a way to lay things out that was better than other ways. Thanks for the info!

I need help. Long Island New York. We had a paver patio installed last year but we missed the mark. Our hot tub is set to be delivered early June. I’d like to add a detachment structure for shade but don’t want to make any more mistakes. I think the 1 on 1 meeting can be helpful.

Oohhh boy do we need help! We're in Murray City (a division of Salt Lake City), Utah. With two mid size dogs and my being disabled, it's a near impossible feat

I made uneven gazebo pavement..Planted Scott’s grass seeds during the summer…big mistake, waste of money. I cleaned up in September and reseed with Pennington Kentucky 31..best decision ever. I’m done spending on my back yard though, it’s gonna run me into bankruptcy.

I’m is Northridge California and I need to a low cost design for my backyard. The kitchen remodel was an expensive nightmare going over two years now. Backyard: Half for pets and children with artificial turf with perimeter smooth gravel so pets and children won’t hurt themselves if they run or all in that area. Other half for table and seating with an umbrella, non-fixed fireplace with movable seating. Two areas? There’s a slight slope since these homes were originally double terraced but have since broken down way before I moved here. Not sure it that’s even an issue other than it needs to be leveled for the hard areas. Maybe a pressure treated wood or interlock pavers with a cap that can double as seating and can help make that area level..? I will be adding raised garden beds probably in the gravel perimeter if that works. I don’t want raised garden beds to be too close to the fences…critters and neighbors are an issue. I’m thinking 5’ wide smooth gravel around the perimeter and maybe a dry riverbed to breakup the gravel look if I can afford it. Also some type of inexpensive paver or thick large outside tile product for the hard areas that will lead from the covered porch to the outside areas. Also a walkway from porch to the left and right of the porch that both lead to gated side yards and water water spickets. The BBQ will likely stay under the covered porch. I would like to make the existing porch concrete blend in with whatever materials are used…stamped concrete or maybe a stain..? One or two outside rugs..? It needs to be very low cost but I want it to function and the seating and fire pit to be movable. There’s already a covered porch with 1951 plain concrete that I want to blend in with whatever I add.Maybe some kind of concrete stamping or staining. My taste is no clutter and kinda modern that leans towards Zen or Asian but inviting. I don’t have a lot of people over at one time so it doesn’t need to be huge. Seating and pillows, the less the better, need to be removed and stored inside because I hate bugs and spiders but they seem to love to bite me all the time. Also, I am disabled and having a bumpy surface or a surface that has gaps is an invitation for me to go to the ER. Having typed all of this out it seems impossible. Since the kitchen nightmare has happened I feel defeated and depressed. I really don’t think I’ll ever have a home that is relaxing to me and inviting, clean and tidy. All I see is STRESS and that’s the one thing the doctors tell me I have to avoid or I will never stop getting worse. I wish all the doctors could live with ME/CFS/FMS and then tell me they wouldn’t keep looking for ANYTHING to make the pain go away or even lessen…or sleep for two nights in a row and for more than two hours when sleep does come. I suppose I’m desperate. Sorry for spilling all of that to you. I don’t have a family and after being sick for over 24 years friends are few and far between. The few good friends I have we’re smart but Southern California and I should’ve followed them when they did.💔

I know I can't afford you Micah! I can't afford hard scape either. But I live in Milwaukee Wisconsin & have a backyard with 3 big dogs. I am going to try to make my concrete patio 2 &1/2 times bigger cause my dogs leave a mud path & divots all over my shadey yard. I can't wait to see what you do for others!!!

What to do with your space under a deck? We’re on a sloped lot. Main floor walks out to the deck area. Walkout basement walks out to empty space under the deck. Thanks in advance.

Hey Micha, love all your videos, been watching for awhile. My wife and I live in Georgetown, TX (right outside of Austin) and are preparing to move to a brand new house (still in Georgetown) within the next couple months. I have been spending a lot of time thinking about how we want to design our backyard and layout it out for optimal hosting/parties but also to give us some privacy from the neighbors. I have a lot of thoughts/ideas but not really sure how to make it a reality, would love to connect and get some insight and potentially a 3D design. Thanks.

Recently had work done in the backyard. We had a 2-tiered deck that needed some love. So we had the upper level re-surfaced in trex, and the lower level demoed/replaced with a cobblestone stamped patio in the same footprint. I can see things I want but can’t seem to put out all together to go from there.

