Backyard Landscape design in Progress (pic)
19kev77
8 years ago
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JSL Landscape Design Build
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago19kev77
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Planning a backyard patio / landscaping - pics!
Comments (5)I am a confirmed, dyed in the wool DIY'er and with budget limitations that further require this approach. I feel as if I am smart, I know how to research, and so I should be able to learn how to do almost anything well enough to suit me needs. My previous homes landscaping was my first foray into the field and I attacked it- I read, I went on garden tours, I went to plant shows, seminars, and everything else under the sun to learn the basics. As a result I had a yard full of plants that had each been moved ten times in order to try and obtain the look I wanted. It was exhausting and this method continued for nearly six years. We joked about my plants having frequent flyer miles- my husband is a saint because he dug, moved things, and did everything I asked over and over and over in my attempts to capture a look. The money we spent on plants! Only to remove them and give them away when they did not work- it is sickening how much time and money we wasted. When we decided to redo all of our fencing I took the plunge and hired a landscape designer to make me a plan that we could implement as funds allowed. I was on a totally tight budget and did everything I could to make it easy for her to do my job- I had a survey ready for her, I had measurements, I had a list of every plant I owned that I wanted to incorporate and a list of those species I did not want, and I had clear ideas of the function of each space within my yard. She came up with a plan that totally did it for me. This was in 1996 and I think it cost me something like $350. The only items I had her company install were three larger shade trees. Everything else we did on our own over the next few years and it turned out beautifully. I know for a fact that is what sold the house in a very poor real estate market in '07- the house itself had problems but the curb and garden appeal were off the charts and the rear garden was a wonderland. Which is my long winded way of telling you that IMO spending money on a solid design up front is far cheaper in the long run that trying to do it yourself, especially if you don't have a demonstrated knack for it. You can spend that much money on plants at Home Depot in one weekend only to have half of them fail from being repeatedly moved or be inappropriate to your needs once you get them home. It would be FAR cheaper and more efficient, IMO, to work off of a sound design from the beginning. If you like you can substitute various plants within the design but the solid bones of the plan- the balance, the scale, working with textures- some things just go more smoothly and successfully when you bring an expert into the process. Of course you can do what you like- but IMO planting a plant one time and having it be the right plant for the specific spot that serves the intended purpose and renders you a gorgeous, easily maintained, well functioning yard- well that's worth the price of a professional design. I don't have any idea what they are charging nowadays but I do know that this yard will be with you for decades, or at least as long as you remain in the home. It is your daily environment, it influences your life constantly, it is the space our kids grow up in and remember all their lives. Even if I had to skip this years vacation or put off that bigger TV I would try and find a way to insure that my design was sound and the best way to accomplish that, IMO, is to have a pro do it....See Morebackyard landscape design?
Comments (21)I really like that suggestion Bboy, and that book sounds like it would be a lot of help in many ways. :) I've been playing with window's paint this morning, we really have a lot to do. This yard was completely leveled last year (all of the dirt pushed to the back of the yard as you see, and all previous landscaping removed. But I do love this stuff, and I wouldn't be happy at all if I had a yard that didn't need work! I already have some clear ideas on the front and sides (the side porch area is my husbands plan, I have no say there) but if anyone see's any glaring mistakes or can offer ideas better than my drawings, I would appreciate the input! I guess I'm putting these up to show the full scope of the yard and how each section relates to another, and specifically, to the back. There are several levels to work with. Lots of concrete, sidewalks, steps, retaining walls in the front (made of stone) many sharp angles. Don't ask me why there is a sidewalk leading from our side porch to the neighbors driveway, but it can't be removed. Not only do we share property with them, but we maintain their yard and it helps to get the mowers across. The yard as it is now: As I would like it to be eventually: The second drawing... The brown areas are intended to be planting areas. Still not sure precisely which plants or where, other than I want cascading things in the front of the front beds, to come down and break up the facade of the wall which is six feet high. I'm thinking of rambling or ground cover roses, but not sure my neighbors would appreciate the thorns (or keep would their hands off the blooms). I do intend on climbing roses on the side bed though, to climb the porch railings. The side yard (where the kiddie pool is) is utilitarian - where we put our brush for composting, the hose spigot, veggetable garden, etc. No grass will grow in the middle of this area because there are pipes from the sump pumps in the basement running just under the surface. I intend to mulch it as it's suited for nothing but growing dirt. Thank you very much for looking, and for all of the advice so far! It is a great help and I think things are coming together very nicely in my mind and on paper....See MoreBackyard overhaul & working with a blank slate...Pics!!
Comments (10)Next on the To-Do List in relative order of priority: Garden Arch: Full Sun. Would like suggestions on what to grow on this. I don't think I want a climbing rose, since it's already surrounded by roses, but I'm not completely against any good suggestion :). What i DON'T want is something that will take over the structure. I was thinking maybe some kind of Clematis? I'd love to hear your opinions on the idea and suggestions for a variety that would work in this spot! Also happy to hear any other suggestions! Raised Planter: Need some ideas for permanent plantings to go around this tree. The area gets FULL SUN and is too far from those tall trees in back to get much relief until very late in the day. As far as style, I prefer something more informal and don't want to plant symmetrically around the tree (Does that make sense?). I know the roses are planted in a somewhat structured and formal way, and I don't mind them since they sort of separate the patio area from the garden. But I'd like to be a bit more varied with the rest of the garden. Back to the planter...I'd like something to spill over the edge in a few areas, and other plants to be more contained. Am I correct in assuming that I should wait to plant until after the summer heat dies down, especially in this area of the yard which gets a LOT of sun? Is there anything I CAN plant now that will do well temporarily so that there is some interest in this planter until I have a more definite plan? Planting beds surrounding lawn: I laid down newspaper/cardboard and covered everything with a thick layer of compost and was planning to just let the worms have their way with this soil until sometime in the fall or early spring. I've had luck improving soil this way, although not such a large area, but I'm hoping it will work fine. Should I cover the compost with landscape paper to block weeds until I'm ready to plant? Under mature trees in back: Sine this area is basically all shade all the time, albeit bright shade, the plantings will be much different than everywhere else. I'm just not sure how closely to plant near these mature trees. I'm thinking hydrangeas will do well in this spot, and I'd love to have at least a few in the garden....See Morebackyard landscape design?
Comments (2)It seems to me a couple or three well-placed shade sails would give you the shade and privacy you need....See More19kev77
8 years ago19kev77
8 years ago19kev77
8 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years agoMike McGarvey
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago19kev77
8 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago19kev77
8 years agoYardvaark
8 years agoMike McGarvey
8 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago19kev77
8 years ago19kev77
8 years ago19kev77
8 years agoYardvaark
8 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago19kev77
8 years ago19kev77
8 years agoMike McGarvey
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago19kev77
8 years agoatmoscat
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8 years agoMarie Tulin
8 years ago19kev77
8 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago19kev77
8 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago19kev77
8 years agoatmoscat
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago19kev77
8 years agoatmoscat
8 years ago19kev77
8 years agoMike McGarvey
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago19kev77
8 years agoMike McGarvey
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoMarie Tulin
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago19kev77
8 years agoMarie Tulin
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoatmoscat
8 years ago19kev77
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3 years agoSamuel Go lightly
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11 months ago
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