In this vocabulary lesson, I show you some pictures of a typical backyard and tell you some vocabulary to use when talking about your backyard!

A backyard (the area of land behind a house) usually has a lawn and a garden.


A lawn mower is used to mow the lawn / cut the grass (these two collocations mean the same thing).


A lawn is an area of short grass in front of or behind a house.


Flowers and bushes (or other plants) are planted (verb: to plant) in the garden bed.


A sprinkler is used to water the garden and the lawn.


You can also use a hose / a garden hose to water the garden.


You can also water flowers with a watering can.


The backyard is surrounded (verb: to surround) by a fence. You can get in and out of the backyard through a gate.


Some gardening tools a gardener might use: gardening gloves, a shovel, and a spade. Gardening tools and equipment are stored (verb: to store) in the shed.


A patio, a porch, a balcony, a deck – what’s the difference?
– a patio is flat on the ground and usually made of stone, cement or brick.
– a porch (sometimes called a veranda) is covered and enclosed; it’s usually at the front of the house.
– a balcony is a smaller version of a deck.
– a deck is at the back of a house; it is raised off the ground and connected to the house.