Landscape advice needed for a backyard with loads of potential!
Dori Alexandre
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
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Comments (14)
ptreckel
5 years agoapple_pie_order
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Need advice for landscaping backyard
Comments (5)Those mockups look nice, but they are a bit too elaborate for this situation. I am thinking more natural-style would be good. I also have a VERY limited budget. I will be trying to do all the work myself...I'm pretty handy, but not really a gardener per se. Yes, I have been reading Las Pilitas website, it has a great deal of info about native plants, plant communities, and more. Here are some more specific questions I have: 1) There are trees growing up from the creek and thru the soil and some of the trunks pop-up thru the soil look like roots growing and then they pop-up on the right of the picture and grow into trees (if that makes any sense). I was considering adding some clean fill soil to cover up those weird trunk/roots/stumps on the left side. Would this create any problems for those existing trees and other plants/soil/environment? 2) I was also thinking about adding woodchips or mulch to cover some of the ground, hoping the oak trees will like it and also suppress weeds from growing. Is this good/bad? What kind of woodchips are best? Thanks again for all the help. -aaron...See MoreNeed Backyard Landscaping Advice - Newbie - Zone 8B
Comments (34)"I don't know what to mix in this case - any thoughts?" Sorry, but I can't suggest appropriate plants as I've spent little time in your part of the world, and none in northern LA. I've spent several weeks based in NOLA for work, that's it. I just wanted you to be aware that you won't get an even dense hedge of one species with the variability of light levels. I have a more casual style (I live on an old farm) than what appeals to you, so instead of hedges of one species, for the most part I have mixed shrubs, with multiples of each species, mixed along the length of the shrub border. Only in one spot do I have a row of all the same species, and that is in full sun from all sides so that the plants grow at a fairly similar rate. My usual suggestion in this type of situation is that you visit neighborhoods where the gardening appeals to you to get ideas, or if there are garden centers or nurseries with demonstration gardens or if there is an arboretum or public park or botanic garden where you can look at the various types of plantings that they have. To get an ID on a particular plant (if it's not in a situation where it is labeled) take photos of leaves, blooms or fruit, branches and the whole plant, and post on the Name that Plant forum. Or visit the public library and look for books that have landscaping photos for your general area or look at photos here on Houzz that are from your part of the US and see what inspires you. You want to keep in mind that you don't want a huge amount of pruning (so check growth rates once you know names) and that you don't want excessive amounts of shedding of blooms, leaves, seeds, and branches, so something that blooms all summer might be messier than you want to groom. Here's a photo from Derviss Design/Michelle Derviss - she sometimes participates in these forums. Though her area is different (CA coast) it shows a similarly shaped yard with varying light levels around the perimeter and so a mix of plants. She hasn't tried to totally cover up the fence, but there is a mix of different textures and foliage color and varied plant heights. If you look at the closer photos of the pots (go to link below) they also rely largely on foliage rather than flowers. I am not suggesting that you try to emulate this, just that this is one way to approach your problem. http://www.houzz.com/projects/312471/napa-valley-outdoor-living...See MorePotential backyard sanctuary needs some ideas!
Comments (8)If you are in "desperate need of a landscape plan", then you are in desperate need of a landscape designer :-) Many designers will prepare a plan for you to be able to follow on your own as a DIY project, hiring out only those areas that may need a professional hand. You are just not going to get much of a detailed response/plan online that you will be able to follow well......too much infomation is lacking. But you can check wth local nurseries for recommendations, try Angie's List or similar clearinghouse or if in the US, see if there is a local chapter of the Association of Professional Lanscape Designers (APLD). You can prepare a landscape plan on your own but the learning curve is very high. Hiring a designer is really a very modest investment but one that will streamline the process and is most likely to generate a successful result. The primary expense associated with landscaping is in the materials and the labor involved, not with the design....See Moreneed help making this backyard look appealing to potential buyers.
Comments (15)I agree with NHBabs comments. I am a landscape designer who recently sold her house. There isn't enough time to create a new landscape and it may not be what the new owner wants anyway. Yes, the house seems huge for the lot but many people don't care about that. I am envisioning the huge houses on small lots that I have seen in my area. What I see when I look at the photo is a dreary no color patio and landscape and an unkempt lawn. Everything is the same tone. I would spend some money on having new turf laid down in this area so the grass looks really good. Large square pavers would fit the space better, I think. A couple of very large pots with great colorful flowers near the walls, at the beginning of the walk area. Repeat at the end. Color in a new rug and pillows. More very large pots with flowers or large plants around the yard as needed to make it lively and fresh. Also pots with flowers on the patio. If your lawn in not in good shape I would put down new turf (instant gratification), or have a professional grass service green it up with an application of ??? iron ( they should know what might work in your area). If you could hang some gauzy curtains at the corners of the pergola it up it would help to soften all the hard edges and the hard fence. The flower and plant colors should coordinate with the colors of the fabrics. I suggest you have a landscaping firm or interior plant firm do the pots and a designer who stages houses handle the patio area. Good luck....See MoreDori Alexandre
5 years agoDori Alexandre
5 years agohiccup4
5 years agothinkdesignlive
5 years agothinkdesignlive
5 years ago
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