Backyard Transformation | New Floating Deck (DIY) | Perennial Garden

In this video, we'll show you how we're turning our concrete jungle of a backyard into a garden that we'll enjoy with friends and family all summer long. We're digging up tiles, cutting away weed carpet, pouring gravel, adding nutrition to our soil, and planting planting planting planting.
And all of those plants and flowers? We're only using perennials and summer flowers that we've grown from seeds or cuttings. We'll fill up 3 new flower beds without spending a penny (or a Danish Kroner) at the planting center.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
0:00 Why we’re transforming our garden (again)
0:54 Our new wooden deck (we built it!)
3:34 Look what we found UNDER the pavers (+ a little Fredericia history)
5:27 How we connected our garden with gravel
7:16 Adding 100% natural, organic horse manure fertilizer
8:26 Our new (tiny) shade garden
10:13 Extending our middle flower bed
11:45 Shopping for plants in our greenhouse
13:36 Planning and planting our new sun-facing flower bed
19:37 THE BIG REVEAL
20:16 The garden at night
Let us know what you think about our latest garden project! We're excited to watch the seedlings grow and start to use the space differently than we have before.
If you're new to our channel, here are previous garden projects that we've completed:
• 4 Garden Projects (we ...
• Building a Fire Pit on...
Don't forget to subscribe and follow to see what's growing in our garden.
Website: www.perennial-garden.com/
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Facebook: bit.ly/FBPerennialGarden
#gardenrenovation #gardentransformation #deck #gardenideas #outdoorspace #terracegarden

[@tionnislane12]

Who cares what that 1 person thinks, it's your house! Everything looks great! The white rocks are marvelous!

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you for saying that! We agree with that philosophy, too. hahaha

[@mauricewright5279]

The deck and extended path are the perfect sun and moon to your wonderful earth. I have been trying to develop my garden along the arts and crafts style within a cottage planting style. I think you have aced that. Whenever we do a formal garden design in America, we lean towards the colonial revival or parterre design. However, you have aced the naturalistic style. There is a nice rhythm. I love that the upper storied plants but your eyes are pulled to the interesting and varied front of border or understory. The scale is impeccable. Well done guys. You continue to be my mentors!

[@perennial-garden]

What a wonderful way you have to look at gardening! Thank you for sharing. You know... we have always planted what we like and not really tried to follow any rules. That means we make a few mistakes and end up moving things quite often (when a plant comes back stronger the next year, etc)... but for the most part, we want a space that makes us happy to be outside. I love the way you look at it! And the word rhythm... is music to my ears. Thank you for your kind words today 🥰

[@caroltrego1379]

It would be interesting to see the interior of your home too. I love old homes and one from Denmark could be different to see. Great job with the transformation in the garden with the floating deck and plants you chose. Good to see you include your son in the videos at times. He looks like a happy young man. Thanks.

[@perennial-garden]

We should show you one day! Maybe when there's nothing else to look at outside -- like winter time ;) And our son is a big helper -- he doesn't always want to be in a video (totally ok with us)...but he's always around helping deadhead and take care of the garden. :)

[@caroltrego1379]

@@perennial-garden I will look forward to maybe seeing the inside of your home during the winter months. Thanks for that consideration.

[@perennial-garden]

@@caroltrego1379 Thanks for the suggestion!

[@gardeningmindfully6531]

I love the floating deck. The stain color makes it warm and inviting. Great job to you both - love it!!

[@perennial-garden]

Thanks for appreciating the color! We wanted something that felt warm and that stain hit the spot.

[@LifeHomeandGardenwithAnaRica]

Love the new garden project! You guys did a good job!

[@perennial-garden]

Thanks so much! It's a big change, but a very much needed one :)

[@kristenaverett7857]

Such a beautiful transformation! I loved hearing about the history of your home too

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you for watching this! We are so pleased with this little project... glad someone else finds it enjoyable, too :)

[@moniquemcneil6737]

I love hosta because you can by one and end up with so many to spread around the shady parts of the garden.

[@perennial-garden]

That's how we got all of ours, too! They're so easy to divide :)

[@juanramos.jr.7948]

It looks like something out of a home and garden magazine! Absolutely gorgeous! I think the white granite looks spot on ! We can't really use white rock for paths here in South Texas? The sun is so intense, the reflection bounces off the rock. But in your garden, it's spot on! I remember when l bought my patio furniture and one person made the comment that he really didn't know how he felt about it. I responded in a most respectful southern way , that l was sorry , but when l selected it l didn't have you in mind. One of you being from Georgia, knows about our southern hospital! ❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊

[@perennial-garden]

HA! That is a great response... we'll have to use that 🤣. And in Georgia, we would respond with a 'well, bless your heart'... which means, of course, that they're an idiot 😂 And thank you for agreeing with the white granite -- we've loved the paths being so bright all winter, so we feel like this extra 'light' will be great come winter. Once everything grows in, it's going to be really pretty... can't wait! 🥰

[@thedivide3688]

So much inspiration in your garden. Thank you for sharing it with us!!!

