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Landscape Design Porches & Decks DIY

What can I do to improve this eyesore that is my backyard?

4 years ago

I have been in my home for 10 years. I've tried mulching and flowers, I've tried reconnecting rocks (to form a wall) and I've searched countless pictures (thanks pinterest)... I have no vision that is under $40,000. On my teacher salary, that's not going to happen! Any DIY options - or low-cost landscaping company ideas welcome! Thank you in advance!

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Comments (4)

Stacey Collins
3 years ago
Jen, what a lovely home. I bet a naturalized woodland walk would be fantastic. With the rock and slope, professional advice is really your best bet. A good landscape architect could help you define a plan, break it into affordable phases, and help you decide what you can reasonably do yourself. Perhaps a soft S curve from lower stair to upper with native understory plantings?
violetsnapdragon
3 years ago
Break it down into sections. Where do you spend the most time? Is it on the patio? If so, maybe focus on the view from that area first.
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jmonette1, I see you're in southern Calif, which is in Africanized bee (AHB) territory (as your posting seems to indicate that you're aware). I've got some experience with them (AHB), and as the previous two posters have advised, I would recommend that you not leave them in place either. From your description, the current bees you've got are undoubtedly European honeybees (EHB - the desireable kind). If they haven't attacked a barking dog or someone mowing grass nearby, then they're not likely AHB - even though the nest is in the open (which is unusual but does happen on occasion, as pointed out previously). Here's the real danger: since AHB are dominate in any area they move into, the long term prospect of this colony staying EHB, is very slim. When (not IF) AHB take over this hive, they will pose a deathly danger to your dog and/or cat (at a minimum). And it doesn't take much to "set them off" - certainly, something as simple as a dog barking can do it; not to mention a lawnmower! I, likewise, would recommend you contact a local beekeeping club and see if you can get a 'volunteer' to come out and collect up this colony. Describe to them, what you've said here and let them know they're not inside a structure (wall of a house) but be honest when they ask how far off the ground they're located. The main thing is to not let them stay around very long (the bees...not the beekeepers).
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I have a stand of 'Rose of Sharon' blocking one side of my yard from the side street. It grows fairly quickly to 8' to 12', and can be trimmed to any size. The bed only requires about 1 1/2 - 2' wide to completely block out your neighbor. The only issue is they are prolific re-seeders. whey sprout up in the grass but will die off after being mowed. The seedlings can be pulled easily, but they grow a stout tap root, so if you let them get a year and a half they will be a bugger to pull! My neighbor strips off the seed pods off his in the fall…I'm going to try that this year.
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Because it was once a garage doesn't necessarily mean it will be suitable as a base for a structure that people will live in or occupy. Investigate that first. If it doesn't actually work (too much slope for too thin, for example) with your future plan, and if you can't use it as a patio (no need), then it would be best to work up a demolition plan before putting good money after bad. In other words, do a feasibility study first. If it's a keeper, then I think you need to make it look like a patio that is used with some landscape planting at the fore and aft portions. I don't know what it is that makes it black but you might start thinking of improving its surface appearance.
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I was thinking hostas also. We have one planted by the previous owners in a tiny little patch of dirt that got weedwhacked once by accident and yet the next year came back gangbusters anyway. For safety I’d see about painting a strip along the edge of the concrete, though, to highlight that it is a step. Something simple like a narrow band of white or some other light color will do the trick, plus maybe tuck some lights in with the planting to help make the edge show up when it’s dark. (Like actually pointed at the side of the concrete pad or washing it - you want to create a visual difference between the concrete pad and the planing bed so people don’t think the pad continues and fall off.) You could do that with some small spotlight type lights on the fence, too, pointed at the edge.
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PRO
Yardvaark
3 years ago
I see 2 or 3 burning needs. One is get a bag of mortar and a trowel and start teaching yourself how to construct masonry stonework. Kill two birds with one stone by picking up all the rock laying around the yard, and by building something wonderful out of all that free material.

Another need is a general cleanup of low limbs, scrub brush and weeds. Define beds and mulch them.

And the biggest need of all is find a low groundcover that works in your area and start installing it. Most groundcovers can be easily propagated so once you get going, a huge amount of ground can be covered in a relatively short period of time, for low cost (with DIY labor.)

And, of course, before you build or plant anything, create a plan so you know that you're putting things in the right places.
Jen Teahan
Original Author
3 years ago
I really appreciate the feedback!! I'm so very grateful for your time and energy! I'll take pictures in a couple of weeks to show you the end of my phase 1.

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