I agree, it doesn't look treated. My hubby is a builder by trade, and he knows better.... but I still asked him when I saw the lumber in the back of the truck. But once we got working with it...it's sticky, wet, green gobs in spots...must have been very freshly treated, perhaps the color hasn't sunk in yet? Not sure? A friend of mine just put in stairs too, and I asked her if she used treated wood, as hers looks like mine. Here, she got it from the same place (where we always get our wood). The floor was actually done last year, it's darker in color as it's weathered, too. The skirting was hubby's idea, and I LOVE it! We had woodchucks building dens underneath there....ground squirrels under there....I knew it was going to be a problem. He dug a trench and dug the skirting in well. The steps were also his idea, I'm not sure if I like them or not...we already had the materials for them, so didn't spend anything to put them in (concrete blocks with the pavers inside). Sure, they're solid, and everyone who sees them loves them...maybe they'll grow on me. There are a couple of gaps that need to be filled in, as you can see in the pics. I was gone for the past couple days, just got home, and see he tilled my planting area around the deck now...so the rest is up to me! I think what I may do is go to a few local places, and see what they have left, locally. Perhaps I'll come home with something...perhaps not. I saw a spirea last week at one place I really liked, but they only had one left, and I'd want two. As far as spirea, I kinda like the ones with the darker leaves, not the light green or yellow leaved ones...which they had lots of those. So.....we'll see what I find! Garden centers around here have all their stuff clearance priced now....may be slim pickin's! Angie

I agree completely with Patsyann, but if you really want to remove part of the deck, you're right that landscaping is going to be key to balance out the height of the windows. What zone are you in and what is the exposure on that side of the house? Our new deck will be about 5 feet off the ground and we're doing lattice (square not diagonal, even though for some reason square is much more expensive) skirting. My plan is to fill in with a lot of shrubs (in my case Limelight Hydrangeas) and a few small trees so that most of the skirting is hidden.

Thanks sceadu. I sent you a separate email yesterday and hope that it arrived. I appreciate the contact info.

I was going to suggest that the back bed would look nice in a ground cover like Geranium Rozanne. I am not sure if it could spread if there is fabric. I hear it called low maintenance. I do think the bed should be filled with one type of groundcover so you will have a full sheet of color back there, I also think you should make space for a large specimen shrub. Weigela Sonic Bloom for example. I just heard of it and I am so sad that Weigela really do not like my growing conditions. I can't say put it on the left or right side because I am confused about direction. It will need sun. You still need something tall to block the neighbor's garage. I would suggest a tall shrub that can be shaped like a tree. You still need to find three plants for the back fence, as per Yaardvark's drawing. They must all be the same species. As always, I am no expert and not in your zone, so these were vague suggestions. I am glad you remembered to come back. Btw, how do you access No Mans Land?