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you for saying that! You are very very welcome. Big hello from Denmark.

[@GrandmaSandy]

A wonderful job re-creating beautiful spaces and never being afraid to read the backyard. It’s looking gorgeous thank you so much for sharing how to go about about just getting in there and redoing your garden.

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you so much! And that's true... it's just about going in and getting it done. Altho we planned and thought about it for a while now. haha. But the doing it part... that requires just rolling up our sleeves and starting!

[@GrandmaSandy]

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful garden with us. You’ve done a wonderful job redoing it and it looks beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

[@perennial-garden]

Thank YOU for watching! Greetings from Denmark. Hope you're having a great spring so far!

[@cassandrasmith5517]

There is nothing not to love here! I love your garden and your floating deck is spectacular!! The white rock I think compliments and ties all the spaces together! ❤❤❤ And I love the greenhouse!! I am about to add a small one to my backyard as well! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you for all the love 💚! Hope you love your new greenhouse as much we do ours. It was aluminum - and came with our house when we bought it in 2018… we sprayed it black last year and couldn’t be happier with that quick upgrade 😎

[@GrandmaSandy]

You did a beautiful job doing the terrace. I love the finish on the wood.

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you so much! We love the warmer color, too :)

[@jaqmackie]

Love the deck and wisteria.

[@perennial-garden]

That wisteria smells so wonderful this time of year!

[@brocktoon8]

Wow! You guys have been busy! 😂 I am personally a huge fan of white gravel paths! One thing I like about them and something many people don't take into consideration in their landscapes is SOUNDSCAPING too! 😃The gravel underfoot makes a really lovely sound in my opinion and it makes me feel like I'm by the seashore (something I love), I know you guys already live by the seashore, but I think your gravel paths are both visually and audibly beautiful!

[@perennial-garden]

It reminds us of snow crunching under foot! You're exactly right... that sound is something you can't beat ❤️. We totally didn't mention that... but now, we will. AND...when it looks so nice next to the warm wood and green foliage. We're huge fans of our own decisions. hahaha Thank you for watching with us again!

[@brocktoon8]

@@perennial-garden Lol, you guys crack me up 😂

[@perennial-garden]

🤠🤠

[@leighannbrown6450]

Beautiful and inspirational.

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you so much for watching! So glad you like it too :)

[@janettrovato1766]

Looks great! Love the changes….and the white pathways😏

[@perennial-garden]

haha! That's one more vote for 'white gravel'! Thank you. They really do make a difference in the winter when it's so dark.

[@carolyngaumer9093]

WOW sooooooo beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing❤❤❤❤❤

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you for watching with us! Can't wait for the plants to grow in and really give a 'finished' look.

[@yaindyroque12]

OMG what a beautiful space. congratulations, looks amazing !!

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you so much for watching! We'll show more as the seedlings and plants start to grow in :)

[@user-hp8qe8ni5t]

5월, 최고의 계절이군요 정원이 너무 멋집니다 ❤❤❤

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you! And you're right... May is really pretty around here. Altho for our climate, June is our favorite in the garden. Things really come to life then :)

[@sannaericditsler4034]

Your garden looks great. I like the white stone. It stands out and looks clean. Moving everything and making your garden bed larger is good. You need to have your garden close to the house. Also the lights look nice too.

[@perennial-garden]

Thanks so much! And you're right... bringing it all closer to the house is already making a big difference. Now we can see flowers first instead of concrete pavers :)

[@barbaragrogan1112]

It’s beautiful! Your efforts will be enjoyed time and time again as you use your terrace. Great work!

[@perennial-garden]

Thanks so much for watching! We are looking forward to using all summer already.

