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Landscape Design Design Dilemma DIY

Calling all pro and amature landscape designers!! Need advise/tips

5 years ago

I am needing some serious help as i have tried houzz/pinterest for ideas but just not getting the right creative feel!!! Thats when i thought why not post it to the WWW for some design intervention :-)

To give a 7000 ft idea of my byard design, I have split the backyard into two sides. One side will have pergola and the other side toddler playset (Swing, slide, etC). The pergola side has been completed pending design ideas (Which will discuss shortly). The play yard side, in the process of removing grass mud, add edging (some place in center ...maybe 10x10 sq ft) which will hold the play yard set. I need advise on how to fill the area around the pergola and the playyard (once its finished). The pergola side has crushed/decomposed granite. I am thinking of filling it with gravel or maybe a combo of flowerbed (near fence area) and gravel. I guess this is where i am getting confused, but am open to suggestion. If i choose gravel ,what type of gravel? This is where i am having a creative freeze. I have looked at the different type of gravel and each has its pros/cons, but i need something which won't stick to shoes and scratch floor. Anyway enough of talk. here are the pics.

Featured Answer

Sigrid

5 years ago

Is there such a thing as gravel that won't stick to your shoes and scratch floors? If people wear shows with no treads, you'll be okay, but that rules out vast quantities of shoes. It's also worth nothing that kids who use swing sets fall often and a fall on grass or bark mulch is a big nothing, but gravel will scrape your skin, causing blood and, possibly, gravel embedded in a cut. Have fun picking that out of your toddler's knee with tweezers.

If you don't want grass between your pergola and the fence, get a low-growing ground cover.

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Comments (12)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
You sure as heck do not want any kind of gravel under the playset!! You will have some very unhappy kids! Instead, fill that area with playground chips or even rubber mulch. If you don't like the rubber mulch (and I don't), rubber playground mats or tiles are also available.

And I'd likely go with artificial turf or groundcovers in any other open areas.
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tqtqtbw
5 years ago
There is a particular pea gravel for play grounds.
rdhing
Original Author
5 years ago
This forum has taken a different turn all together. My question is regarding design ideas around my pergola and play yard area. Ofcourse i wouldn't be using gravel under the play yard!! Any pictures would be nice to have.
colonel115
5 years ago
I don't know what zone you're in but I would look for some type of shrub to soften the wood fence and grow tall enough to add some privacy from the other yards. If privacy isn't an issue I'd go for vines to soften the fence. An advantage to vines is that they would take up less space. I like the idea of using artificial turf where possible since you have a limited space. It also feels good on bare feet.
tqtqtbw
5 years ago

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Dig Doug's Designs
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago

1/2 inch crushed shale is an easy walking surface
4bubbies
5 years ago
Your post was a great deal about gravel I think that is why you're getting so many answers about it, and why it's not really off topic.

if you are looking for flower bed suggestions, what zone/state are you in?? that helps a lot with suggestions on what you can grow with greater chance or success. Also do you have dogs using the space, that might make a difference also.
4bubbies
5 years ago
also someone like pro dig dougs designs (he is here but also has a website and facebook page) can take a photo and design something for you at very reasonable price. you can then take it from there,.

HTH
groveraxle
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
New backyard · More Info
River rock will not stick to your shoes and scratch up your floors. Mexican beach pebbles are even better if you can get 'em.
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emmarene9
5 years ago
I do understand your question but your yard is not deep and it looks like you do not have room to fill in. On the pergola side the DG goes very close to the fence. Shrubs would not fit there. You could grow a ground cover like Geranium there.

If you want plants on the play side leave more room next to the fence.
PRO
Dig Doug's Designs
5 years ago
some ideas:

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