Backyards?

Does anyone have a backyard they do not love and needs work? Do you have pics you would share? We have a large backyard, it needs a lot of work and I have no clue where to begin.

Re: Backyards?

I know how you feel because we are in the same boat. Our yard is not big but over half of it was taken over by ivy when we bought the house. We ripped out all the ivy to reclain the square footage. Well, last year we neglected the yard because of the wedding planning. So know it's mostly over grown with weeds. I don't know what to do with it because that area is under a big oak tree and I'm not sure what will grow there. We already put in 2 patios. We still have a 30x30 area that needs TLC. It seems stupid to pave the rest since we don't use the second patio. I'm afraid to post pictures now but I will once everything is done.

What is your concern with your yard?

Re: Backyards?

We have a lot of trees around the perimeter which I don't mind. We have a hill in a backyard that we need to get a new retaining wall and two sheds that sit in front of them. One needs to come down which we will do and some stuff around it needs to be cleaned up. It's just ugly. Because of the tree's we have a lot of shade (which is nice) but not good for grass to grow. We have a deck that is on the side of our house, that needs to be rebuilt for sure. There is just a lot of work to be done before it's pretty. And I hate outside work lol.

Re: Backyards?

Our back yard and front yard are terribly, terribly overgrown. The front yard is actually worse than the back yard - you can barely see the house from the road.

I am hoping this summer/fall we can rip stuff out, then deal with making it look nice next spring! It's a huge task though so I have to accept that it will likely take a few years.

Re: Backyards?

Re: Backyards?

Just to give you some ideas, this is what our house looked like when we first bought it. It was rented out for a long time so the yard was pretty much neglected except for the front.



As you can see it this pic where we ripped out the ivy, we have dirt. The first thing we did was put up a fence because we have 2 dogs.


This is the second patio we put in. The first one is where the gazebo is. We still have to rebuild the firepit/ grill on the left. Lots of work to do.

Re: Backyards?

I love the patio great job !
Looks like you have some good plants too. Keep up the good work!!!

Re: Backyards?

Don't get stuck in the "gotta have it now" trap! Who says you have to do it asap? I know it can suck, looking out your window or not having as much function as you would like. But pace yourself... decide on one thing at a time, set a goal, and you'll feel better as each thing gets done.

We decided to put off the house construction in favor of outdoor stuff. In two years we've installed a new cesspool, fence, had 100x20 feet of overgrown brush removed, the subsequent mess landscaped, an oversized deck removed, and a paver patio installed.

Now we're working on grass, flowers, and buying a bbq so we can entertain.

Please consider that there are special grass mixes and plants/flowers that will grow in shade before you consider cutting down trees. We removed one half-dead spruce tree in the backyard and now I am REALLY glad we stopped there. We have perfect shade for our patio! Besides all the other benefits of trees.

I'd show you before and afters but my website appears to be down right now!

Re: Backyards?

I forgot to add, we are doing a lot of work inside the house but still there is no excuse for use to neglect the yard. We actually got a little note from our neighbor next door to weed the area around our mailbox because it's next to his driveway and it's bringing down the property value. I'm not sure if I should laugh or be upset by that note. None the less, I weeded by the mailbox. Mind you, DH and I work long hours and both our mothers are widows so we actually do a lot of stuff at their house too. Sometimes it's hard to work 7 days a week.

Re: Backyards?

Re: Backyards?

Posted by lucamon

I forgot to add, we are doing a lot of work inside the house but still there is no excuse for use to neglect the yard. We actually got a little note from our neighbor next door to weed the area around our mailbox because it's next to his driveway and it's bringing down the property value. I'm not sure if I should laugh or be upset by that note. None the less, I weeded by the mailbox. Mind you, DH and I work long hours and both our mothers are widows so we actually do a lot of stuff at their house too. Sometimes it's hard to work 7 days a week.

Re: Backyards?

Re: Backyards?

Posted by greenfreak


Please consider that there are special grass mixes and plants/flowers that will grow in shade before you consider cutting down trees. We removed one half-dead spruce tree in the backyard and now I am REALLY glad we stopped there. We have perfect shade for our patio! Besides all the other benefits of trees.

Re: Backyards?

Posted by greenfreak

Don't get stuck in the "gotta have it now" trap! Who says you have to do it asap? I know it can suck, looking out your window or not having as much function as you would like. But pace yourself... decide on one thing at a time, set a goal, and you'll feel better as each thing gets done.

We decided to put off the house construction in favor of outdoor stuff. In two years we've installed a new cesspool, fence, had 100x20 feet of overgrown brush removed, the subsequent mess landscaped, an oversized deck removed, and a paver patio installed.

Now we're working on grass, flowers, and buying a bbq so we can entertain.

Please consider that there are special grass mixes and plants/flowers that will grow in shade before you consider cutting down trees. We removed one half-dead spruce tree in the backyard and now I am REALLY glad we stopped there. We have perfect shade for our patio! Besides all the other benefits of trees.

I'd show you before and afters but my website appears to be down right now!

Re: Backyards?

Posted by kokopelia

Posted by lucamon

I forgot to add, we are doing a lot of work inside the house but still there is no excuse for use to neglect the yard. We actually got a little note from our neighbor next door to weed the area around our mailbox because it's next to his driveway and it's bringing down the property value. I'm not sure if I should laugh or be upset by that note. None the less, I weeded by the mailbox. Mind you, DH and I work long hours and both our mothers are widows so we actually do a lot of stuff at their house too. Sometimes it's hard to work 7 days a week.