Great & Informative. We just bought a house on .27 acres & are having a hard time figuring out the yard space & privacy, all the while wanting an amazing outdoor space! Yes we need help in our design & live in Bastrop Tx near Austin Tx. Thank you in advance! I will be reviewing your links soon too!

I would love to consult and get 3d design. I know I have a Lot of mistakes, Like a hot tub under a gazebo. at this point I can’t move it but I want to add an outdoor kitchen to my space and I’m debating on if I should add another gazebo to my backyard. so having a one on one would be great.

I'm interested in a complete yard design. Focus on the back yard first. But also front yard challenges with winding driveway and street level circular turn around circulat driveway. Lake Stevens WA (North of Seattle).

Hi Micah, I’ve really enjoyed your videos and hope you can offer some direction. You’re correct in that every Landscape Designer we’ve had out here has only discussed plant design with vague references to patio over here or place a table over there. We live on top of a hill and the backyard is just a deck and is very windy. Umbrellas and chairs blow around plus the gas BBQ doesn’t work in such high winds. So, our plan is to utilize the front yard as our primary outdoor living space. We live on a private single lane road so there’s very little traffic. However, my dilemma is how do we make the front yard look appealing and inviting while not obstructing views from inside our home. We live in Southern California in Temecula CA. Thanks for your help!

That big m in the background is a big mistake! But I hear you. Your wife needs to elevate her decore from Mormonville.

I definitely need help here for my home in the Tampa Bay area.

Greetings from Lima, Ohio! I have been reviewing your videos over the past few months and my wife and I are in need of some design help. We have a lot of potential to do something nice in our backyard. We bought this property nearly a year and a half ago. My goal is to get my wife to enjoy the open space with family and friends. Thanks Kevin in O-H-I-O!!!

Hi Micah been following you since 2019... watching from Florida. My backyard is still in a blank slate . Hoping one day I can get an awesome design from you that is cost effective . Thank you .

We live in Northwest Florida Panhandle. Our outdoor structure has one section for the dining and one foe living. We literally live out there 90% of our spring summer and fall. My brother in law is a landscaper and gifted us a beautiful fire pit area in another section of our yard that we love.

I really need help with my backyard. First time home buyer and have NO IDEA what to do with my plain outdoor space. It’s a nice sized pie shaped lot facing a park (not lots of privacy though). I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and we have around 5-6 months of cold weather but I see lots of potential to enjoy the outdoors even though it’s kind of cold outside. I would LOVE your ideas and inputs on what to do, please!!

His Micah I’m a disabled veteran and I have a big backyard and have no clue how or what to do. I don’t have a lot of money but would definitely love your expertise. I’m located in Savannah Ga. I’ve been watching your videos and I am listening. PLEASE HELP!!!!

Hello, In central Kentucky and 3 yrs. homeowner and bought my home with a blank slate of no landscaping which I was glad so I had no work to remove someone else mistakes. So I love to do landscaping design but I am not an expert as yourself and need help to make my imagination come to life to enjoy.

Here in Colorado. I bought a home with a first generation composite deck (that needs to be upgraded/updated due to waves in the decking from various joist seemingly still settling), that overlooks a small koi pond as the house is situated on hill. I'm considering to take the decking out beside where the outdoor kitchen and fireplace are placed and go with concrete and reinstall the pergola 10x20. Should I stay with decking or concrete?

You peaked my interest. Yes, I need help. I am 30 miles NW of Chicago. What do you charge for a 3D design? Challenges: big deck, most of big back yard is over septic, summer mosquitos, balancing privacy with need to have site lines to property borders for safety from wildlife (coyotes, skunks, racoons, oposdums) who don't cohabitate well with my dogs.

Were in camas Washington, with a small patio and we want to expand our space!

Love this video. Las Vegas. But, I will not be ready for another year. My backyard is dirt. No mistakes have been made.

We are near Duncan Oklahoma We bought a beautiful place and love being outside. The back yard is huge and we are trying to figure out how to make the space(s) flow.

What a great video Micah! You've shifted my perspective on this. Btw, I have no outdoor space, but I'm ever hopeful 😆🥰❤

0:57 is a good example for a semi-green hardscape, to use for party, BBQ, garden office, if lawn is too stressed by such usage. Much better than tiles, needs no cleaning and washing, only occassional mowing/trimming of vegetation. Otherwise, here's way too much stuff that doesn't belong in a garden (TV!). Keep indoors what belongs indoors, keep garden items mobile, so you can place them elsewhere if you find one place inappropriate. A garden isn't designed once and for all, but grows. Plants, obviously, but also usage and garten utitilies. Call it "agile garden development" like with software, where "agile development" replaced failure-prone, entirely pre-engineered projects, which left no space for later changes.

