Oh boy could I ever use some ideas. I bought this house exactly a year ago. It was a rental for way too long and as a result is pretty horrible when it comes to the yard. I'll attach some pictures (from last year) and the bird's eye view (sideways just to keep the image a little larger). Basically it's a blank slate
The house was built in 1930, bungalow, 40' wide lot, the back is about (I am guessing) 40' long and gets quite a bit of sun especially in the afternoon. It is half grass half weeds, has a huge overgrown lilac, and a rickety ugly fence. Oh yeah and a fire pit that I really have zero use for.
I need to get started on fixing it up as easily and cheaply as possible. For instance I am going to paint my side of the fence and hopefully if I can get hold of the owner next door (a rental) see if I can cut some shape or something in it (along the top maybe) until such time as it can be replaced.
The issues:
1: there are huge dents/divits from someone having pavers for parking a trailer or something. Some are nearly 6" deep and dangerous. Two tracks of them that take up a lot of the yard and make it difficult to mow (nearly the whole lot is uneven from neglect).
2: Weeds, quack grass, you name it
Ideas I'd like:
1: where some beds could go. I am actually interested in getting rid of as much lawn as possible although I don't want to lose it all as my dog likes to roll around
2: How I might incorporate a path or some interest of some sort
3: Where I might put trees and what types (thinking maybe a flowering type as well as evergreens, bushes...love rose bushes). Truth be told, I would like some ideas for xeriscape to keep the watering down but it's not as important as just getting the yard into some shape that would be nice to visit. We are zone 2a here, so limited in choices.
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Oops! The software is called Paint[B]er[/B] (by Corel), so not paint, not MS. it really is designed for painting and drawing in ways Photoshop or Paint or the others can't match (I guess the illustrators who do a lot of the art for movies and games now use it). If you go to corel.com you can download a trial version although I'll warn you it's a memory hog so you need a lot of space on your computer.
To get it on canvas is easy. I just send the file to my printer who prints it on canvas. Lately I've done a few dogs using it and printed on canvas, using the giclee process the results are pretty impressive. You pretty much have to touch it to realize it's not real oils or acrylics or whatever. Doing watercolours is even more amazing (done on the right papers of course). It is more work than using Photoshop but the results are really good.
I think it opens up a lot of possibilities for things people can do using their own photos/memories to have original stuff on their walls.
there are a lot of artists on the web using it. Here's a couple of links. Keep in mind, all of this work is directly from photos vs using a photo as a model..
[url]http://www.ipaintpeople.com/gallery.html#[/url]
[url]http://www.mattbates.net/[/url]
[url]http://homepage.mac.com/pixlart/main.htm[/url]
Your painting looks like a painting. Is this program Microsoft Paint? I always curse it when I go to open a .jpg. If it is Microsoft's paint then you have found better uses for it than I have. How would you transfer your flowers to a canvas?
Nice of that partying neighbour to supply you with free flowers. That is my kind of gardening.
OOoohh....I like free daylilies :)
Today my yard got some new additions. They pushed their way under the fence from next door (I told you the fence was rickity) and this year not only did they produce flowers, there are going to be oodles if what bloomed to day is any indication! I'm pretty pleased. I guess they didn't mind when I tied them down so I could paint that fence.
I've also finished some more areas of the yard(that we talked about in this thread) but still have to put a few more plants in the ground and then I can take pictures of all of it. I'm not too fast to begin with but it's been so hot here for the past couple of weeks (and no end in sight) that I'm triple slow so it's taking me forever.
Anyway, here's a picture of the volunteers as well as a section of a 'painting' I've been working on tonight. this is done with a program called paint which allows you to paint just like real paint either from scratch or from a photo so I used one of the pictures I took today. I like it because I don't do well with real paint but the computer program has an eraser. It's my first flower painting.