Aww your neighbor sounds like a jerk. That is what we did, we tackled the inside first and then I figured we'd focus on the outside next year??? We will do some stuff in the fall, but I really hate it lol. I am sure it will get done

Re: Backyards?

We pull the weeds, spray the holes where they used to be with white vinegar, and then cover with landscape fabric and/or mulch. If you wait till fall on weeds, the seeds will already be in the ground and try to sprout in spring. They suck, they really do!

My Japanese Maple tree has had splitting bark on the trunk and branches for years. I had an arborist look at it, he did say it's diseased, but could still thrive for 10 years or more. So we trimmed the obviously dead branches and this year, it's thriving!

Also, I've been reading that a fine fescue seed blend is best for shade. I haven't tried it myself yet.

Re: Backyards?

Posted by kokopelia

Posted by greenfreak

Don't get stuck in the "gotta have it now" trap! Who says you have to do it asap? I know it can suck, looking out your window or not having as much function as you would like. But pace yourself... decide on one thing at a time, set a goal, and you'll feel better as each thing gets done.

We decided to put off the house construction in favor of outdoor stuff. In two years we've installed a new cesspool, fence, had 100x20 feet of overgrown brush removed, the subsequent mess landscaped, an oversized deck removed, and a paver patio installed.

Now we're working on grass, flowers, and buying a bbq so we can entertain.

Please consider that there are special grass mixes and plants/flowers that will grow in shade before you consider cutting down trees. We removed one half-dead spruce tree in the backyard and now I am REALLY glad we stopped there. We have perfect shade for our patio! Besides all the other benefits of trees.

I'd show you before and afters but my website appears to be down right now!

Thank you for saying not to get wrapped up with it. I guess with doing our inside work there is only so much you can do. I just wish it was nicer lol. And I LOVE our trees. I would never cut them down whatsoever. Trim maybe but never cut down. I have heard about using the stuff to make the grass grow in shade, I will have to look into it.

I'd love to see your stuff when your site is up.

Re: Backyards?

Posted by lucamon

Posted by kokopelia

Posted by greenfreak

Don't get stuck in the "gotta have it now" trap! Who says you have to do it asap? I know it can suck, looking out your window or not having as much function as you would like. But pace yourself... decide on one thing at a time, set a goal, and you'll feel better as each thing gets done.

We decided to put off the house construction in favor of outdoor stuff. In two years we've installed a new cesspool, fence, had 100x20 feet of overgrown brush removed, the subsequent mess landscaped, an oversized deck removed, and a paver patio installed.

Now we're working on grass, flowers, and buying a bbq so we can entertain.

Please consider that there are special grass mixes and plants/flowers that will grow in shade before you consider cutting down trees. We removed one half-dead spruce tree in the backyard and now I am REALLY glad we stopped there. We have perfect shade for our patio! Besides all the other benefits of trees.

I'd show you before and afters but my website appears to be down right now!

Thank you for saying not to get wrapped up with it. I guess with doing our inside work there is only so much you can do. I just wish it was nicer lol. And I LOVE our trees. I would never cut them down whatsoever. Trim maybe but never cut down. I have heard about using the stuff to make the grass grow in shade, I will have to look into it.

I'd love to see your stuff when your site is up.

I'd love to see some pictures too.
Beth thank you for this thread. Maybe this will motivate me to get back to working on my yard.

Re: Backyards?

I hate my yard I think it is so ugly and a malaria breeding ground. I don't even go outside unless I have on long pants and a long sleeve shirt. The bugs are insane.

The brick around our pool is falling apart. In addition to mowing the lawn we also have to mow the patio.

I'm convinced the people we bought our house from didn't do a thing. We try to cleanup the very back of the yard in the fall and spring. The amount of leaves back there is insane. We also discovered that area was a burial ground for broken tools and bricks.

Slowly but surely we will get there. I wish I had a nice yard I wanted to spend time in but we will....someday.

Re: Backyards?

Re: Backyards?

Here's a few:




















Don't want to overload you so I'll leave it at that. I do have more current photos but I haven't uploaded them yet. I planted a lot of flowers on the front corner and my daylilies are in full bloom so I'm loving the way it looks right now.

Message edited 7/20/2009 2:33:29 PM.

Re: Backyards?

Posted by greenfreak

Here's a few:

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Don't want to overload you so I'll leave it at that. I do have more current photos but I haven't uploaded them yet. I planted a lot of flowers on the front corner and my daylilies are in full bloom so I'm loving the way it looks right now.

Re: Backyards?

yes, mine is over grown with weeds and buried under 2 trees that need to be ripped out. there is no access from the house to the back yard besides a side door and the only one who goes back there is my dog and there is an ugly *** shed that needs to come down. Unfortunatley we have been spending our money on the inside and this will have to wait unti that is finished, I hate that I have no place to sit out there but it is what it is.

Re: Backyards?

I just added a pic to my album - it's tiny though, sorry, it's all I have at work!

I have no idea how we will get rid of all those hedges. Then there are more giant evergreen bushes right up against the house (which is really NOT good), and there is a hideous free standing circa 1970 car port in between the hedges over the driveway that make it so either the driver OR the passenger can get out when you park under it - but not both.

We have been in the house 4 months and done a lot to the inside of the house, and now are just about done with what our goal was to do inside for the first YEAR, so hopefully we can tackle the yard next.

Re: Backyards?