I posted on this problem before we dug the ditch and got some thought provoking advice, including to make it look less contrived. I tried, but had to consider cost, ease of maintenance, particularly for lawn crew, easy exit from firetower door - many move furniture on and out. So the only thing i could figure to do is to plan on making the river rock area of the dry river bed less contrived. I would love for this to look more natural, but don't know how. We cannot afford a landscape architect, i can, and have in the past had, someone from a garden center come and design a plan, but will do little to solve my hardscape problems... Thoughts?

Hi dalton- not sure I can address your drainage issues, as I think this is something you need to have a professional help you with due to the fact that this is a condo area and there maybe potential problems with insurance.

As far as improving the look of the back of the building that faces the street. I would put up a MCM looking paneled screen to cover the meter area. This could be a DYI project. 2 posts with the wood slats ( see pic for example). I also think a door overhang would be nice over the fire doors. (see pics for examples). Also, do the doors have to be brown? I could see them painted a lime green;)

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I will digest your wisdom!

LOL- you may need a Tums;))

I love the screen! I think we can diy it. I love the overhang idea, but does it draw too much attention to the door, The unit doors are on the opposite side of the building? What do you think of the gravel walkway? Any ideas for setting up the garden?

I thought you were ditching the rock. If you don't, you will live to regret it. Rock mulch is *very* difficult to maintain in a climate with rain.

mad_ gallica - I really need a 'pit' for the drainage, the roof is too big, the area in front too small and the berm on the side of us blocks drainage.Cant go to street as will loose grade. The area has to hold water, not direct it... I def considered your advise, but can not see how I can apply it to my situation.

I did reduce the amount of rock, the darker stuff is mulch now.

Found - will take a look.

Hi Dalton, just a couple of comments and I realize i may be way off base - sometimes picture aren't a true indication.

Your front yard seems flat compared to neighbor condo - Does your back yard need to be regraded to slope towards the street. You say you are going to grade it to slope towards pit, but I think it should be graded towards the street. You are going to be adding even more water to the pit. Is the pit deep enough to carry all your run off. Was looking at one site and it was suggested a deeper pit to get the water down to the proper area to get into the ground.

Agree that some sort of screen should be put in front of all the meters, to make it more attractive. As these are back doors, I can see why you do't want to make them too attractive. Kind of unusual situation isn't it. Could you post something on the doors like "do not block doors - emergency exit" just to give the Fedex guy an indication that this is NOT the front door.

Two down spouts at the back and 2 at the front doesn't seem enough. I'm not an expert by any means, but I have more on my little house that your building - perhaps you could get a quote for new eaves and downspouts, just to see what they have to say.

Do you have motion sensor lites at the door areas?

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/low-maintenance-landscaping/

lots of pictures here. Also, you could plan Bamboo, in front of the meters and would soften the appearance and grows quickly. Get the kind that doesn't spread it roots, I believe it's called "clumping bamboo".

Daltonbengal, this is not offering a solution but food for thought ... if your pit had sloped sides instead of vertical sides, it could just be mowed lawn, no rock. The pit would then hold a much greater amount of water since no rock would be occupying the space.

Thanks guys! It seems that the builders plan in 1974 was for the drainspout runoff to go to the street and to the right side of the photo. Then sidewalks were installed down the hill and around a curve, and they are sloped so the side against the curb is lower than the curb. Error? Sunk? idk. Then the 4 ft high berm added by our neighbor trapped the runoff. Our soil is dense clay and there isn't an easy exit for the runoff. During and after several rainstorms since we dug the giant trench I observed the runoff and smushy tested the lawn to be sure that the downspouts are the problem, and yup, seems to be. Following guidelines from Penn State Extension, the trench with rocks on the bottom and a few plants (carex?) should solve the problem for our average rainstorm, but for a large storm i need to protect the bldg foundation and send the runoff forward, I think having the lawn from the trench to the street lower that the garden from the trench to the building will d that. But you are right Angel18432, it would be better to be just lower and not graded to the ditch. Thank you. also love how the bamboo looks, i will look into that. I cant believe I was so dense,of course -"do not block doors - emergency exit", maybe add arrow to correct addresses. ugh. Yes, the lighting needs work.

Yardvaark, I have re-formed and adjusted for changing conditions many of grassy swales and dug what you are describing in another area to control large storm runoff, but the excess has a good way out.

I thought that I couldn't do the same here as this area gets wet every storm and will be too smushy, like the areas I want to fix are now. And i didnt know how to improve curb appeal working around a big area smushy most of the time. Rain garden? mulch? floating around? plain dirt? all ground cover? time to establish in wet clay soil? grass? how to mow it? grass clippings with seeds all over? at least 10 ft from bldg? what to do in between? doors have to be accessible to each walkway, esp to move large items. I know you feel natural is best, and you have opened my eyes to that and gardening vs landscape, but I don't know how to do it here. If I am thinking wrong and missing the obvious, please let me know! I did change most of the area from the bldg to the 10ft area to mulch, cut down the yews, will be diligent about tapering other shrubs.

Should the existing tree at the corner of the building go? or is it cool? Could it be juniper? 30 years old. I like the texture but the placement could be better. The apple tree in the foreground can be moved or removed.

I would leave the everygreen and apple tree for now - evergreen gives some greenery to the building and can always be removed later.

I have been dealing with clay also. Last year i put peat moss down - which I later found out was the wrong thing. Peat moss holds water - I have since read that I should be putting compost on the lawn - a think layer - to help break up the clay. Will be doing that in the spring.