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Landscape Design

Help with backyard design

2 months ago

Hello,
I’d love opinions on the 3D design for my future backyard project. At the moment it is only soil and weeds. It is in California, zone 9b, facing west and it measures 65 x 38 feet. As you can see in the design, 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) and a paved area where an elevated pool (8x6 feet) would go in the summer. Also, in front of the play set and against the fence, 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.

My husband created the 3D design but we feel that we probably aren’t utilizing the space very efficiently. For example, the adult area on the left seems a bit crowded, and the entry from the side (marked in red) seems in conflict with the seating area. Also, with two little kids we really want to have a big grassy area for them to run.

There is a sloped area of about 3 feet wide at the feet of the back fence (see pictures). We feel that this is wasted space so we want to put a retaining wall. First option is to build the wall against the fence and plant privacy trees in front of it. Second option is to build the wall separated from the fence and plant the trees inside the retaining wall adding height to the trees. We are thinking about planting cypress trees.

I’d love to hear and see your opinions/ideas!

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Comments (5)

laceyvail 6A, WV
2 months ago
Above all else, I'd start with plans for some well sited and well chosen trees for shade and additional privacy. I know nothing about plants suited for California so I can't suggest anything.
simplynatural
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
Regarding the 3D plan, is there a reason you're placing the seating and dining areas away from the sliding door that I assume is the access from house to yard? You indicated the left/south side of the house as the entry to the yard; will guests enter there rather than through the house?

Here are a couple of options I played with (differing only in pool placement), but they put the dining and seating areas near the slider, which might not appeal to you. They include grass for the kids to run from one side of the yard to the other, the playset and pool as well as a play tent, and a separate-feeling place to explore (the hideaway spot near the north side entrance with a shady bench under a tree). The two trees near the patios (citrus?) and the trees along the back fence could be fruit trees (consult a local supplier for low-chill-requirement varieties for your area), and the ones in the raised bed could be underplanted with strawberries. Grapes and/or kiwi could grow on the overhead structures (and the trellis if built strong enough). I only heard fruit and privacy as wishes regarding plants, but shrubs/flowers could be added too, if you wish. Some thoughts, anyway . . .

Edited photos:

And a plan view of the second option (pool away from patios):

The shady bench (imagine shrubs/flowers around it; didn't add them because the SketchUp model was already too big!):
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Comments (6)
We live in CO and our backyard faces south, so we get tons of very hot sun back here. Also, last year when we had the fake grass installed they did all the leveling for drainage (we live sideways on a hill) - the little river area in the back works great for drainage, water runs right though it - but I'd like it to show up more distinctive and decorative than blending in with everything else. We will also put an evergreen in the back right corner later this year, or next spring if the lilac I have there doesn't grow.
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Comments (8)
It seems like you will need some on-site professional advice. I'm no where near that, so can just add some reactions. Your home appears large and a large financial investment, so you want to keep things appropriate for the setting and not tacked on here and there. The low level by the basement is not very easy to "connect" well with the high deck so as to have the 2 spaces function really well together. The other side yard that is a higher elevation seems the most natural area for spillover from a large gathering and I would be tempted to develop that space preferentially, even if it requires some privacy screening from the front view of the property. However, if the basement room--whatever you will be making that in to--is a key action zone that will be highly related to outdoor activities, then maybe you do want to develop that walkout area more. A hot tub under that deck doesn't seem very appealing. So, to come up with the best design, you may need to flesh out your activities and traffic flow a bit more to see what is most rational from that standpoint and then factor in the $$ cost of various solutions. Also prioritize--you are trying to do this--decide if pleasant seating out of the rain is most impt, or heating in cool but clear weather, or being in hot tub, etc. I'm not sure you can build a fireplace on the deck proper, if that's what you meant.
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Need help with backyard design please
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Comments (10)
The above is excellent advice!! Too often I have clients that focus in on what is rather than what could be. They have the notion that what is currently in place - a garden shed, an aging patio, a big tree, the AC pump - has to remain and must be worked around. It doesn't - anything can be changed/removed and in doing so, it opens up many more opportunities to create something they really want or will find useful and attractive. It's easy to think about making major changes in the flow or floor plan and remodeling of the interior of the house but many have difficulties grasping those same 'remodeling' visions to the exterior of their property. Or that there is value in doing so and worth the investment. Frankly, that's often why they hire a designer...........or post on this forum :-) Often the completely objective views of an outsider, someone with no personal attachment to the situation, can help them see beyond what is to what could be. There may be a cost associated with the removal of these 'vision impediments' and sometimes that cost can be hefty but I encourage them to try to see the value of the cost investment, just as they did when reworking the interior aspects. Often I will ask new clients to describe to me their "lottery landscape" - what they would want if money was no object. And then we get to the nitty-gritty of budgets and practicalities and attempt to come up with a compromise that will incorporate the best/most important features of the lottery landscape with a real landscape plan that will accommodate the budget. And that often involves the removal of fixtures they had assumed had to be permanent. It is also important to remember that outside of HGTV shows, a revised or recreated landscape is an evolving entity. Rather than looking at it as a fait accompli or an all-at-once finished deal, this is something that can be completed over time as energy and budget allows. Just don't allow what's there now overly influence how you move forward. Anything can be changed :-))
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Comments (4)
What benefits are you expecting to get from a re-landscape? To actually accomplish designing the back yard landscape, instead of thinking about it as a mental exercise, you'll need to start drawing it on paper so that you can work out your ideas and commit them to a paper record. This starts with preparing a base plan ... a "map" of only the major land features that will remain permanently: fences/lot lines, tree trunks, building footprints, paved areas, etc. If it's not permanent, don't include it. Don't add any extra elements to the base plan -- no shading, hatching, small plants, temporary features, etc., as they only serve to clutter it. The base plan needs to be drawn measured and as accurately as possible so that when ideas are superimposed on it, one can have confidence that the finished product will work out as shown. Unlike many back yards where the objective is often to visually screen out all of the neighboring properties, it looks like here there are some view that should be preserved. You'll want to assess where views need to be retained.
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PRO
Dig Doug's Designs
2 months ago
Here are a few ideas:
garzita
Original Author
2 months ago
Thanks so much simplynatural! I really appreciate the sketch up designs. The reason for having the patio away from the house is because we don’t want the patio gazebo/pergola to darken the interior of the house. Our previous house had an attached gazebo and my dinning room was always dark.
Regarding the guests entry, per experience we’ve had friends coming in to the backyard directly (instead of going through the house) many many times. I do love other types of plants and love your placement of planters. That’s even the style I prefer, linear and clean.
If you have a pergola, what are your thoughts on adding a liner? My husband is considering this option but I think it will trap debris and dirt and need periodical cleaning
garzita
Original Author
2 months ago
Thanks Dig Doug! The additional vegetation improves the final concept tremendously. The lounge chairs are a great idea to rest while the kids play.

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