Hi Micah! What an excellent presentation. You have definitely convinced me about the importance of good design. If you are ever in the neighborhood or wish to test your skills on a REAL challenge, please come by our house! We have a small yard complicated by a septic tank and a large storage shed from a previous owner. We would like to enjoy some outdoor space but have no idea where to begin. Move the septic to the front yard? Remove the shed? We have some large lovely oak tree's with nice shade in the front. A porch would be nice if we could find some way to screen the neighbors driveway and vehicles. We are recent transplants to this charming historic town - Tarpon Springs, Florida. It is home to one of the largest Greek communities in the USA, with a working "sponge dock" where fisherman/spongers still go out and harvest sponges. There are many excellent Greek restaurants along the sponge docks, and shops that sell soaps and sponges, clothing, olive oils, Hella's Bakery and many other wonderful things. You will love it!

I am frustrated that I cannot find a competent designer/landscaper in Georgia that actually knows how to design. Who ask for a picture?

Seriously considering your design services.. In San Antonio, TX with 2 acre lot, large pool and multiple structures in country backyard. Looking for more privacy and formality. Luv Your Work !!!!

Thank you for all of the tips! We have a backyard space that’s long and narrow with an L shape. I’m thinking about joining your new course to find out how to DIY our backyard layout. We love taking on projects and seeing the results of our hard work. Does the course offer the 3D design step by step for DIY’rs? Thank you!

I need help , we are in the middle of choosing what we want. We are in Houston TX. This video really spoke to me and I just shared it with my husband. We want it to be attached it I also want a living space outside. Like you said I had the old mind sit to have everything all close together but not sure how to space it out.

Very informative and good suggestions. Thank you 👍

Hi Backyard Design people- We're in the process of backyard renos- at the planning stages now - have 2 D done and now 3D done - so uninspiring results- giving them one more chance and would love a second opinion. I love all your video's but my challenge is we live in Toronto where the temperatures are cold 8 mths of the yr so to have destination areas closer to the house makes sense. Lets pls connect.

I would love to see some solutions relative to tropical climates. I’m in FL and the mosquitoes will eat us alive absent a screen.

We have wasted so much money on bad backyard design. Three different landscapers so far in 14 years and I’m still not happy 😢 We are very limited living in the southwest with the summer heat 🔥We also have a good sized yard but a very small patio space which is unmovable do to a patio cover that is that is part of the house and HOA rules.

Great video....

I'm in Dunedin, FL and I'm struggling with a huge backyard (a lot and a half) and a small 1930's house and over-inflated housing values. How to build the oasis I want on a budget that, of course has all the elements I want, can possibly be built in phases to stay on budget, and then of course where to spend money and where to save -- what items should you invest in and what should you bargain shop or repurpose instead to keep costs low? Do you create the oasis and then the budget or state the budget and then build the oasis? The struggle is real (and yes, I've already wasted money last spring and it was great for a season but it's back to the drawing board. Ugh.

Good one dude!🤜🏻

If you’re in the twin cities , Minnesota reach out please

But even just zoom meeting is so darn expensive. What about us that can’t afford this price?

Help, DE... Please and thank you. 💙 your enthusiasm and designs. Less than an hour from NJ.

Definitely need help. Chelsea Quebec Canada. We are starting to think about how we want to change our outdoor area from what we have now. I love being and cooking outside, but our area is no longer inviting at all. I'm considering a zoom meeting w design

Yes PLEASE come to Florida... Tampa/Lakeland area. I can't find anything or good ideas to design around pool cages. We need some inspiration!!!!!!

I just found your video and sooo glad I did. I NEED HELP from Boston Mass!

We need help - we're located in Lexington, KY. We've got a very piecemeal outdoor layout with an addition and deck that were both poorly planned. The deck had a tree growing up through it that we recently had removed, and the deck itself is not very well laid out, and just keeps collecting clutter. We never actually use it for enjoying the outside. The addition we love on the interior (and are not removing) but then it creates a very odd division of space in the backyard that needs more flow.

I need help. My backyard is long. I want privacy but do not know how to separate yard. I am in Louisiana. I wrote this before you said you could help. I am so excited.