[@ThePawsomeRescues]

We’ve just found your channel and now we are binge watching your videos (and loving every second)! 🤗 We love your garden, your accents, your personalities, your knowledge… we could go on and on. So glad we found you. 😍 Love… Your new Australian friends 🐶 Ruby-Alice 🐶 Rocky Bradman 🐶 Lady Lily-Grace 🐶 Charlie Frank And Meg (Dog Mum)

[@perennial-garden]

Welcome!! Those little faces in your videos ... sooooo adorable! Thanks to all of you for joining and watching our videos. I can't wait to show some of yours to my son when he comes home from school :)

[@gailmajorpoole6443]

Fantastic job! Thanks for sharing.💚🪴😉

[@perennial-garden]

Thank YOU for watching :)

[@khayescobar1819]

Wow what a beautiful addition I love it fun place to have family gatherings. Thank you for sharing 👍😊🙏❤️ Love from Washington State.

[@perennial-garden]

The big test will be a family gathering for mahlatsi's birthday in june :)

[@lilwilliams7277]

👏👏👏incredible guys, truly beautiful. Love all your garden. Granite stones look great 🥰

[@perennial-garden]

Thanks for appreciating the granite! The white makes it all pop (to us) and in the winter, we'll have that much more 'light' outside... very needed :)

[@anniehoefnagel2745]

Heel mooi gedaan! Altijd bezig om een mooi plaatje te maken, heel herkenbaar! Geeft een goed gevoel jullie tuin.

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you for watching! We've been planning this for a while, so we're very glad it finally happened :)

[@mycarolinagarden]

Looks gorgeous!!!!

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you so much, Nicole! 🥰

[@mapndo2337]

BOYS WOW!!! IT'S LOOKING MIGHTY GOOD OUT THERE!!!! READY FOR R&R, SUMMER FUN, AND IT GIVES YOU SO MUCH MORE TO COVER NOW ON YOUR CHANNEL. LOL I LOVE HOW MUCH SPACE YOU GUYS HAVE PROVIDED....LOL YEAH RIGHT 🙄😜 YOU'LL BE CRAMMING ALL KINDS OF STUFF IN BETWEEN IN NO TIME. I LMAO AT THE LET'S GO SHOPPING..........IN THE GREENHOUSE😅🤣

[@perennial-garden]

HAHA! You know us too well ❤️... Lars has already started filling in gaps just today while this video was uploading 😂 And, you're right... now we have a 'shade garden' to cover on our channel. haha... all 5 plants in that tiny shady corner. And we do love a free shopping trip 😂 We can even return things, no questions asked. Great service here 😂

[@New-Hat-Gardening]

Insanely beautiful! Just wow!

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you so much! We're your new subscribers, too 🥰

[@New-Hat-Gardening]

@@perennial-garden sure apprecite that 🤠

[@lindylou3519]

I love the white gravel & the new deck looks beautiful but I tell ya, after years of having a wooden deck, I would give anything to have a nice stone patio as you have. Anything wood in the garden means something else to maintain. But you guys are young so you probably won’t mind that.😊

[@perennial-garden]

Our paver patio took work too - weeding between the tiles, washing it yearly to get rid of algae, putting new sand down. I guess we’re just exchanging one type of work for more work 😂 Thanks for watching ❤️

[@MariMari-vq8hl]

Love this! 💚 Thank you for the helpful info; knew some of the plants you showed and learned about new ones - of course,‘I want them all

[@perennial-garden]

We know that feeling! We want more, too. A gardener's biggest problem. hahaha

[@jenniferjohnson1543]

Beautiful! I got some hostas for Mother's day.

[@perennial-garden]

Aren't they great? We don't have too many... but we do love the ones we have.

[@karenhart4316]

Oh my looking really nice I love it all 🙌👒🌱 you guys Are amazing gardeners thank you for sharing I’m catching up with all your videos slowly lol 😻 From the Land Down Under 🇦🇺🐨🦘🐝

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you for catching up on our videos! And you'll have to see what this new section looks like now that everything is growing in. We'll be sure to show it soon :)

[@VivSimmons]

So much hard work but it looks really good. What next I wonder. A garden, thankfully, is never finished!

[@perennial-garden]

You're right! A garden is never finished... and with perennials, you can keep moving and reshaping and figuring out what will work best and where!

[@catherinehenderson627]

Looks great

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you so much Catherine! We can't wait for everything to really grow in 🥰

[@theblueberrybarn]

A lot of work but it will bring such joy and peace throughout the years. Good for you guys. Great work.

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you so much for watching ❤️. It was a lot of work… but fun, actually. And now we can say that we’ve built a floating deck 🤠. If you want one, we can get it done at Christmas. Ha ha

[@srivallibalajiprabhu8559]

வீடு அழகாக உள்ளது இடம் சுத்தமாக வைத்து இருக்கிங்க 🎉🎉

[@perennial-garden]

Big hello from Denmark 🇩🇰

[@Lea-zf7lm]

Absolutely lovely and inviting! Plus, more gardening space 😊 Well done 👏 👏👏 I was looking at a heuchera today, thinking it needed dividing and moving. Thanks for the tip, I'll add a bit of it to the potted hostas! 🌸🌿

[@perennial-garden]

There's always more planting space somewhere. haha... even if you have to dig up a million pavers to find it.

