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Landscape Design

landscaping ideas

2 years ago

House faces a lake..early morning sun then shade from around 1:00 on..advice on design would be a wonderful help since my husband and I will be doing the work ourselves

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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

2 years ago

"we are doing the beds first with landscaping cloth and mulch then will start figuring out plants that will look good"

This approach is a bit backwards. Decide what plants you want to include then design the planting bed to accommodate them. Better outcome than attempting to stuff plantings into a too small area, which is a very common rookie mistake. NO LANDSCAPE CLOTH!! And wait to mulch until after planting. And if you will divulge your geographic location we could suggest some plants for you. But we need to know where you live to make any appropriate plant suggestions.

"we're also considering the option of doing it ourselves if it's more reasonable (financially speaking)."

It will ALWAYS be 'more reasonable' to DIY!! Labor expense is the largest single line item of a professional landscape installation, typically accounting for a third to a half of the total cost. If you eliminate this portion of the expense by DIY'ing the project, you can save a bundle!

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Comments (9)

Sharon Fullen
2 years ago
What do you want to do (function) in this space besides enjoy the view? Do you entertain? Interested in gardening? Flowers, herbs, vegetables? Do you have kids who need grassy play areas or sports (basketball hoop)? Elderly residents or guests? Create a dream of what this beautiful space should be. DIY skills?
plm1980
Original Author
2 years ago
We are on 4 acres so we have lots of entertaining space. I just would like a nice clean design because living on the lake where snakes are I need up against the house to be mulched. We haven’t lived here long and it needs landscaping. Would like flowers and shrubs. I have long windows so low plants in front of them. So design for close to house is what I’m after.
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The outdoor structure is attached to the house as part of the roof. Removing it will change the roof structure and incur a large expense. U can update the posts but those type are very common here in Southern California. U can paint white and add cone lights to the bottom to give more light. For your yard I believe in using space for whatever u need it. Seating areas are great u can always buy a bar if u don’t want to build one in. Matching your pavement is going to be a challenge because that pavement is from the 60s. I do see play equipment. You could do synthetic if u don’t have a dog and u can always put chairs and a bar on synthetic. Also it is unsafe to put a charcoal grill under a structure. We have to put in vent hoods if we put a grill in and our grills are gas not charcoal.
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I'd pick one really big tree. I love tulip trees. Depending on how much shade you need, either put it in the corner or just off the middle of the fence. Then pick a few smaller trees, and then a handful of shrubs. Aim for a rhythm in placement.
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Comments (6)
The only thing I can think of that would help this area, is to come out about 10 or so feet beyond the down spout, and put in a large bush. With the bush, it would block the view the between the house area. This would not prevent access to the gate as the path would then be around the house, behind the bush and back to the gate. The distance to move the bush out would depend on what you are moving through the gate, but 10' seems like it would accommodate anything that would pass through the gater.
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Comments (8)
I highly recommend joining your local FB garden group. Neighbors are always dividing plants and happy to share. In the meantime, walk around your neighborhood and see what plants are doing well, observe the growing conditions for similar to yours, chat up the neighbors. I’m always sharing my plants and letting my neighbors know what’s doing well in their conditions and locations (plus commiserations on the bunny and squirrel destruction!). And check out the everything is free section for sidewalk materials- I got some bluestone pavers a few years ago for free and over time installed them in my side yard path. Saved me a load of $$$.
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laceyvail 6A, WV
2 years ago
Where are you located? Worrying about snakes, most of which are beneficial, would be so far down on my list of concerns that I couldn't find it.
plm1980
Original Author
2 years ago
laceyvail 6A…. yes some are beneficial but cottonmouth, copperheads and timber rattlers aren’t. I put this post on for constructive ideas not to be picked apart but thank you for responding just the same
plm1980
Original Author
2 years ago
We haven’t set a budget since we were going to add plants a little along ..in my case I’m not wanting a
large amount of plants..or guess I should say I don’t want them crowded against each other..we are doing the beds first with landscaping cloth and mulch then will start figuring out plants that will look good
plm1980
Original Author
2 years ago
We live in Arkansas and the side we are working on gets mornings sun till around 12 ..thank you for the comments and will ditch the landscaping cloth..we have Bermuda grass up to the house..need to get rid of it for a plant bed so ideas are welcomed there..
PRO
Dig Doug's Designs
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Here are some general ideas. The photo is too distant for me to be more specific regarding plantings.
plm1980
Original Author
2 years ago
Overall shows trees

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