End-unit townhouse backyard landscape design help

last month

Hello everyone,

I am looking for some ideas on redesigning the entire backyard of my end-unit townhouse backyard. Here are some details of the yard:

34’-8” x 28’-8” front to back.

The home used to have a very large old concrete patio that was attached directly to the home. I removed the entire patio and installed grass to make a yard for my kids to play in. We also hated the patio close to the house because of the A/C unit which makes conversation very difficult when it was running. One of my big issues is storage space as townhouses do not have garages. I currently have a 7’-6” x 7’-6” suncast shed that is packed full even with custom shelving with a 2ft min setback from the fence line as required by the township.

We also put up an intex pool that currently covers 16ft x 10’-6”. I may want to go bigger as it was a huge hit for my kids, age 5 & 10, this past summer.

Is there someway I can incorporate a bigger shed, possibly 2 sheds (under 100sf each, no permits required) and some kind of patio area towards the back fence line while maintaining some sort of place space for the kids. It was so aggravating last year having to constantly move the toys and such around all year so the grass wouldn’t die and or to cut the grass. I think I’m asking for too much and won’t be able to have both a play space and patio.

Any ideas? Btw, I do all the work myself. TIA

See attached photos of the yard as it is now.

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Comments (9)

bmfjimbo
Original Author
last month
Oops forgot to mention, the current slider is going to be replaced and slid all the way to the right side of the house, to the right of the existing slider.
bmfjimbo
Original Author
last month
The first photo is of the old patio and the second is with the pool up.
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You say that you. need steps ASAP. Steps need a good footing. How can you get steps now and repour patio in the future? A lovely wood deck that wrapped around the corner would be so nice. I see two pipes on the left side that give me unease. If you could retain access to those pipes and also move the hose bib then it would be doable. The deck would need to cover the current patio completely so as not to look thrown together. I am a simple person so if that was my house I would have identical wooden stairs for both doorways. They would still need a footing so you would have to decide on the patio first. I think I do not understand how a soil shift has caused the patio to be a hazard. Is water actually getting into the basement? I ask because I have a similar sunken path. Water is not puddling up to the foundation, so I really don't care. I do mean to fill the crack, of course. As far as landscaping goes you can always have lawn. The view of the woods behind you is very nice. If you care about privacy you could plant screening plants around the perimeter of your lot. The pool equipment is an easy solve also. Hide it with a fence and plant something tall next to the fence. Be sure there is still access to the equipment. When I say tall I mean in proportion to the fence. I don't know the reason but it is always suggested that no plants should dangle over the equipment. You could also post this question in the Home Repair forum or the Old House forum or the Build forum.
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One thing to consider that I haven’t seen mentioned is that there are trees just on the other side of the fence. You will have tree roots in the soil back there, and you may find tilling difficult. If you cut tree roots, they often grow back aggressively from the cut ends, but if you do too much damage, you may cause issues for the trees that will reduce the screen you currently have, either of which may be a problem. Before making further plans or going to town with a tiller, I would do some investigation with a shovel. You may need to end up with moving the bed out from the fence somewhat or adding a shallow layer of new soil and organic matter to help new plants establish.
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claire larece
last month
is the pool going back there or that’s where it now? Does the entrance gate of the backyard swings into the yard or out?
bmfjimbo
Original Author
last month
That is where it is now but I can move it if I have to but I’m not sure if I really can. The gate swings into the backyard.
bmfjimbo
Original Author
last month
I’ve thought about building a bigger shed close to the house to open up the back fence line but my AC unit would need to be moved.
claire larece
last month
What is the depth of the pool? What is the length of the perpendicular fence and the connecting to the gate?
claire larece
last month
sorry you already mentioned the depth of the pool. What I’m trying to figure out how wide is it to be to turn it without the door hitting the pool
claire larece
last month
if the door swing was placed around the end of the gate and pull from the outside meaning next to the house you would probably have room for the pool and maybe a nice small platform deck and also surround the pool but also have pavement to connect to the slider. I don’t see you why couldn’t get a 10x10 shed to fit in your yard it’s only 3 feet more.
bmfjimbo
Original Author
last month
I could fit a bigger shed which I do intend to do. I thought about turning the pool 90 degrees along the left fence line. The fence would still open just fine with it facing that way. I don’t want to add any kind of decking around the pool though. I’ve been drawing up little sketches. I’ll draw a plan view of the way it is laid out now showing the gate and all.

End-unit townhouse backyard landscape design help

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bmfjimbo
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End-unit townhouse backyard landscape design help

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bmfjimboOriginal Author

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