Show me your backyards please

I need some ideas. Once our decking is down and the ground is leveled, we will need to seed for grass and then some border flower beds. So I need some ideas please. TIA!

Re: Show me your backyards please

Mine is far from done but here it is

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Message edited 4/10/2009 10:42:42 AM.

Re: Show me your backyards please

The other picture is too big. I dont know how to resize

Message edited 4/10/2009 10:43:50 AM.

Re: Show me your backyards please

Sorry I butchered this post trying to get the pics up I finally figured it out

Message edited 4/10/2009 10:43:42 AM.

Re: Show me your backyards please

Thanks Heather! Nice green grass.

Re: Show me your backyards please

I haven't done what I want to yet, that will take years. But I thought I'd show you my blank canvas and my ideas, what I want to do with it.



Outside the fence I want to plant shrubs for privacy, but not run-of-the-mill type of things. We were thinking forsythia, lilac, flowering quince, mock orange, ornamental grass and if I can find them, dwarf conifers. There are power lines running above the fence line so I can't plant anything tall and evergreens tend to be.

Inside the fence will be my perennial border. I have a five page list of plants for it! It will take me a long time to fill it in and plan it. Here's what the inside of that fence looks like:



That side gets full sun now, so it will be great for all kinds of flowers. I also want to plant that Crepe Myrtle we talked about in there somewhere, in the corner to the left or the corner to the right. I was thinking about edging with bender board and instead of using mulch, planting groundcover plants in the front. The plants would get taller the closer they got to the fence, and then the shrubs on the outside of the fence would give the appearance of more depth than we actually have. Add in some birdbaths, garden art, maybe a little bench tucked in there somewhere.

Here's the same area but looking at the house:



I want to fill in the gaps between the hydrangea with more perennials, but they will have to be able to tolerate partial shade 1/2 the day. (the pile on the lawn is the dead wood I pulled out of the bushes while I was pruning)

Ok, this side sucks right now because it used to be part of the driveway, then dug up to put the cesspool in, and then fenced in. There used to be a fence going to the white post at the end of the brick walkway:



The shed is getting moved to the back corner of the yard, and then I want to put a circular bench around the holly tree. The brick walkway has ferns and hosta lining it now, and I plan on adding more shade plants. I'll extend the plants to around the oak tree there. Behind the oak tree is a square area that's lined with belgian blocks - that was the driveway. We're breaking up the rest of the pavement, amending the soil, and putting grass seed down. Once it grows in, we'll put a small bistro set over there for a little secluded, shady spot. I might put some more shade plants around the perimeter of the fence but not much will grow there so I won't go crazy.

I can't find a good picture of what's in my mind. I guess we'll just have to wait till I do it and post before and after pictures.

Sorry so long, but I hope some of this helps!

Message edited 4/10/2009 6:50:18 PM.

Re: Show me your backyards please

Mine is pretty boring - we're not really into gardening, YET, so everything is pretty low maintenance.

I just received a quote for $5k to remove all the shrubbery along the back fence and put a retaining wall but it's not in the budget right now. Maybe next year.

Some of these pics are from DD's christening. The back green bushes (that I want to remove are Forsynthia).





Our neighbor usually trims her bushes along the fence line and it looks nice - of course when we have a party she didn't do it!



This is one side of the house that we have done absolutely nothing with! The previous owners had fig trees
which they took with them.



These were taken in Jan of 07 at our inspection

Hi DH!!

Re: Show me your backyards please

Re: Show me your backyards please

Posted by greenfreak

Posted by Tine73

The back green bushes (that I want to remove are Forsynthia).

Forsythia? Are they flowering yellow right now? If you get ambitious and dig them up this season, FM me. I would absolutely take them off your hands.

(hijack over)

Re: Show me your backyards please

Chris what size lot are you on?? Your backyard looks huge compared to mine. I thought the whole area was somewhat the same.

Re: Show me your backyards please

Re: Show me your backyards please

Re: Show me your backyards please

Thanks ladies!

GreenFreak - what great ideas you have. Thanks. I think we are going to use the bender board as well to define the flower beds.

I was thinking about some of this Japense Forest Grass (the lighter brighter green ornamental grass in this pic.


Also, we will be moving our Zebra ornamental grass from the front yard to the backyard. We have three large ones and I will probably split them in half to make 6 total for the backyard fence. I would use Pea Gravel instead of mulch for this area.

They are just too big for our front yard.

Pea Gravel


And I would like to do a water feature. Maybe a little bigger then this one. With some recycled glass around the bottom. Nice pop of color in the garden.


I also want to do a bunch of container pots with Petunias and Marguerite Sweet Potato Vine. Love the Purple & lime green together.

Re: Show me your backyards please

Posted by Tine73

If you want them you can come dig them out though!

Re: Show me your backyards please

My "I wish that was my backyard" is in my profile....

Re: Show me your backyards please

Re: Show me your backyards please

Posted by greenfreak
I looked for it at Lowes and couldn't find it! I don't think it's that popular yet? We might have a problem finding it.

Sure you don't want free white rocks? I have no idea what I'm going to do with my extra rocks and RCA that used to be part of the driveway. I think I'm going to pile it by the street and post it on Craigslist, see if anyone wants it. It's not like you can put it out for garbage pickup.

I LOVE that idea. I should take out stock in landscape fabric, with all you're planning. I have no doubt that you will do every bit of it either. You guys are maniacs with the things you get done!!

Re: Show me your backyards please

Re: Show me your backyards please

Posted by greenfreak

Posted by JldDolphin

It's bits of concrete, brick, rocks, etc. That's exactly the spot that I have to excavate and level. You can allllllmost see my nice belgium blocks lining the area.

I JUST realized something though... When they take the posts out that are holding up the deck, they're going to have to fill it with something! I wonder if I make a nice pile of that stuff, if they could use it! I have to ask him that.

I would def ask them if they can fill the post holes with that stuff. Why not. It saves them and you money. Then he would put sand or gravel on top and level it out for the patio. I think he might say yes. GL!