This summer I finally decided to stop ignoring the “sad” parts of my rental backyard and actually give them a purpose—so by next spring and summer, I’ll have two new landscaped zones to enjoy. In this video, I focus on what I call level three of my renter-friendly homestead and turn it into a sensory garden oasis: a Mediterranean-ish, zen little corner that’s not for hosting or working, but for disconnecting and recharging. I walk you through my whole process: clearing out an awkward center bed, topping off other beds with the leftover soil, and choosing pebbles instead of wood mulch (because the falling leaves would make mulch a nightmare). I add solar string lights with adjustable poles so I can work when it’s cooler, bring in plants that hit the “five senses” (citronella, lemongrass, soft-touch plants, flowers, and edibles), and layer the space with portable pieces like a collapsible hammock, a chiminea I scored on Facebook Marketplace, and a bird bath I plan to add a solar fountain to for that trickling water sound. The biggest takeaway: you can make a rental outdoor space feel intentional and curated with portable upgrades, smart ground cover, and zones that match how you actually want to live.