Wow, you've done a really great job! It looks so much better already. Isn't it amazing to see the difference when you add gardens to a bare space? The before pictures look like a space that is neglected, and the after looks like a space that is loved. :)
You can make them wider by adding an extra strip, ext. Gettingup close I noice that perhaps they should be painted again but I like the weathered look :laugh:
thanks for the picture. Your shed looks really nice. I am thinking of making the same sort of shutters (since they look easy) and I bought some flower boxes but haven't found my brackets to hang them yet.
Today I noticed my clematis has a few flowers and there is something new poking out of the dirt that I hope is something I planted. I should have the rest of my plants out of their store containers in the next day or so and then hopefully I can do the shutters and paint a bench and the garage and call it done for this year.
My DH made these shutters and flower box and it added to our shed making it a focal point. They are just made of strips of wood that can be purchased at your local lumber yard. Shutters and a flower box added to your garage would be perfect. Can't wait to see finished project.
Amazing difference - you must feel so good. Now for those flowers to get growing. This is going is be an oasis.
Extra amazing when I look back at the snow just three weeks ago.
I too am impatient when it comes to the flowers and want it to look like it has been there 5 yrs, the first year LOL
The clematis will fill that wall in in no time. Have you though of a bird feeder on a pole in the fire pit spot, although hard to fill in the winter. Great job DBD :)
The firepit will be going as soon as helpers get a place to live. They are really into it so I told them they could take it away. Then I guess I can figure out what to do with the space that is left...maybe fast and easy is to put my other bird bath there.
Yes Mutantstar, that little fence is pretty much all it takes to keep Eb on her side. She's not amused since that was her main path for cruising around the yard and now she has to detour. She also can't figure out why everyone can dig there but her. So far the squirrels haven't noticed the new beds but then it's been raining so I may be swearing about them later on.
I wish there were some plant exchanges going on so I could fill all that dirt with green. The only thing worse (to me) than no garden is a brand new one and I'm really impatient with wanting it lush and established.
Oh wow...it's really coming along! I can't wait to see the shutters and window box, and once the plants really take hold....how exciting! :)
Did you need the little garden fence to help Ebony stay out of the plants? :) It looks like we have the same exact one to keep Snoop and Phoebe out of ours, although if the squirrels and birds are busy they sometimes make the jump...but much better with it than without....and it is barely visible :)
What a charming backyard - you (and your helpers!) have put a ton of work into it! I really like the idea of putting up shutters and a window box - it'll really make your garage feel like part of the landscape. I can't tell from the pic what you did with the firepit? Are you making a planter out of it?
Well it's taken a little longer than I expected but such is life when the helpers aren't quite as good as showing up when they say they will as maybe I would like.
Anyway, garage done, car inside. Patio cover on. Dark side bed cleared and planted with ferns which hopefully will show above ground any day now. Dead patch covered with edging, cloth, stone. Divits on lawn filled. Tree planted. Beds dug and plants put in. ONe huge bonus is I have never seen a yard with such deep rich soil. The house I had down the block was all clay but this stuff is fabulous and over a foot deep. I didn't need to bring in any top soil at all. Just added a bit of peat and manuer (sp?). There must have been a really big garden or something here at one time.
Still to do is figure out some shutters and get a window box. You know when you need one, seems no one carries them. I have only seen some already planted so far. I wish I had grabbed the cedar ones I left at the other house when I moved.
the front of the house has had it's weed removed and bushes planted and I think that's it for the front this year. The back still has more to go, another gravel area to be done. I don't know if I'll get any type of walk/path done this year but we'll see.
Anyway, here are some pictures of things done so far...the during phase still looking a bit naked but it's a start and once the clematis (there are 4!) take off it will be neat. I still haven't painted the fence as the day after I got the paint it started raining and it's been raining everyday since. Tonight we actually are under another heavy rain/thunderstorm warning. I can't wait for it to be dry enough for the fence to dry out and get painted.
It's interesting that you mentioned the garage. Yesterday on Cityline they were showing shutters and it dawned on me that might make my garage more charming and your mentioning the flower boxes would tie right in.
My garage got cleaned yesterday and low and behold there were some old louvered shutters I used years ago. We also found some narrow old doors that look like original to the house so maybe there are some possibilites there to make some outdoor shutters.