Landscape designers can design effective outdoor living spaces, however, clients usually either don’t listen or they don’t have the budget. But, yes, they can make bad decisions as well… unfortunately, the best way to come up with a design is to live with a space over a year or two and have moveable modular stuff so u can later plan to add more permanent and expensive hardscaping & other components later. But it’s difficult to get clients to do something like this.

I need help. I have a small oddly shaped backyard. Thinking or redoing the deck but I really want a better solution.

Just bought a house in Columbia, SC. Small yard with lots of potential. Existing "patio" slab. Need help. Moved here for the climate and want to be out to enjoy it.

I’m in NC and need A Lot of help! I’ve set up an appointment. Maybe while you’re on the East coast you can swing by?!🤷🏽‍♀️

Hi, my husband and I are planning on hiring a contractor to build us a patio. I didn't know to start with a design. Thank you for making this video!.I will ask for a 3D design.

Im in Hayward, Ca and I am on serious budget *single parent issues haha and have a lot of dirt and a huge shed and not a ton of space, just laid down a slab of concrete to give my kids a place to run around on, but now I am rethinking my design after watching this video. I also wanted a deck outside of my master (but just saw the video, don't do a deck, haha) and a playground for my kiddos and a garden for our family.I am growing trees right now, and don't even know where to place them and i want an gazebo, and i was thinking about putting the dining table, but clearly this mama needs supports.I definitely need to rethink my whole space -_- This was a great video and love your channel!

Thanks for such great info just from this video.

MICAH I NEED YOUR HELP!!!! I tried to do it on my own but I need U! I am in Fort Hood Tx where we house the 2nd Largest military base. The contractors for backyard living are few here but I am 45-50 mins. from Austin and Waco. MICAH please come see me I need this work done ASAP Please!

Middletown NJ. Ready for some ideas

My backyard needs help. We had 9 trees removed to install a fence. Husband thinks wood chips is a great feature. I hate it. We are near Salem, New Hampshire.

All that you do is for a very large place, and very rich people that can afford all the sounds and whistles that you offer. If someone have something very crowded, it is because it is a very small area.

My husband & I live in Sacramento, California. We really enjoy watching your videos. We have 2 border collies. We need help with what to make our backyard landscaping dog friendly.

Definitely need 3D design ! Ranch South Texas with zone 9 and pitch black starry night.

We've watched a lot of your videos. Our outdoor space is in need of some help! It's ugly and uninspiring. We're in Auburn CA!

Hello, Micah! We finally have our home built in Central/South NJ & we have a blank slate of a backyard. I think our problem is that we have TOO MANY ideas! The companies we’ve seen advertising their services in our area seem eager to work with us, but want to rely on us for what we want instead of offering tailored suggestions/ideas, and clearly we’re out of our depth. Your help would be greatly appreciated!

my 1 acre lot is a blank space so far and I don't even know where to begin! Struggling in Northlake Texas!

These are some great tips! My wife and I just bought our first home in Haymarket VA. Would love to see your ideas for our backyard.

Love your videos. We just purchased a home in Queens, NY and would love your help with design :)

Redesign needed. We live in Chula Vista CA. Our home sits on a flat half acre lot. Please help!

I definitely need help bought the house for potential but now just overwhelmed

Please come to Colorado!!!

Thanks for the tips!

Hi Micah! I am in the middle of a backyard renovation and am second guessing the design. I am in Atlanta.

Hi Micah, Great job on videos and guide on Do and Don’ts! Very important. We are in SD. Its not a big yard, but has potential to do a few things. Plus, we have a big hill. What is the best way to connect with you about the design and what would you need from us (pictures, video)? And how much 3D design would cost? Thank you. Max

Hi Micah, I'm from New Zealand, have been watching your videos and idea's, we have moved to the newly built house and are very overwhelmed with the space at hand. Wish you could help give us some ideas. Sandy.

Please I need your help, I truly believe we can make something great. I’m from Utah. We have some great things to see in Utah! I’m sure you’ll have a good time.

Good day. I just came across your channel, and it is awesome and very informative. I just bought a house, and the backyard is a blank canvas. Roughly 20x60ft. I have many ideas but don't know what would be best, practical, and affordable. Your builds look amazing and I would appreciate some assistance/advice. My budget is in flux. Your builds also look super expensive. Is there a ballpark cost for a medium-sized outdoor space? am in Port Orchard, WA, just outside Seattle. Thank you, and have a nice day.

I’m in Austin. I need help when you are here.