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Landscape Design

Help with front and backyard landscaping

17 years ago

Can anyone help with redesign ideas for this yard? We are taking the olive tree out, wish to put something with not such a huge root system, redo driveway, move walkway, add fountain by that weird area near front door. Backyard has new pool we designed with beige concrete and red coping. Maybe tropical landscaping in backyard? Thank you!!!

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Comments (3)

Saypoint zone 6 CT
17 years ago
What do you have in mind? I don't see enough space for any landscaping in the back yard, unless you're thinking containers.

Best way to get some input is to have some kind of plan in mind, and get feedback on whether it works or not.
catkim
17 years ago
Where in SoCal are you? Inland or coastal? Do you know your Sunset zone? Which direction does the house face? What are you thinking in terms of "redo driveway" and "move walkway"?

Unfortunately, while your photo shows a good general view of the front of the house, I can't see the "weird area" near the front door with any degree of detail. Is it possible to post a photo closeup of the area? Do you have a particular fountain style in mind?

Tropical goes great with a pool, of course. Where are the planting areas? Palms generally have small rootballs, could be a good replacement for the olive, if it has to go.

I might be able to help if I had more information.
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karinl, about your uninteresting stairs and path.... In the city of Chicago, there is a station for a part of the elevated train system which is actually elevated (much of it is underground or ground level). This particular station is in Pilsen, the most Mexican of Chicago's Mexican neighborhoods. To deter vandalism, in the 1990s (?) the station was decorated with traditional Mexican motifs (mostly Aztec or Mayan, some more recent). I'm sure it was a student project, as some of the art is less successful than other parts. Anyway, there is a looooong series of flights of stairs up to the platforms -- more than in this photo -- and the risers are painted with Mexican designs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13546628@N08/1486049742/ So how about decorating your stair risers with paint or tile? If possible (I don't know what the path is made of) add some of the paint or tile on the path leading to the stairs. It doesn't have to be bright Mexican colors: surprise is the key; a variety of monochromatic designs would work as well. People will be too busy looking at the designs to think the path and stairs boring! [If anyone would like to see more, I searched "Pilsen station stairs" in Google Images. But note that some of the photos are from the Pilsen in Bohemia, and others are from other 'L' stations in Chicago. The Pilsen station is actually named "18th St." and is on the Pink Line.]
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My initial thought was to redo the backyard as if I was building the house from scratch and not be limited what already exists. It would be very linear tile pavers without any brick. Now, I am thinking that I could keep the brick around the jacuzzi and elevated walkway as a nod to the front brick exterior and replace all of the concrete and brick on the decking.
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So the basketball court will be at the end of the yard and new planting beds to the left of the pic above next to the house. I envision the tree will be to the right in the pic above. Just can’t visualize how the path will go front yard to gate.
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You want to start with trees, then layer in large shrubs. It's hard to tell what you big bush is, but if it's a rose, more would do If you've planted more roses, maybe you need to wait for them to grow bigger.
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skrip
17 years ago
First off, in my opinion, DO NOT get rid of the olive. That is a nice tree. You could perhaps prune it down a bit (looks a little scruffy) and you can also make it more ornamental (formal). Such as creating circles of leaves at the ends. That and a nice lawn in the dead areas of the front and your house looks great. I see you already have nice plants and the entry looks good too.

Perhaps you have the $$$ to do all that extra stuff you mention (fountains & driveway), but just figured I'd mention that I'd work with the tree. (unless it is damaging your house foundation).

as for the back, yeah we need to see more.

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