I bought a couple more clametis yesterday that I think will grow along the garage.
It sure would be nice to paint the garage. When they painted the house (sage) they used part of the garage as a test strip so it looks stupid to start with nevermind being mostly pink. it's supposed to be really nice the next few days so it would be perfect to paint the fence and garage right now. I'm just not sure I am up for both.
I have to check my budgeting here. AFter finally getting room for the car in the garage :D it turns out the remote I bought for the opener isn't right and then I discovered I need another piece so $100. We also couldn't get my mower to start and I'm hoping it just needs some starter and coaching because I paid a lot of money to have the thing fixed last summer and don't want to do that again. With Plants and the soil and gravel I got priced yesterday that's several hundred there. So more than I had counted on.
I keep telling myself that fixing that yard will help when I want to sell as it's such a pit.
Just a thought about your yard. I have a friend that has the exact same shape as you as well as a garage sitting in the middle of things. Anyway, she put shutters around the window on her garage/shed and put up a window box which she alters with flowers in summer and evergreen bows in the winter. It looks really nice. She also planted a lot of tall flowers along the side of it, such as tiger lily, goats beard and a variety of grasses. It has helped to distract from her garage/shed and actually makes it a highlight to her yard. Oh yah, she painted the garage/shed a warm earth tone to fit in with her overall garden.
One thing that is really important is to decide if you want a zen-type garden or an English-cottage garden. The zen garden works well in your zone due to the temperature. You can do a lot with stone and it really takes care of the grass issues.
Be sure to post your results.
Yes it is nice to get some help although the most recent are not coming free. Hopefully it will stay reasonable and I am very glad just to find anyone who can help in any form. The ex-contractor next door told me yesterday that homeowners are having a problem as most trades would much rather work where homeowners are not part of the equation, meaning new builds only where they only have to deal with builders who just want them to hit specs, no one home to deal with, etc. and so on. Boy are those guys going to be a treat to work with when the boom fades and they have to go back to dealing with people again.
As for the fence I don't know what I'll do. My tendency is to go with a green but right now it's a dark brown stain of some sort that is worn. I don't think it's cedar but I may go take a closer look (can't imagine someone staining cedar even though I know they do). If it is I'd just sand the stain right off. I like the grey aged look too. Being as the property was a rental for so long I can't see them investing in cedar.
I have a whole unopened gallon of Sikkens opaque white stain but I hate white fences. Well I hate white on principal anyway, but a 6' wall of boards in white sends me over the top. It was the first thing I painted at the last house because I thought I'd go blind over the winter stareing at a white fence in the Calgary sun. Maybe Sikkens makes a green or grey I can mix with the white that would cover the brown. I'll have to research that.
Meanwhile I really have never tried to change a stain colour before so I'll have to debate whether I go opaque or not again and what that means in work.
Oh well.. garage help didn't show today but called tonight to say they could come tomorrow afternoon. I'm still awake so that might work out for me having some energy to sort things. it would be nice if we can make room for the car.
Seems like many positive things are happening for you and your house. You seem to be part of the community now - nice to have neighbours like them around. They're likely thrilled that someone is showing an interest in the house after it being a long time rental.
Are you going to paint the cedar fence or stain it. I normally like a cedar that has been allowed to age to a natural colour. The other day I saw an older fence that had been done in a green stain - actually quite liked it - gave some colour without planting bushes.
DBD looks like you got good advice and help here and not to mention your kind neighbours..........that is so nice to hear they're helping you. :)
Yes, thanks I will keep and eye out for one. I had one with horrible thorns (great scent though.. maybe you get one or the other with roses) and boy did it hurt if you got too close with the mower.
today saw yard progress. Some neighbours from across the alley mentioned they would help me cover my patio when they got time and today they did. That was worth the price.
While that was going on I realized the owner of the rental next door was around so went to see if he had plans for the fugly fence on our property line. Turns out he used to be a contractor and although he hadn't even looked at the fence he is going to fix it so it doesn't looks so wonky. I am so relieved it's someone who seems to know what they are doing. Then I can at least paint it.
