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Landscape Design

Valley in the backyard

11 years ago

Off to the east side of our backyard is a small valley that becomes a stream in the spring rains. I had thought about a rain garden but unfortunately the summer brings hard droughts and I doubt the plants would survive year round.

We are thinking to bring in soil and attempt to re-grade so that this area will grow grass and but up to our woods edge pathway. Other ideas, advice, tips, etc. would be greatly appreciated!

Note: Photo loaded sideways!

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Comments (5)

catkim
11 years ago
Water is a powerful force. If you re-grade, where will the water go? I would work with nature in your landscaping, not against it.
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Yardvaark
11 years ago
That's kind of what I was thinking. You're only showing a snippet with the photo, but if we saw the whole space would we conclude that the drainage swale was intentionally created in order to handle the water that must go somewhere? You may make changes but you'd better make sure ahead of time that they will work. Also, is grass not already there because of too much shade? The photo tells little of the existing conditions.
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I think the color is wrong for daigremontia...but it's definitely Kalanchoe (or Bryophyllum the other name for the plants w/ these baby leaves on the leaf edges). Pls. know these plants are regarded as HIGHLY invasive & will take root & grow anywhere (from cracks in sidewalks to draperies). Just so you know!
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I'm not one of the most skilled at critiquing people's layouts, but I can offer my few observations, for what they're worth. One thing I notice is that you're going to have your fridge door opening into your entrance into the kitchen. Also, if you're planning on using the island as a baking area, I'd really encourage you to rethink the bi-level thing. I think it's one of those things that seems like a good idea in theory, but in practice, it really limits the function of what could be a fantastic amount of workspace. Imagine your littles standing around the island helping you roll out cookie dough. :o) That would be tough to do with the raised portion in the way. I would also ask yourself if you really need an actual desk in your kitchen - if you can *really* see yourself sitting there and working. A lot of people find they just become clutter magnets, and that laptops are usually on laps. ;o) Are you really tied to the over-the-range microwave? They can be a great option when space is at a premium, but a lot of people here aren't great fans of them because they just don't vent as well as a standard vent. You have plenty of space to work with for an alternate micro location. I also wonder about flipping your island 90 degrees and lining it up with the wall on the right. Maybe your fridge and freezer could move to that wall and give you a nice snack area, and because the island would be shifted down, you wouldn't have the dreaded "barrier island." If you want to leave the fridge and freezer where they are, and the island as is, I'd consider a hutch-like bank of cabinetry on that wall on the right. Since you're going with an all-fridge and all-freezer, you might consider putting the freezer in your pantry as rhome410 did. That would free up additional space in the kitchen, and your pantry appears to be plenty big. :o)
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I feel your pain. I live near the ocean in a tract of smaller single family homes that are all one story. Our neighbor behind us built into their entire backyard and then added a huge second story with a balcony off their upstairs master bedroom that looks right down on our home and yard. Their purpose was to have a (very distant) ocean view, but they completely blocked our very nice mountain view and took away our privacy. The lack of privacy bothered me the most. We planted bamboo at the fence line and have been waiting for it to fill in. It is not perfect (or for everyone) but each year we get a little privacy back. We did our research first and built in a barrier to keep it from going everywhere. We also are proactive and maintain it to make sure it stays in its lane, because the barrier isn't perfect. I think grape vines or bougainvillea would also give you some privacy, be easier to maintain, and grow nicely in your area.
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Here is how you handle steps 1 and 2. The tractor is pulling a box blade with ripper tines. The rippers will pull up tree stumps and roots as well as some rocks. Then the box blade is used to profile the surface for planting. But you need to be able to get a tractor in there. If you move the building at the end of your driveway, a landscaper can get in there with the tractor. Get at least three estimates from landscapers in your area. If any of them propose to use a Bobcat or a Skidsteer type tool, drop them from consideration and find another one to get the three estimates. The picture above illustrates the problem with the Bobcat. The wheel base is too short and the center of gravity is too high. They rock around the yard creating more problems than they solve. For a tractor this is a 2 hour job. For a Bobcat it might take a week. And you pay by the hour for that equipment. These guys are good at estimating whether you need more or less soil in the yard. And they are excellent at getting the drainage right. As long as you are talking to landscapers, ask them for ideas on number 4 on your list. Can't you drain the roof out on the driveway???
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denninmi
11 years ago
Dry stream bed would be awesome. There are plant choices that would do fine with wet conditions alternating with dry conditions. Can't say exactly what those might be since we don't know where you are geographically, what kind of climate. I think I see maples, so I assume you are somewhere in the temperate zones and not the tropics/subtropics.

Just an FYI, if you do think you want to pursue leveling/grading, better check first with your municipality to make sure it's ok. Where I live, a lot of people get in trouble by doing the work before getting a permit to change the drainage patterns or do work on wetlands, then have to pay to undo what they did.
Bioteach44
Original Author
11 years ago
Here is another view of the yard. We get all the neighbors run off. Water moves from the mid left of photo toward back center. It works great with the exception of the water just stands stagnant. I wish that it collected on the opposite side of the path or I could feed toward the back corner (top right in photo). I had thought about a dry stream bed, but my husband really wants a little bit more grass in this area.

Would there be a way for me to build up most of it, but leave one area lower, maybe north near the base of tree and create a dry bed that extends beneath hammock and to back of the property? That is where the actual maintenance ditch lies, and you can see how the land starts to slope downward.
Bioteach44
Original Author
11 years ago
Final look..viewed from west side and looking to east. You can see the dirt boundary in the yard where the grass stops. This is where the water collects. We are in central Indiana, btw.

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