Aeems to me both the deck and the patio could have been 2 x the size they are .I see very little space for seating, dining, cooking outside IMO outdoor living space needs to be the size you can use for all those things. On 2 acres you could have another space for a fire pit with more seating . Why the solid wall behind the built in bench? You have no issue I can see with privacy on that side. Do you love grass I see a lot of it and not very healthy looking? The hill under the trees will need some kind of ground cover and I like vinca under trees it does well with little upkeep . Why are the homes so close together if you have 2 acres? I don’t see fences to separate the lots is that a rule with the HOA? IMO fences make the best neighbors and also have a way of helping layout spaces and privacy if needed can be accomplished .I do not see where the driveway is so can’t comment on that.

You're probably going to get more big picture answers here. My suggestion is to go to a big reputable nursery and take your photos and get a staff person to help you.

If you want more privacy by planting vegetation under those pines, that's a tough one. Could try some rhododendrons, depending on your zone. Shrubs that grow in the dense shade under pines are few and far between. The edges it might be possible, depends on the direction the bed is facing and when it gets sun and where. You need to tell your zone and a rough idea of what part of the country you are in to get good plant selection advice . . .

Where does it say the OP has 2 acres? It says we need help with two areas. lol!

I would use grass all the way up to the patio area instead of plants so the patio doesn't feel closed in. You can use climbing roses, jasmine, or clematis on the lattice pergola. I would plant some sort of evergreen shrub between you and your neighbors on the side yard, or a combo of evergreens and lilac.

I have A postage size lot- Not two acres. The grass looks like crap obviously at the moment from doing the work ourselves. Reseeding is happening actually today. I live in Pennsylvania. I’m very sorry for not pointing out that important piece of information. Third, yes we are doing mostly grass up to the pavers except on the one section because we had to keep patio level and therefore the one end had to be raised and if we put grass there it would look odd.

thanks for the input on dense shade plants under evergreens. I didn’t think I had many options but thought I wound ask.

I’m trying to hire a landscape architect type person to help- they are hard to fine near me or they are too busy to get to me until late

Also Patrica, that is not a built in bench that is a fire pit and I didn’t want to ha e such a big paver patio around the deck part and eat up the grass. There is plenty of room for seating, You obviously having problems with depth perception in my pictures. We like to play games on the grass area like volley ball and bocce. So some grass was needed for our liking.

FWIW, I agree with the idea that most or much of the hardscape should be or could be contiguous with grass so that you/people can walk right off the hardscape onto the grass. Your landscaped beds for visual interest and/or privacy could float in the grass just a couple/few feet away. In my backyard, I have a very large cement patio flanked by house on 2 sides and grass on 2 sides. A landscaped bed (of roses and spring bulbs) is approximately 6 feet away with grass in-between. The advantage is that the functional space of the patio is enlarged by the contiguous grass. I would like to say that what you have done is really ATTRACTIVE!

You could see if a low growing cotoneaster would work in your area. It would look good near/under the trees in the back of your yard.

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