skip to main content

Landscape Design

Kinda Blank-slate back yard

10 years ago

We moved into this home two years ago and I've been working on the front gardens/trees and not it's time to move to the backyard--and I am out of ideas. We have an above ground pool smack-dab in the middle of it. A long fence down one side. A back border of Leland cypress bushes, and a side border of tall pines.

I came from northern VA with lots of trees and azaleas, I'm just not sure what to do with this canvas. I would like to add trees to the back line as the Lelands die, but I would also like to add a tree to the left of the pool to help shade the house from the all day summer sun it gets. (zone 7, middle Tennessee)

I was thinking of a garden down the long fence, but other than that I'm drawing a blank on how to incorporate some hardscape/tree/garden to that left side of the pool. The right side of the pool, we may do some raised vegetable garden beds.

Any suggestions would be helpful.
thank you

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

smarge117
Original Author
10 years ago
sorry couldn't figure out how to add more than one phoeo
smarge117
Original Author
10 years ago
again with the can't post more than one photo at a time.

sorry about this
Related Discussions
Blank slate back yard needs design assist
Q
Comments (6)
One idea I would consider if you want to do a variety of garden areas is to move the patio somewhat away from the house, or do the patio at the house but also put seating of some kind in a few other locations in the yard, What we've done is make a lower patio that is shady in summer, and an upper patio that gets more sun all year 'round. This is because we tend to be sun-seeking in spring and fall and that's when we use the sunny patio, but sun-avoiding in summer. There is also a spot in which we can specifically enjoy the morning sun for having coffee outdoors. Not all of this was preplanned, but these are the kinds of considerations that can be used to help make decisions. If you begin by assessing your sun directions and planting trees that will eventually shade certain parts of the yard, you can plan accordingly from there - your seating areas, and what you will look at from each of them, what privacy considerations you want for each of them. Start by just placing lawn chairs at these locations and sitting in them, and thinking it through from that position. KarinL
...See More
It's a blank slate... Front Yard Landscaping
Q
Comments (11)
what about a trellis on each side of the windows with some climbing roses. A nice tall bird bath in the middle and maybe a mailbox in the corner next to the door...i have one of these for all my small garden tools. Having something that climbs up the mailbox but not another rose but definately something flowery and showy. Then fill in with a few greeneries (hosta, and things things like that) and annuals and perennials with lots of color. I think color is the big thing. If the shrubs could go you could extend the flower bed on around and just make the color flow nicely, at which point i would move the mailbox from the corner to the other corner where the brick and siding meet. You could also place a nice shepherds hook with a cute birdhouse in the front bed or anywhere for that matter. Very cute house if i may add...and you can grow a ton of houseplants with all those windows there...is that a heated area?
...See More
Front yard not quite blank slate
Q
Comments (16)
Re: the weight of the foundation plantings, I think you're right. I am not a fan of pointy shrubs, the arbs were here when we moved in. They're leaning out from the house in search of light, and tied to the shutter dogs with rope to keep them from falling right over. I had thought of replacing them with narrower upright evergreens that wouldn't get as wide, or removing them altogether. I was going to photoshop them out as an experiment, but my software is acting up. The view from inside is naked. A fence would be lovely, but expensive. I also thought about a hedge, not a tightly sheared one, but maybe Viburnum or something kept tidy but not too much so. Or Boxwood left fluffy. A hedge would also keep the neighborhood dog walkers from using my front yard as a toilet. Small trees would also make the front feel more enclosed, and screen out the houses across the street a bit. They're not unattractive houses, but I don't need to see my neighbor in his skivvies getting the paper, do I? Here's what it looked like before the trees started falling apart. Not long after this was taken, half the large tree with the white writing on it fell into the road.
...See More
Huge blank slate yard for cottage-style garden - need ideas!
Q
Comments (17)
Another factor is your view lines. You contemplate a garden that will be very pretty, and a fair amount of work. Will it be in view of your most-used seating areas? from your shady seating for hot days? Is there potentially a better place to put it so it can be seen from the house? Might you want to instead place cottage-garden-style beds where they wrap around your verandas a bit more? Is the area between house and barn the spot where you will see it the most? (My personal experience is that spouse and I like to take work breaks at a table in the shade of my patio umbrella where I can gaze upon my "big garden" that is so much work, and maybe write some project notes in my gardening notebook while i sit. And the big garden is visible from all the windows along the back of my house. ) (I always start a garden in grass by laying 6 inches or more of shredded leaves on top of the grass in the fall, then plant in spring. We have a shredder. You may be able to simply start with unshredded tree leaves, or chop up with lawn mower. dunno. Kill the grass and enrich the soil.) I envy you, starting out, with lots of space!
...See More
littlebug5
10 years ago
I have read that having a deciduous tree near a pool is a pain in the @ss in the autumn when the leaves fall.
Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
10 years ago
That is a big blank slate!

