Hardscape for small backyard (8b)
Hutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
5 years ago
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Hutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
5 years agoYardvaark
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Xeriscaping/hardscaping ideas for backyard
Comments (5)There is sometimes a general idea that granular stone is applied like mulch. One should think of its application being more like concrete installation. It needs edging (like form work) to keep it in place and one must consider grading and drainage. It's heavy and it's difficult to rearrange if the need should occur later. Only certain materials work well for walking on. (It is not necessarily difficult to blow dry leaves off of DG or other finely packed gravel. But neither is it especially conducive to being used below trees with heavy leaf drop.) And there's a greater cost to it than a wood based mulch, which might be a friendlier material to use over the long haul. Indoor/outdoor carpet pinned down over a smooth, firm surface works well for walking on at an outdoor party. It takes time to prepare a yard so start as early as possible....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 MoreFeedback on backyard hardscape design
Comments (4)Years ago my parents installed a redbrick patio. They did a careful job preparing a hard packed gravel and sand base, installing appropriate edging, etc. It lasted well, probably is still there. The only 'issue' they had was with a chipmunk's tunnel. I don't remember how it happened, but they had to make a hole in one brick to let the chipmunk access its tunnel. (Maybe the tunnel was there first? that's the only thing that makes sense.) It was cute, watching Chippy and her babies dive in and out of the tunnel. It never damaged any of the rest of the patio. So yes, red bricks can be low maintenance if correctly installed....See MoreLanscape/hardscape ideas for back yard
Comments (2)https://youtu.be/lOAwXzKfTxY You don’t provide any measurements, however the slab appears too small for use as a patio. The linked video of our patio may probide some ideas for inclusions and landscaping. Good luck....See MoreNHBabs z4b-5a NH
5 years agoHutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
5 years agoHutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
5 years agoYardvaark
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoHutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
5 years agoYardvaark
5 years agoHutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
5 years agoYardvaark
5 years agoHutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
5 years agoHutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
5 years agoYardvaark
5 years agoHutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
5 years agoHutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
5 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years agoHutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
5 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years agoHutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
5 years agoYardvaark
5 years agoHutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
5 years agoYardvaark
5 years agoHutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
4 years agoYardvaark
4 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
4 years agoHutchae84 Zone 8b/PNW
4 years agoYardvaark
4 years ago
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Hutchae84 Zone 8b/PNWOriginal Author