gardengal48:

Thank you so much for your reply. This is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for.

The more I think about the big picture, the more inclined I am to agree with you. The deck really sucks. And you're exactly right, when we're in the back yard, that's where we sit.

I'm going to play around with some sketches and I'll report back soon.

Thanks again! Excellent advice.

Your backyard has a ton of potential. I love the idea of increasing the deck size and having it wrap around the trees. That will be lovely. Also your mossy slope would be fantastic planted up with a mix of perennials, shrubs and groundcover and would give you something beautiful to look at from the deck.

But definitely focus on getting some structural elements in place first. The deck and some shrubs maybe to provide some screening between you and your neighbor to the left of the new patio doors. I can see those two trees with some some nice pots below them to highlight the entrance, maybe some vines climbing their trunks. Save the flat area for some lawn relief if there is enough sun/water with the big trees. Otherwise, I can see some nice bark mulch paths weaving through future plantings.

You could also consider moving your shed to a position that will be less noticeable from the new deck or else turn it into more of a focal point with a colorful paint job and some nice blooming shrubs to either side with pots of colorful annuals below to either side of the doors.

I agree with moving the shed when you can, or replacing it, or even getting rid of it, if you've got room in the garage for whatever is in there. I would put it in the back right corner, and maybe turn it so it doesn't open towards the house; you'd then be looking at a side of it from the deck, and it would fade into the background.

For a privacy hedge/border, you decide how much yard you are willing to give up for the plantings, and then look for shrubs that will give you the look you want. If you need a bit more sunlight for that, you can look into getting your oaks limbed up or trimmed back by an arborist. There are shrubs that will do quite well in shade, though, so if your oaks are healthy, you can leave them be.

You are going to have fun getting your yard in shape - good luck!

If you hate the deck, rip it out and make a space that is not cobbled together and dangerous. A quick fix would be to build some LARGE planters along the higher side of the deck, filling in that space and stopping folks from falling off the edge. Not sure what those two trees are, but two large trees together are competing for everything, including nutrients from the ground which is why your grass is so crappy, too much shade and too many trees sucking all the life out of the soil. If one of those trees is a Norway maple (and I suspect it is) then I would bite the bullet and hire a tree service to come in and take it out. They are notorious for impeding the growth of ANYTHING underneath them. That's quite a lot of bucks right there to spend on a yard.

On the flip side, I would plant ground covers and low growing shrubs along that raised area in the very back along the fence, I'm sure it is a pain to mow. And move the shed, because it seems like it would be a pain to get too, so far from everything else.

I hate to be contrary, but I would not advise building a deck around the trees. They will just get bigger and bigger and the deck will eventually be right up against their trunks and then you will have to redo that portion of the deck. Sooner than you think. Expand out from the house if you need more space when redoing the deck. A new deck is pricey though, which is why the previous owners cobbled theirs together. That one you have now is surely a home-made affair and not up to code. If you've got the money, find and hire a good professional to do it for you if you don't have the skill set. You could also tear off the deck, build steps down to the yard, and then put in a patio. A brick or flagsone patio can be configured any number of ways, but then you have to cut the bricks/stones to fit, which again, may or may not be in your skill set. To me, you yard suffers from someone building things on it who wasn't really a landscaper. I would decide if I wanted a new deck or patio and hire it done. But cheapie me would just put in that planter and plant it with herbs I could use while dining on the deck, al fresco. I don't know about where you live in MA, but where I'm from, you can't sit outside in the summer anyway, due to mosquitoes. If I had the money I'd put a screened in porch there instead!

My thoughts on a backyard are "go big or go home" and an investment in decent hardscaping, if you have the money, will provide the bones you can then gradually plant around as time and money allows after that. Peruse some landscape books and neighboring decks to get an idea of what you want. BEFORE you build the deck is the time to cut down one of those trees. Norway maples start to rot out and break apart after 80 years or so, and you are halfway to that point anyway.

I think the trees are too close to the house, blocking the view , light and one day will be problem for the rooftop.

I must say, Vstavay, it is purely impractical to think of creating a retaining wall around those existing trees, or close to them. As well, paving so close to them will not be long without cracks or becoming raised. These are not good ideas.

I agree with you , that is why l gave another options. And l think having big trees in front of the doorway or so close to the house is not a good idea.

It would be better, then, to renounce it somewhere in the text, if it is shown in a way that wouldn't be possible to do. Some people will think just because you've shown it, it's realistic advice.

vstavay,

I really appreciate you taking the time to create those designs. That's a direction I hadn't thought along and, practical or not, it's fun to think about all of the different possibilities.

And thanks for looking out for my best interests, Yardvaark!