The deck is really nice! Some of the designers here will come up with some cool plans for you.

A big shade tree to shade the house is important. Whatever shade tree you pick, do your research. Be sure it doesn't drop flowers and pods all year in addition to the autumn leaves.

One of the previous owners of our home, in his wisdom, planted 3 pines and 2 palms near our pool. They are evergreen, but they still have little gifts to drop into our pool constantly! Currently all the pollen from the cones is going in the pool. Needles shed constantly. Then the palms start dropping seeds and pollen and random fronds.

I don't think you can escape a mess in your pool. It's the nature of trees to reproduce, but some are much kinder to you than others.

I think raised beds would be nice and also some walking paths to small areas of interest here and there would break up the expanse. Maybe some curves and circles?

Have fun!

Suzi

Related Stories

DECLUTTERING Decluttering — Don't Let Fear Hold You Back

By Alison Hodgson

Sure, you might make a mistake when tackling a decluttering project, but that's OK. Here's why

URBAN GARDENS Sit Back and Enjoy the View From This Brooklyn Rooftop Garden

By Annie Thornton

A landscaper transforms his apartment building’s rooftop into a lush retreat where he and his friends relax and sometimes take in a movie

PATIO OF THE WEEK 3 Microclimates and Countless Blooms

By Becky Harris

A trio of outdoor rooms plus a porch swing, exuberant plantings and plenty of seating make this Massachusetts yard ready to entertain

CURB APPEAL 7 Ways to Create a Neighborly Front Yard

By June Scott Design

Foster community spirit by setting up your front porch, paths and yard for social interaction

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 15 Great Ideas for a Lawn-Free Yard

By Laura Gaskill

End the turf war for good with hardscaping, native grasses and ground covers that save water and are easier to maintain

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 8 New Uses for Your Side Yard

By Debra Prinzing

Lovely to look at and delightful to use, these side yards meet a home's needs as dining, entertaining and living areas

LIVING ROOMS Room of the Day: Curiosities Bring Quick Intrigue to a Living Room

By Mary Jo Bowling

From blank box to captivating, exotic concoction, this room goes for the wow factor — and the whole house took just 4 days

FRONT YARD IDEAS Before and After: Front Lawn to Prairie Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

How they did it: Homeowners create a plan, stick to it and keep the neighbors (and wildlife) in mind

FARM YOUR YARD Houzz Call: Home Farmers, Show Us Your Edible Gardens

By Stacy Briscoe

We want to see where your tomatoes, summer squashes and beautiful berries are growing this summer

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Create a Cottage-Style Garden

By Claudia De Yong Garden Design

If you like an abundance of plants — and visits from birds, bees and butterflies — this may be the style of yard for you

Sponsored

Landscape Management Group

28 Reviews

High Quality Landscaping Services in Columbus

More Discussions

Planning a rock bed in front of house - please help!

3

Landscaping Possibilities?

22

How can improve this house's curb appeal with plants?

8

House Update Ideas

0

Outdoor Plant Suggestions

0