I will post some pics of my backyard - very shabby but,,, Anyways I really don't know what I'm doing yet there is nothing wrong with my back so after your ideas I can get to work. Keep in mind I really do not want much work. I can round up weeds but I do have 2 year old twins that keep my busy. I like things to look neat and pretty without much daily work.
I was thinking of adding more rock around my deck. There was gravel from before we added the garage. I do want low (no ha!) maintenance.
Thanks!
Shannon
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have you thought of covering that area with mulch, natural colour not dyed. Then add colour with some non-toxic plants in pots?
Mulch is kid friendly and kids will not walk on it in bare feet, it is too picky. :)
I agree with Hostas. Very low maintenance and you could probably get a few pieces from anyone who has any to divide up.
If you really want only rocks, this is what we did as you come down the steps from our deck because it is an area that is always a problem.
I think hosta will look very nice there and it's a very low maintenance plant too....you can buy several varieties and plant them about 2 feet apart because they do grow up fast and will fill up the space nicely.
I would be careful with the kids around the gravel, too. My concern is -----we have always had decorative stone around outside and if visitors come with small kids they tend to want to play with it. One child was trying to put some in her mouth. You have to be a little more vigilant around it and you want to keep them safe. Maybe you could get a few large rocks to incorperate in to the gardens. Try and plant perennials so that they will come back each year. They have some nice dwarf shrubs for near the deck. You could put in some ornamental grasses that come back each year -----larger in back -----shorter types in front of those.
I was kind of wondering about the kids too. Isn't grass a much friendlier surface for them than gravel? Round pea gravel isn't sharp but it is harder to walk on which might be an issue if you make paths or anything with it. What sort of improvements are you wanting?
Maybe raised beds by the side of the garage and deck would be an option for flowers or veggies while keeping small feet out of the dirt.
I might consider going with some concrete. It looks as though you could do with a sidewalk (3 feet wide?) from the gate to that door that I assume is the garage, and then continue it out where the stepping stones meet up to the foor of your deck. That way people are not tracking dirt or grass in as much. I would leave the area where the wishing well as is, and use that space for garden later down the road when I had time to tend one. I think I'd make sure there was a bit of the concrete sidewalk on either side of that door to what I think is your garage, so I could place a planter pot on each side.
For now, with those little ones, it must be nice not to have to worry about the oops-daisies! (since there is no hard conrete to worry about) If I were you I might like to enjoy that for another couple of years. The stepping stones are great for kids-my son HAS to hop on those whenever he's around them.
Sorry it is really the narrow space by my garage that I want ideas. I will have rock around the deck so wondered about rock and stepping stones to my fence? There is not room but I don;t really like grass right up to the garage. Thanks for the ideas!