[@virginiaramirez4214]

Love what you did to your extended garden. It’s absolutely lovey. Enjoy your summer. 🪴

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you so much! Enjoy yours, too :)

[@Kburzon]

More shade garden potentials where you have a lot of gravel by the door! 😂

[@perennial-garden]

I know, right? 😂 but that’s a high traffic area … it connects our back door to the laundry, work shed, etc. We have talked about pots at least - so we can move them easier than dedicating a whole flower bed.

[@GrandmaSandy]

I need to put Shea garden in. I have one part of my yard. That’s always in shade. Thanks so much for all the tips on how

[@perennial-garden]

I bet it'll turn out great!

[@wendybartlett6717]

That looks really nice what you've done and all your hard work has paid off. You must be so pleased with the way it's turned out. I kept thinking more room for plants every time I saw an extended border! Mahlatsi is so good the way he helps you. You must be so proud of him.

[@perennial-garden]

You know we love more space to plant! hahaha And you're right, Mahlatsi is a big help and we are so proud of him ❤️ Even just having him outside with us is a big help... he'll appreciate all the hard work one day, I'm sure ;)

[@Felicity542]

Wow! You guys have been busy! You will get so much enjoyment from your new deck, all the hard work will be worth it. It’s always fun to expand the garden with new beds, always room for more plants, lol. Beautiful job, as always. Enjoy!

[@perennial-garden]

We have been! haha. It took 3 days... and building the deck wasn't even the hardest part :) Removing the pavers and moving a ton of gravel from the street to here... that was the real work. BUT... all worth it :) And we had great weather ❤️

[@Sweetlady1916]

This was wonderful and delightful to watch changes to the garden. Love the landscape and new deck.❤

[@perennial-garden]

Glad you enjoyed it! We're very pleased with it, too. Makes the whole outside feel so much warmer.

[@andreabriem853]

You did a great job. It's such a good idea to sunk the big pots in the border. It makes it more together. I took a screenshot to remind me of this very kind looking place

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you for watching! We also just didn't want to get rid of the pots... we've used and loved them for so long... so this way we get to keep them and give immediate height to our flower bed 😄

[@garytroman5657]

Looks amazing...

[@perennial-garden]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@garytroman5657]

@perennial-garden one of my favourite channels

[@perennial-garden]

@@garytroman5657 That made our day! THANK you for letting us know 🥰

[@MadAboutGardening]

Love the new decking and all that new planting space! You've done a great job, thanks for showing us the transformation. The history of the house and surrounding area sounds fascinating too 😀

[@perennial-garden]

Thanks for appreciating my little journey down history lane ;) I can get quite nerdy with that stuff, so I try to keep it at a healthy level. 😂 (it IS a gardening channel after all). But honestly... our little village has an incredible history and would have been the capital city back in the day... but copenhagen and politics and blah blah blah. Hope you guys are having weather like we are here... sunshine every day for almost a week already.

[@MadAboutGardening]

@@perennial-garden We find all that history stuff so interesting but I know what you mean about 'muddying the water' on a gardening channel. It's great that you have an house with all that history but it's so modern and suitable for life as it is today. We enjoyed the sun while it lasted but back to a week of showers here🤣

[@perennial-garden]

Oh no! We’ll send any sun we can your way.

[@mercury_rising]

Totally understand the reasoning for the light gravel. In Canada our winters can be bleak and gray, also. Any light helps!

[@perennial-garden]

EXACTLY! Glad you get it :)

[@lisathompson5048]

Such creativity and thoughtfulness. I do enjoy watching videos of your beautiful garden even though I live somewhere with a totally different climate. Being from southern Californian, I'd like a wood path from the house to the new deck allowing me to access it barefoot. (I have no idea how being barefoot outside is viewed in Denmark)

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you, Lisa! A wood path sounds wonderful... especially in the hot weather you guys get, it should stay cooler underfoot and will look great for sure. And being barefoot is totally fine here :) In the summer during the few dry, sunny weeks we get. haha

[@eastcoast4233]

Excellent. It definitely does look warmer. Looks like you sized it well. Hope you all get years of happy use from it 😊

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you! We think we'll enjoy it, too. We've waited for a while before making any big decisions... so we feel confident in it :)

[@ClassicLitLove-kx9tt]

Absolutely wonderful ❤ I am a new sub and have learned great practical tips that I will be using today (LOVE the crisscross staking) and I have a pool float from my grandkids that is also a Pride 🌈 that I will use for my knees. Simple things that make such a difference. Your gardens and deck are beautiful, you both should have your own gardening TV show! Sending ❤️ from Canada. Happy Pride month 🌈 💕!

