Ever look out on your yard around this time of year and think to yourself, “So much to do… so little time (not to mention money)…”?  Like the friendly-looking couple seem to be doing in this TV commercial for Kudzu:

Scratch that.  They actually look very happy throughout the spot and clearly spent a fortune on their outdoor renovation when all was said and done… adding that Japanese garden and bridge and who knows what else.  So what was my point again?

Oh yeah.  When it comes to your home’s outdoor space, a little inspiration really CAN go a long way.  Inspiration can have you outside this weekend, adding an immense vegetable garden to your back yard (with or without its own dining space, as shown here, from House Beautiful):

Of course, sprucing up your outdoors could mean something a lot more elaborate—a project that will probably require a professional landscaping service.

But you can save some money at the onset and start by sketching out a rough plan of what your “dream” landscape would look like.  You can also download a set of free plans from sites like Better Homes and Gardens.

Obviously, your costs will be determined by how much land you have, whether or not you’re doing any hardscaping and what kind of plants and materials you use.

So what follows is a little landscape inspiration.  Start with a BIG idea and then whittle it down from there, depending on your time and budget.

This country house, below, inspires me.   (And I’m always in awe of how a great design can transform a patch of land– a small portion of the entire lot, really– along with some rocks and stones, plants and flowers into this kind of a lush and picture-perfect landscape!)…

Source: houseplansandmore.com

Here’s a city house with fantastic curb appeal…

Source: myohiolandscape.com

Next up: A house in the ‘burbs that uses LOTS of different types of shrubbery (and even some vines) to perfectly accent this Tudor)…

Source: HGTV.com

Of course, this post wouldn’t be complete without a shot of a postcard-ready home with the proverbial white picket fence…

Source: empirelandscaping.com

And I couldn’t resist sharing this absolutely gorgeous, jazzed-up entryway (LOVE the colors, the accent trees… ALL of it!)…

Source: lhdesignbuild.com

Here’s a great before-and-after (see inset for the before) from a landscaping company…   Talk about curb appeal!

And take a look at a few retaining walls and borders– they not only serve a purpose, but also add dimension and depth to a landscape…

Source: klinelandscape.com

Source: louisvillelawncare.co

Source: allanblock.com

Source: davidsonlandscape.com

And the addition of a patio (with or without a built-in fireplace!), deck or outdoor water feature can create a true oasis in (or, rather, outside) of your home…

Source: ourbackyardoasis.com

Source: aboutpatiodesigns.com

Source: continuous-home-improvement-help.com