News Landscaping Turf Revival
Ways landscapers can cash in on their customers’ backyarding personality types

The outdoors – in particular the green space in our backyards and community parks – is increasingly important as people have integrated their yards into their everyday life. It is a trend-turned-lifestyle the TurfMutt Foundation calls “backyarding,” and it means landscapers have become even more important than ever.

“Landscape contractors bring the outdoors to life for homeowners, their families, and their pets,” says Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation, which in 2024 celebrates 15 years teaching families how to save the planet one yard at a time. “Knowing your customers’ backyarding personality types helps you create a yard that not only brings joy and shows off their sense of style but also builds your business in the process.”

On the cusp of the busy spring landscape season, the TurfMutt Foundation shares these backyarding personality types with landscapers to help them bolster their business by becoming invaluable “yard your way” advocates for their customers.

•    Landscaper: Takes pride in maintaining their own yard but knows when to enlist professional help. 
These DIY landscapers know how to maintain a healthy yard that makes neighbours green with envy. Leave the weekly maintenance to them and focus on securing bigger jobs like seasonal clean-up, resodding an entire yard, planting new flower beds, installing an irrigation system, and adding hardscaping.

•    Entertainer Extraordinaire: Their yard is the neighbourhood hot spot. 
This backyarder wants their outdoor space to merge seamlessly with their indoor living areas. Seating is a must, so identify conversation areas in the yard that can be designated with pavers, plantings, and maybe even a pergola complete with string lights. A backyard fire pit adds a nice touch, and colourful plantings in beds or pots finish the look. Adding landscape lighting is an excellent way to create a real “mood” for the space.  If the homeowner has the budget for it, design an outdoor kitchen and bar.

•    Nature Lover: Prefers “backyard TV” to any other form of entertainment. 
Nature Lovers need a yard that attracts wildlife year-round, so recommend native plants and a diversity of species that bloom throughout the year to feed and shelter backyard wildlife and pollinators. A pond or birdbath gives backyard critters a place to hydrate and bathe, while adding a beautiful feature to the landscape.

•    Work from Home Pro: Makes business deals in the backyard. 
For the budget-conscious work-from-backyarder, help them identify a quiet corner of the yard for their office set-up. Suggest shrubbery to create privacy, shade trees and heaters for comfort, flower beds for ambiance, and lighting to enable them to extend their workdays. If the homeowner has the space and money to do so, you could also install an “office shed” with all of the comforts of an indoor workspace, and landscaping that ties it in with the rest of the yard.

•    Kid Zone Creator: When kids are in the picture, it’s all about creating fun zones outside. 
Families with kids will want to create an engaging, safe space in their backyard. Help them develop “zones” for the various activities they can do as a family – a large patch of turfgrass for sports, a zipline in between two towering trees, a pool for family fun days, and maybe even a bed that can be used for gardening.

•    Pet Pamperer: Needs backyard space for pets and people. 
Pet Pamperers go all out for their furry friends and want to create a backyard that is perfect for pets and their people (in that order!). Brush up on your knowledge of pet-friendly plantings (the SPCA has a list of non-toxic plants that are safe for pets) and recommend landscape plans accordingly. A large area of hardy turfgrass is a great place to start. You can also recommend plantings to separate dog and people areas. A splash pool, digging zone, large shade trees, and of course a fence are also good investments for Pet Pamperers.

•    Outdoor Athlete: Uses their yard as a home gym.  
To help the Outdoor Athlete score a perfect 10 in their backyard workout room, recommend a strip of grass for doing sprints and lunges, as well as laying out a mat for post-workout stretches. For a bigger budget, you could suggest a pergola structure or sun shade over a portion of the patio to offer some protection for outdoor gym equipment. Or partner with a pool installer to add a lap pool to the mix that blends seamlessly into the landscape.

•    Zen Master: Their backyard is a five-star spa. 
Carefully planned plantings that look natural in their setting fits the Zen Master theme. Perhaps they need a covered patio under which to meditate or a water feature to drown out neighbourhood noise. Privacy is integral to relaxation, so use plants to create a natural barrier in the backyard Zen zone.

For more, sign up for Mutt Mail, a monthly e-newsletter with backyarding tips and all the news from the TurfMutt Foundation here. To learn more about creating the yard of your dreams, visit TurfMutt Foundation . Look for Mulligan the TurfMutt on the CBS Lucky Dog television show.