Large yard landscaping ideas and solution.
hartcm08
4 years ago
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Comments (22)
calidesign
4 years agohartcm08
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Need Landscaping Ideas for no much, rock or grass, pet safe yard
Comments (24)Thank you for all the great ideas and info on how to landscape the way you have it! The retaining wall we just added last fall as the side of the hill was starting to cover a window over there and my dad (a civil engineer) said we needed a retaining wall to keep the side of the hill from becoming structurally unsound. The fence is there because that side of the yard is not dog proof yet and probably won't be until we rent a big dumpster for the yard renovation as the previous owners left a bunch of dangerous (to dogs) junk under those stairs. Because at the time we didn't have the time to clean up the yard, we just put up a fence and have just left it there as we have discovered the rocks and yard in general isn't working out well for the dogs anyways so we would have to redo everything. I don't know what kind of soil we have. I've been planning to stop by the local Extension office to get a soil test kit to find out what the soil is like. There is a bare patch of grass near the deck stairs that has been bare since we purchased the house so I'm wondering if that part of the yard has something wrong with the soil. We have tried seeding that area multiple times with different type seeds and nothing ever worked. You have me very excited about doing the yard now. I can't wait to remove all that rock....See MoreLandscaping front yard with large maple
Comments (4)Don't fill around the tree. Do see what can be done about elevating and replacing part of the walk - you will have to talk to your local community authority about this - in order to deal with the tree having been lifting it in one spot to produce a hump. Otherwise the main visible issue is the death and rotting out of the one large root that runs along the edge of the walk. A qualified arborist might have some ideas about dealing with that....See MoreSad little pond, fantastic yard-- need ideas for hardscape/landscape
Comments (22)What a beautiful property and so much potential! I'm the last person to give landscaping advice (you'd agree if you saw my yard lol, but it's mostly for lack of funds, not necessarily lack of ideas). That being said, as far as the pond, I personally could take it or leave it. However, if I were to keep it, I would like to put a gorgeous stone patio (rounded, curves, not a square or rectangle) in that area from the house to the pond, encompassing the pond to make it part of the patio. Possibly a low wall around the patio, with pots of annuals trailing down, or gardens around the wall or patio. I envision a seating area next to the pond enjoying the water (maybe putting a little water fall or water feature in it) and a water garden. I'd also put a small tree somewhere near the patio to shade it, but then I love the shade and think a sunny patio is nothing but a seat in hell, lol. I know you have that patio on the other side, but to me that looks more like a place to have morning coffee, not entertain or sit in the evening. Not everyone can have two patios, lol, but if you have the space and the funds, it might be nice. And this is where you could put your pergola (instead of or in addition to a small tree) and lights, and sit in the evening next to the pond. As far as the rest, you have so many choices and I think you need to think about what you want out of the yard. A vegetable garden can be created to be visually lovely but honestly it often ends up looking more utilitarian, so perhaps put that farther from the house and focus on perennial beds closer. On the other hand, having your vegetable garden close to the house is very convenient (says the person who has to walk across half an acre to snip some beans for dinner lol) Do you like formal plantings or more cottagey gardens? Do you want to have some kind of historically accurate garden to go with the house? I would incorporate shrubs and evergreens and berried plants for year-round interest (although of course check for toxicity for your dog - sorry, I don't have a dog so I don't know what is dangerous to them). Natives are, IMO, a bit less work. I would prefer some privacy so I might put some shrubs on the fence line, at least near the house, but be careful about light - you don't want to plant anything that will be too tall and might end up blocking the sun unless you are planning a shade garden. Think about watering too. Again, if you have the funds, now is the time to run piping for extra spigots around the yard, or an irrigation system, etc. I also love the idea of a secret little grotto in that back area with the old dairy walls. Something shady and restful and cool, with a place to sit and relax... nice! One thing of course to keep in mind is your view from the bedroom, if that is important to you. You may want to orient that entire side of the yard to look good from there as well as from the ground. If you put a pergola or small tree in the back there it might block some of the view, or it may add to it. Good luck, and please keep us posted as you go along! It's always so much fun to live vicariously through other people's gardens! I can't wait to see what you do with the property! :) Dee P.S. All that being said, I agree with Theresa24 - wait until next year and watch, watch, watch, and think, think, think. Hard to do but it will likely save you either regret or more work down the road!...See Morelandscaping a large side yard facing cul-de-sac
Comments (36)"You could use very large frost-proof pots for some plantings - but the plantings would have to be 1 to 2 zones hardier than your Zone 5." ^^^ A helpful guideline but no guarantee. Plants grown in containers left outside over winter are far more vulnerable to cold damage than the same plant grown in the ground. Roots are the most sensitive and even a zone 3 plant could experience severe damage in a zone 5 winter. What you could find that might work would be very limited in choice. btw, LOTS of plant can grow under the canopy of big trees, even big evergreens. It's an issue I deal with constantly as a designer as I live in the giant tree universe of the Pacific Northwest :-)) Enormous native trees are everywhere and most with very happily growing underplantings. You just have to make some good choices on drought and shade tolerant plants suited to your area....See Morehartcm08
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