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Trees Landscape Design

backyard design ideas

last year

Hi there!
I need help designing my backyard. At the moment it is just soil and weeds. It measures 65 x 38 feet. I’d like a covered area with a bbq and a table for six (already have a rectangular table), a seating area (would be nice to have a fire pit in the middle but I have small children), a Playset (the area for it would be about 19x20, including security perimeter), grass area for the kids to play, and a paved area where an elevated pool (8x6 feet) would go in the summer. Also I’d like to plant a lemon tree and another fruit tree but not sure which one yet. I have no idea of the area size I need for this.
There is a sloped area of about 3 feet wide at the feet of the back fence (see picture). Here I’d like to add a retaining wall with a few spot lights to light the ground. I really want privacy trees in the back so I’m debating having the wall against the fence vs. separated from the fence. The latter would allow me to plant the trees inside the retaining wall adding height to the trees but I worry that the roots would erode and damage the wall. So if I go this route, I’d like advice on what types of trees to plant. I attach pictures of this idea.
I’d love to hear and see some ideas!

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Comments (6)

Sigrid
last year
I wouldn't worry about tree roots. They won't be a problem for decades and your fence will need replacement before then. I'm not a big fan of having all the trees the same.

Rather than having a row of identical (and highly pruned) trees, I'd focus on putting trees in the line of sight you want to block. One big tree in the back corner would block that yellow house. Equally another well-placed tree would block most of the view of the white one.

You don't want to build planters, as in your inspo pic. Planters limit the space for roots and get hot. The combination makes it hard to keep the roots healthy and watered. In the ground, the roots can go deeper in search of water and stay healthy in (moderate) droughts after they are well established. No big tree is ever going to thrive in a planter.

You don't need a retaining wall. Just plant the slope up with pretty shrubs and trees.
littlebug Zone 5 Missouri
last year
No way to help without knowing where in the world you are. Australia? Alabama? Argentina? Alaska? Obviously there are wide variations in weather, growing seasons, etc. that limit your options.
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Sorry about that, I didn't even realize that I forgot dimensions! I've added the cement pad and the extended patio.. The far back wall is 88ft. The left wall all the way to the front fence is 116ft. The right wall to the cement is 67ft. The porch is 36ft wide with the extra space on the right being 14ft wide. The patio goes out 14ft as well. The very front fence on both sides are 20ft each. I live in the central valley, between fresno and bakersfield. As for my level of expertise, I am in no way a pro but neither am I a beginner. I have a green thumb, I can keep all of my plants alive and if someone has one that is starting to look, shall we say, sad, I can bring it back to life. I know proper pruning techniques and have had successful beautiful gardens in the past. It's just that this is my new home so I am starting from scratch again. I understand that to have a bed look good all year round is not an easy task; I also know that in the winter they can sometimes look drastically different than in the spring and summer. As for right now, I don't have a super tight budget. I get discounts at local nurseries so that is a plus. But I do always try and find the best deal around. I don't want to just go throwing money around. If I can only get a few plants here and there, I am okay with that. As long as I already have a design plan set out and I know for the most part what will eventually be going where. As for watering system, I'd love to have some suggestions. I haven't set my foot down on any one system yet.
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Stepping stones and 'pebbles'/gravel is cheaper. I think synthetic and stepping stones is cleaner and lower maintenance. When you put down gravel the weedcloth underneath the gravel decomposes within a few years and you are supposed to remove the gravel and relay weed cloth..otherwise you get weeds in the gravel. (like what's happening to your bocce ball court) Here is one of ours with synthetic. You don't have to cover the whole area with synthetic you can create planting areas with low maintenance plants.
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Maybe this series of pics is more clear
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garzita
Original Author
last year
I’m in California, US, zone 9b. There will be new homes constructed in the land on the back hence the need of privacy trees.
PRO
Dig Doug's Designs
last year
Here are a few ideas:
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last year
Your project is beyond the scope of an online forum populated mainly by homeowners/hobby gardeners. You need a local landscape design professional and CA has bushels of them! Contact the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (https://www.apld.org) or utilize the Houzz Find a Professional feature.
garzita
Original Author
last year
Thank you all for your comments. My husband created a 3D design for planning the backyard that I will share in another post. The distribution of areas doesn’t feel right so I’m looking for opinions.

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