[@perennial-garden]

We all need something to protect our knees... life is too short to kneel on hard ground 😂 Super glad you can use the staking idea for your garden -- hope it works as well for you! Happy pride to you and your family, too. AND a big big hello from Denmark to you in Canada :)

[@ClassicLitLove-kx9tt]

@@perennial-garden it's working out perfectly! 🏳️‍🌈 ❤️

[@andp.8824]

Hey. I love the new garden area. It looks amazing and inspiring! Please share how you protect your hostas from the slugs. Yours look absolutely amazing.❤ Mine always get eaten by slugs and it's embarassing to see them.😢 I keep the area clean of old leaves, I mulch with bark and I keep on throwing the slugs away when I found any...

[@perennial-garden]

Thank you so much! That's a great question... we have a big slug/snail problem here, too. These that we just planted out had been in pots. We've only ever had hostas in pots because it was easier to keep snails away. Now, they're in the ground for the first time. We're going to do exactly what you're doing... be diligent. We've always kept our pots cleared, etc... so we'll do the same here. And we'll check before bed and on really wet days when they like to come out and eat. If you find any 100% solutions, let us know! We'll do the same ;)

[@karenreynolds7153]

It's brilliant the way that you've created borders that are controlled but look natural. That's really clever. And, of course, I'm going to copy you. Where did you source your big flat stones? Karen x

[@perennial-garden]

We'd be flattered if you copied us! Truly ❤️ The stones are called 'Marksten' (field stones) here and they are EVERYWHERE. Most farmers give them away because they are in every field. Ours were buried all over the garden, so we've been moving and collecting them ever since we moved in. I hope you'll find something similar! And at a good price.

[@kotsifou]

That's a great garden renovation and additions. I would keep your new big flower bed just with plants and place most of the pots at the corners of your new wooden patio. I just feel they would look better there than 'planted' in the middle of a flower boarder. Just a thought...Also the historian/academic in me has to ask you, if the history of your house can go back to as far as the 1700s, is it a good idea or allowed to remove stones that belonged to such an old period?

[@perennial-garden]

Thanks so much for your ideas ❤️ And yes, Fredericia is very old. Our house was built in 1917... but the land, obviously way before that. When we bought the house, the previous owners had already removed the little soldier house and built the shed. According to the paperwork, they had approval to remove it and to continue using the garden space as their own. When we purchased, the inspector continued the approval. Our neighbor moved in to his house in the early 90s and found a few animal skins buried in his garden -- those took a while (back then) to get safely removed, etc. The stones are called 'marksteen' (field stones) and they're everywhere here in Denmark. Farmers even give them away as they make farming quite difficult. Fredericia has a wonderful history... here's a tiny snippet more: www.fredericiahistorie.dk/side/the-garrison-town

[@kotsifou]

@@perennial-garden Thank you very much. I look forward to reading more about Fredericia!!

[@perennial-garden]

@@kotsifou It's a wonderful little village -- so much history :)

[@valdiego-san]

16:10 ~ Wow you were NOT kidding when you said Denmark summer day is LONG 🌞 ... That was 9 PM at night with the sun still shine & bright! 🧡🧡🧡 By way, I noticed you had not a single - or did not show - process of installing draineage pipe for watering all these new perennial beds. How you guys water them, by hand? 🤔

[@valdiego-san]

15:30 ~ Your climbing-crawling Wisteria looks MAGICAL feeling like in the edge of hidden mythical "Narnia" garden 💚

[@perennial-garden]

And that was in May... now in July, the sun sets at around 11:00 pm 🤩and comes up around 4 am. LONG days :) As for watering, we are blessed (and cursed 🤣) by a lot of rain here in Denmark. That does mean that we don't have to spend time watering our beds tho. We do collect rain water and use that to water when necessary. For the most part, these are perennials that do very well in our climate, so they can handle the days when we don't get rain.

[@mercury_rising]

Looks so great! I’m sure you will have tons of lovely summer evenings on that deck 😊

[@perennial-garden]

We think so, too. It's been part of the plan for a while... glad it finally happened!