Half sloped backyard with fence - design ideas.
goldi40
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hi,
Help me get rid of the eyesore in my backyard. I have a small slope in my backyard at the back end of it only. The drop is about 2 feet so a half fence is needed. We have a few drainage pipes from our eaves letting out in the fenced area. I would like to replace the fence with something more visually appealing and address this eyesore. Any design ideas?
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goldi40
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Any Design Ideas for My Sloping Backyard ? (Pictures)
Comments (30)Planning the flower bed plantings etc. is definitely the fun part. Most people skip to that step because it is the part of the landscape you see- and the most enjoyable part to think about. It's a classic mistake to do so because you will pay a long term price for all the seemingly little details you skip in the beginning. I take it that the advice of a good engineer feels out of the budget for you? Drainage issues are the boring stuff but it's already obvious you're going to have a significant drainage concern. Trenching and piping are okay but eventually trenches can fill with sediment and no longer work. You really, really need to have an engineering consult to determine if what the builder proposes will be adequate. It shouldn't cost more than a couple hundred bucks at most. Perhaps some other neighbors will pitch in since you'll all need the same thing? I used to be a City Planner. I've seen developers pull a lot of crap. Sometimes, they are well-intended but the data they based their information on was faulty. Other times- they're just out to make a buck as quickly and cheaply as possible. At an absolute minimum, call your City offices and see if someone from the City engineering Dept. can advise you on appropriate methods to handle the drainage. In theory, they've already required the developer to deal with this but sometimes really different to say it will work on paper and to see it once everything is going in. Building codes are the 'minium acceptable standard', they are intended to set the bottom threshold. Something can be up to 'code' but not necessarily be a great solution. Also, ask them what level of storm they design for. Sometimes they require them to design the drainage to handle the runoff from a 10, 50, or 100 year storm. You'll want to know which they planned for in your case as it will give you a better idea of what it will handle. As for your other issues- a patio will be much lower maintenance over time than a deck and will certainly last longer. I would also make sure to have a 2' high by at least 3' deep berm for flowers and shrubs against the house as sort of a 'back up' in case your drainage system clogs or is overwhelmed....See MoreLandscaping ideas for a small sloping back yard
Comments (12)If that photo is representative of the area in question, then I'd reconsider using this extremely tight space for "outdoor living". And unless I am missing something, that slope is not very severe. Even if leveled, I doubt this area would be congenial to lounging outdoors or utilizing as a patio, etc. Too exposed and too restrictive and without sufficient space to develop any kind of green privacy screening. I'd consider just a mixed shrub buffer between you and the neighboring property, perhaps with a meandering pathway connecting it to more usable areas of your property. Unless that photo doesn't reveal the true slope of the area, I'd say no terracing or retaining walls are necessary or even practical. Can you post photos of other areas of your garden that may be more conducive to outdoor living/entertaining? I still think this is a situation where engaging a professional for an hour or two can be helpful - it is difficult even from the photo to get a good visual and a true sense of exactly what you are dealing with....See MoreIdeas for backyard slope?
Comments (4)From your description, it sounds like an absolutely ideal location for succulent landscaping. The hot dry climate will really help things grow, and the slope is great for helping our winter rains drain off without causing any trouble. The real question is a how much work you want to do and how much you want to spend. Doing some hardscaping, like placing some large rock outcrops, will make it look really nice (as Caudex's photo's attest too), but that will obviously be hard and expensive. However, the rock will provide some structure so that you can plant smaller things without them looking orphaned or getting washed out. It will also reduce the number of plants you need for it to look finished. If you don't want to do go through all that, you could go for more of a desert scrub kind of look. A couple large Agaves will give the garden some structure and interest, and you could fill in the emptier areas with some small cacti and xerix shrubs (go native, they'll do better). Just so you know, mature, landscape sized succulents are pretty darn expensive. You might go visit some local gardens, or just drive around some neighborhoods looking various styles that appeal to you....See MoreBackyard slope design that includes built in slide
Comments (8)Other than installing the play equipment, it's a bit hard to see where you're trying to take the project, or why. You speak of "leveling out the hill" ... what do you mean by that? A slope is the connecting transition between two, more or less level, areas. If it's not going to be the same slope, a retaining wall may be involved. Since trees are already planted, their level cannot be changed. (Though they will tolerate a percentage of root disturbance.) Will the plants that you've mentioned tolerate the light conditions that will be present when the trees leaf out? Groundcover, once established, can be effective at preventing soil erosion. But no plants are going to do the job of a retaining wall. As I look at the photos, I wonder why you just don't plant a single, nice, shade tolerant groundcover over the whole slope and make your life easier. It would look good, prevent erosion and be the lowest maintenance option. Planting a multitude of different plants is not going to have the visual strength, clarity and ease of maintenance as will a single groundcover planting....See More
stolenidentity
8 years agoI see the fence(s) as canvas. I would put some garden theme tin signs on the smaller fence, and plant some climbing roses on the back one.
goldi40 thanked stolenidentitygoldi40
8 years ago
Thanks for all of the great ideas. Keep them coming!! Here is another picture to demonstrate where our home figures to this area. As you can see we have a walk out basement and a Deck area with interlock just before the area in question. My initial thoughts were to extend the interlock to the fence and then add a fireplace to hide the fence. Doing this would leave us with very little grass for the kids to play on so I am not convinced this is the best solution. We are also thinking of adding some privacy trees around the perimeter of our fence. Someone suggested swamp cedars perhaps?
goldi40
8 years ago
maidinmontana
8 years ago
PROYardvaark
8 years agoEmbellishing it a little further, could see a small flowering tree for adding some atmosphere, shade and privacy ... and some groundcover and perennials in addition to vine on fence
goldi40
8 years ago- PRO
Yardvaark
8 years ago goldi40
8 years agoHi Yardvaark here is a picture that shows the area behind the fence. Any ideas on what to do with this area?
Lalala (zone 6b)
8 years ago- PRO
Yardvaark
8 years ago goldi40
8 years ago- PRO
Yardvaark
8 years ago goldi40
8 years ago
emmarene9
8 years agogoldi40
8 years ago
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