Playset integrated into backyard landscape
likewhatyoudo
11 years ago
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Comments (11)
aloha2009
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Backyard Outdoor Playset
Comments (2)A typical lawn surface does not provide shock absorption safety provisions. Yes, grass is definitely better than concrete but still falls short in the safety division when compared to playground fiber ( play grnd fiber is usually cedar chips that have been put through a tumbler to eliminate splinters ) It is also recommended that the fiber be laid down at an appropriate depth of no less than 9 inches. ( There are government guidelines for both residential and commercial playgrounds to help both parents and designers _ http://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/122149/325.pdf ) As far as the cushioned space around the play structure I believe a mimimum of 8 feet in all directions is commonly recommended. We design a lot of playground structures both on the commercial and residential levels and I have to say that an organic shaped surface area that is totally integrated into a dynamic and creative space is much more visually and functually stimulating than just a square plop of playground fiber surrounding a play structure. If you have a local library or bookstore nearby I highly recommend Taunton Press's books, " Kidspace Idea Book" and " Outdoor Living Idea Book". There are lots of creative outdoor playground spaced in the books that will inspire you to think beyond the square within the box....See MoreLandscaping a small backyard in Houston
Comments (10)Explore the drainage problem by looking OUTSIDE of your own lot lines and get an understanding for how water is supposed to move through the surrounding neighborhood. It travels from one person's yard into and adjacent yard on it's ways downhill. Where does your yard fit in the downhill path relative to your neighbors' yards? When water doesn't drain out of a yard, it's sometimes because its path is blocked by something a neighbor has created. Look outside of your fence and see if that is the case. Where is the drainage problem showing up? Is there a desire for privacy? It looks like one neighbor's house has a looming view of your deck. If I lived there, I would want screening from their back deck and upstairs window. Also in the view are some less than pleasant features ... I would want screening from seeing roofs and bits of neighboring houses that show up in the background. Being as you are in Houston, you could incorporate some tropical flavor into the scene. Hate to say it, but one of the most disconcerting aspects of your back yard is the fence itself. Cheapest way to spruce it up would be paint. Or it could be screened with any length of suspended trellis, but this means working vines into the scheme. I wouldn't bother with lawn grass. By the time you allocate space to some of the nicer things you could grow, there'd be so little room left over for grass, it wouldn't be worth the bother of maintaining it. Check out perennial peanut 'Ecoturf. It blooms for 10 months out of the year where the weather is warm. I have it as a lawn and mow once a year in early spring with a motorless reel mower to tidy up in the Spring. It's low growing and can be walked on so would be perfect for your small space. I'm not intending that you take the picture literally. What It's showing are suggestions for: 1. How to extend the screening height of fencing without smothering the ground floor space with bushiness. 2. Placing the herb garden at the right end, adjoining it to the garden at the side of house. 3. An approximate limit on the number/size of plants that will fit comfortably in the space. 4. A foreground of low growing groundcover ... a lawn substitute. 5. A way to link all the disparate objects with a second, slightly taller groundcover. 6. Instead of hiding the electrical utility box, paint it to your liking and use Plumbago at each side, adjacent to fence. 7. Plant larger sections along the fence with a group of shrubs/perennials or a single specimen of grass, shrub or perennial ... whatever fits without crowding something adjacent. I didn't show it, but single tree location could be a group of Pindo Palms for some tropical flavor. It's one of the shorter feather palms. Pretty cold hardy. Also did not show, but if you want shade for patio consider a small tree placed at the open (right) end. Does Golden trumpet (Tabebuia chrysotricha) grow there? Or for really fast shade, a tight cluster of Papaya (grow from seed.)...See MoreHelp planning backyard landscape
Comments (14)As Yardvaark said, stand in one spot and post a series of photos. Having photos really helps us visualize what the space looks like, including borrowed view from surrounding properties. For instance, I don't know what your fence looks like or whether your retaining wall is visible or not and what material it is made of. Same with the deck. Think about how you want to use the yard - do you like to sit in sun or shade? Do you want a spot for the kids to play soccer or kickball as they get older? Is the deck the only place you want to sit in the yard? Are there other wishes not addressed in the plan such as a pool or veggie garden? Do you want privacy from overlooking homes or want to block out certain sights from where you most frequently view the yard (deck or certain windows)? Do you want the deck to be private or overlook the yard? Does the posted plan answer your needs other than the particular plant selections? "It was more than I didn't like the laurels." It seems like you are hinting that there may be more problem than just the specific plants. Is this the case? Do you like the overall arrangement of beds? Do you like puttering in the garden or want low maintenance? Kousa dogwoods, white-flowering redbuds and any of the Hydrangea paniculata cultivars like Limelight would suit your color scheme well, but so also would many other plants and if just the plant selection is an issue, ask for suggestions on the shrub forum, tree forum, and perennial forum. Consider what evergreens would be appealing instead of the ones you dislike: white-flowered rhododendrons, conifers of some type, one of the evergreen Viburnums? What ground covers appeal to you or do you want suggestions for smaller plants such as perennials and groundcovers?...See MoreLandscape designer right pro to hire for whole backyard reno design?
Comments (14)I agree with GardenGal48 Good, experienced designers and landscape architects, can address the entire property. There are fees for renderings and usually additional fees for changes. Understand it takes time and money, to put project designs together. These designers are professionals. I personally do our design work in both plan view and 3D. I have to consider all the grade changes on challenging properties to drive the design. Because I'm the contractor and I work in the field, I know what to expect. I'm not a landscape architect or a true designer, but I've been around the block a few times. Landscapers I work with, will tweek a plan a bit and decide the best plants on the property. Sometimes hardscaping is changed a bit. Renderings are conceptual. I've done a few where my clients approve the design, and leave as is. Certain aspects of a project must be done in a particular order so you don't paint yourself into a corner, so to speak, or make it difficult for one of the contractors doing their portion of the work. This really comes from experience. Once you have a design decided upon, you can put it out to bid, as GardenGal said. Sometimes the designers work for a landscape firm, and can perform everything in house. Or, they can recommend a good contractor to execute the project....See Moredeviant-deziner
11 years agolikewhatyoudo
11 years agolikewhatyoudo
9 years agoUpdate: This is what we did for the playset and landscaping for the back yard
likewhatyoudo
9 years ago
Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
9 years ago
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
9 years agolikewhatyoudo
9 years agoSuzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
9 years ago
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