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Landscape Design Design Dilemma garden

Blank slate wood chip rectangle - looking for design ideas!

5 years ago

We moved into a new house this fall, and went from a very green back yard full of plants and garden beds, to an odd-shaped backyard that is about half deck, half wood chip. The wood chip section sticks out to the left of the rest of our property, and isn't very visible from the windows inside, but I'd like to beautify it a bit, and add some shade-creating elements. It is 15' x 25', and these are the aspects I want to include: a trampoline for the kids, a small tree for shade (needs to not grown too high because of power lines), a compost bin, and leave some bark area for our dog's "bathroom." The front yard and beds around the deck are plumbed for automatic sprinklers, but I'd like to avoid having to extend that system, so drought-tolerant plantings are a must. There is fence around the North, West, and South sides of the rectangle, and the East side is the part that connects to the edge of the deck (15' long). We are in Eugene, Oregon, with wet, generally mild winters, and dry summers that seem to be hotter every year. Please suggest any specific trees or plants that would do well, layout ideas, or sources for design help. Thanks!

Featured Answer

Rose Peck
Original Author

4 years ago

Update! I planted a tree, husband built a set of stairs to the trampoline, we have a small pool for the summer, and just completed the path to the trampoline - combo pea gravel and circular stepping stones.

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Comments (6)

Sally VanV
5 years ago
Photos??
Rose Peck
Original Author
5 years ago
Late afternoon sun coming in from the west. Right now the space just has a trampoline and weeds...
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Rose Peck
Original Author
5 years ago
And after I made my post and thought for a bit, I drew an idea of a plan.... Suggestions appreciated!
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Yardvaark
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
If the trampoline consumes almost half the yard, you're not going to have room to grow arborvitaes or grass with it positioned that close to the fence. The magnolia won't work well that close to the trampoline either. (What kind M. are you thinking of?) I doubt you have room for a swing set, too, unless it is very small or can go farther away from the fence. I don't think stepping stones will make a practical path. It might work better to have a wide mulch path. I'm thinking that you don't envision having grass to maintain in this small space...?? Will there be any groundcover outside of the path?
Rose Peck
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks for the feedback. The magnolia I was thinking of is the Galaxy Magnolia. It doesn't grow very large. Regarding the swing, I was thinking bench swing, not a swing set. That is a big question mark brainstorm. Could be just a bench, or plantings, or anything! Currently, the entire area is covered in bark mulch, and I was planning to leave it that way, but add in a few plants that I wouldn't need to water, but that would look prettier than just bark and a fence :) . We do not want grass to mow back here - don't even have a mower anymore since we moved! The reason I was thinking about stepping stones for the path is because I'd love for the kids to be able to get to and from the trampoline barefoot without getting slivers from the bark. Pavers or pea gravel might be OK, too. Right now, the trampoline is all the way next to the deck so they step from there on. Beyond the trampoline is just plain bark with random weeds and a pile of yard debris. It is just wasted space besides the fact that the dog goes back there. We've lived here for 6 months. Other layout ideas welcome! Reminder, the key items are: trampoline for the kids, a small tree for shade (needs to not grown too high because of power lines), a compost bin, and leave some bark area for our dog's "bathroom." Thanks!!

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