If you have an ugly &/or boring yard, you can change it! Getting started can seem intimidating & it is, but is so satisfying even after the first few little changes. We moved back into a house we own after renting it out, and wow, what a mess the back yard had.
A year ago, after removing some of the piles of trash, and trying to smooth the ground back after some plumbing work:
Current:
Some of the 'stuff' hasn't been purposed yet, but will. That metal pipe - DH said it's just going to have to be part of the landscape. Any imaginative ideas welcome!
A friend didn't want the landscape bricks, that was an unusual stroke of luck, so not a dime has been spent. The ground does slope a bit, but after stacking them, there was a huge gap behind them. We filled it with broken bricks gathered when the dilapidated house next door was torn down, (so that finally makes sense if anyone has been watching,) then added tons of leaves. Also been adding the grass I've been digging up from the front yard & will continue to add whatever organic matter we can gather.
Eventually I'd like to put some kind of patio or pavers down in the area between the house and the little brick walls.
Next year, these "beds" should be ready to be home to some plants. I've begun propagating stuff from my Mom's yard for this purpose. The white thing on the ground is killing more grass, I don't have the energy to dig up all of the grass I want gone but am trying to keep fugly smothers in the back, one old door or baby pool or discarded piece of sheet metal-spot at a time. I think this is the 8th house where I have started new gardens.