Make your backyard or garden a more relaxing and enjoyable outdoor space with these perfect project ideas.

If you’ve got a backyard or a garden at your home, you don’t have to go far in search of a retreat. You can turn it into your tranquil, happy space, especially during summer when the indoors become unbearable. And to get you started, we put together a list of 11 creative backyard DIY projects to complete this summer.

For every group of friends, or people playing outdoor games, there is always that one sore loser who can never quite accept they’ve lost. You can ensure they never ask for another take again by adding battery-powered Christmas lights to gaming props, so they light up whenever someone scores. For instance, start by adding LEDs to your cornhole or horseshoe board, or basketball hoop, to light up whenever you score. See the detailed guide on Instructables for a list of things you’ll need and all the instructions.

For more light-up fun with LEDs, check out our guide to stunning DIY LED projects to try out this summer.

Can’t seem to keep the neighbors and passersby off your well-manicured backyard? Do deer and other local animals keep defecating on your front lawn? If you answered yes to either question, you need a motion-activated sprinkler in your life. You can always buy one, but building one is more fulfilling, not to mention cost-effective. And building it doesn’t have to be difficult either because this Instructable does quite an excellent job at breaking down how to make one.

Got a windy backyard? Take advantage of it by building a wind turbine. It will offset your power expenses, or you could even harness the electricity it produces and store it in a battery for use when there’s a blackout. Additionally, it’s a unique feature in your backyard and will undoubtedly fuel conversations about sustainability whenever your guests come over. This turbine is powered by an upcycled treadmill motor and features all the parts listed in the Instructables guide.

If you’re looking for some other unusual things to make, check out these tech DIY projects you’ve never thought you should try out in 2022.

If you are a cat person unable to adopt all the strays you come across in your neighborhood, but would love to help them, build and set up this hi-tech stray house in your backyard. It’ll house them during hot summer days and keep them warm during winter because it features a heated pillow and a light. And you don’t even have to interact with the stray cats because you can place food there from the comfort of your couch using an Arduino-powered crane.

Find out how to complete this project in the well-explained Instructable. While you’re at it, check out some more awesome DIY projects that every pet owner should try.

Whether you entertain on your lawn a lot or love spending your alone-time in your garden, a quality outdoor speaker will certainly elevate the experience. You can listen to your favorite playlist from any part of the garden because the sound is well-spread, unlike relying on an indoor speaker, and it makes your meditation sessions even more enjoyable.

Even better, you don’t have to splurge on the high-end models because, as shown in this Instructable, building a garden speaker is pretty straightforward. Check out these other unique DIY speaker projects you can build at home.

Summer isn’t just about the sun and surf; it’s also about the beautiful fireflies that come out at the end of the day, lighting up even the dullest of evenings. And if you can’t remember the last time you spotted one in your backyard, you can always DIY some using LED strands and Arduino to bring back their magical allure to your outdoors. If you can’t solder to save your life, fret not because this Instructable features a no-solder, DIY fireflies guide anyone can try out.

Do your houseplants keep dying because you are overwatering them? Or do you keep forgetting to water them? Whatever your case, you need this Arduino gardening tool as long as you are a plant lover trying to hydrate your green family.

It has a solenoid that detects and opens up whenever the soil moisture drops. It’s also linked to a gravity-reliant irrigation system that automatically waters the plant, saving you the effort while keeping your plants alive. Check out the Instructables guide to see how it’s built.

Are you looking to improve your game of cricket? This Arduino-powered backyard cricket scorer is just the perfect accessory for you. Making use of an infrared remote, it tracks your runs, overs, batting duration, and run rate. With such scores, you can quickly identify what you need to improve on, conversely staying on top of your game. It also comes in handy when playing with your buddies and need to keep up with the scores.

See how to build it in the detailed guide on Instructables. To further improve your electronic skills, check out these Arduino Uno project ideas.

Regular watering is the secret to having a green, healthy garden, but just like mowing the lawn, the task can quickly become monotonous and tiring. That’s why it pays to have an automatic garden waterer, saving you the effort when you need a break or if you’re often away but want to keep your garden or lawn healthy.

While there are plenty of commercial options, this DIY, Arduino-powered garden waterer works better. It features a USB port that allows you to connect to any power source and customize watering intervals. Check out the instructions on how to complete this project easily in the detailed Instructable.

Love spending time in your backyard or garden past sunset during the summer? You’re not alone. Most people find staying out late in the outdoors exciting when the warmer months set in. And you can make your evenings in the garden more relaxing by adding some ambient lighting. Build this DIY solar garden light, as shown on Instructables, to perfectly light up your outdoor spaces at night while keeping utility costs and your carbon footprint down.

Do you want to light up your garden or backyard so that your artificial lighting blends with the natural plants, creating a magical ambiance? Take a look at this Instructables project for a list of supplies and instructions for building a glowing garden.

You don’t need to break the bank to create a magical backyard. As proven by the creative backyard DIY projects above, simple tweaks go a long way in transforming an ordinary-looking lawn into a cozy, intimate one. So have fun creating your magical backyard by trying any of the projects detailed here, or use them as inspiration for your own unique build.

Alan Blake is a passionate and proficient writer who loves exploring, learning, and sharing his findings in an engaging approach. He not only likes to keep up with SEO trends but also technology advancements. He currently works as a writer at MakeUseOf where he covers tech DIY among other niches.

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