In the same moment here comes the kid who was shovelling snow last winter with his mower. $10 to mow front and back so I got my overgrown lawn done without even having to fight with my mower which is usually very frustrating the first mow of the year. He's also going to come and dig my flower beds for me probably next week :bliss: and he will spread the dirt and gravel for walks and such. I am so relieved.
Extra bonus, the neighbours doing the cover heard me talking to him about my garage and late tonight got hold of me to say they would come tomorrow to help me clean out the garage and sort through everything which has been a heap since I moved in a year ago. I think they want first pick which they will be welcome to...well on some stuff anyway.
Finally, some yard stuff taking shape when yesterday I really had no idea how I was going to get it all done and maybe even getting to put the car in the garage...wow.
In our last house I put in a thornless climbing rose that was a lovely dark pink colour and it was very tough as I don't believe in babying my roses. It would be lovely against your garage and not a problem if you happened to brush against it. My memory was that there were a few thorns on older stalks but it generallly lived up to its description. You might want to keep your eye out for that one.
thanks for the ideas. Yes most of the bushes you named grow well here and I couple I found at Costco I got just because of their fall colour (I had them at the last house). I do need to soften the garage wall because if sitting on the patio there really isn'tmuch of a view of the rest of the yard other than the garage - which being pink isn't the most attractive thing.
One of my neighbours has a mock orange and that thing is such a pleasure when it flowers. Wonderful scent.
I had an arbourist out last year to give me a quote on the lilac and some volunteer trees that were along the dark side of the garage. their price was pretty steep (well everything in Calgary is steep now when it comes to anything to do with houses or yards). Meanwhile I have another large lilac in my front that they said had been pruned to perfection and it turns out my nextdoor neighbour has been taking care of it for years. He said he could come and help me. I did trim about 20% of it last year but gave up when it got cold. AS well my nice neighbour took care of the volunteers last week. Did an ace job and didn't even leave a leaf behind. It took me a minute to figure out what had changed in my yard.
I like the pathway you drew in your plan. I just wouldn't put the trees in a row along the fence - it looks too rigid for a backyard informal garden.
I would begin by getting some pruning advice for your lilac - I believe you are to remove 25% per year from near the base but not prune it into a ball. I would try and preserve its height as that will be your tallest plant for quite awhile.
Then I would make that back corner and going along the fence an assortment of interesting bushes (around where your lilac is now). I would choose them for some winter interest (evergreen, dogwood?), spring colour (forsythia? mock orange? not sure what grows in your area), summer flowers (spirea?) and fall colour (???). I think a cluster of about five different height bushes would look good and give a nice focal point. Then I would plant your flowers in front of them and along the fence.
I also would look at some climbing plant that would be across from your covered area so you are looking at a leafy view. Do climbing roses grow there (the explorer roses that were cultivated for the north) or clematis as either one is very pretty.
That's all I can think of for now. I think a small tree would also look good but I will have to think about where - maybe nearer the house to give some shade and keep the house cool in the summer.
Yes, that's the saying but usually it isn't so spring/winter/spring/winter/summer/winter/. it's the constant addition of more winter that bugs me the most and I swore before I should move to somewhere that has more than 90 frost free days and I am feeling it again. The other side of the mountains is really appealing right now.
As for 30 degrees, well I'd probably be whinning with that too but 22 or so would be welcome.
Wow, that white stuff would have to be a bit of a shock. Although, doesn't the syaing in Calgary say "if you don't like the weather, just wait a minute" since it can change so quick. :laugh:
We'll try & send our 30 degree weather your way - just had the season's first swim in our pool! (sorry to rub it in!)
OKay, let's talk gardening eh? here is the most up to date photo of my yard, 6 am, May 24, 2007 and the weather network says this is only half of what we can expect for a total today...
The fun part is hoping the big elms out front don't have any weak branches, especially the ones that hang over my house as the snow brings them down when they are in leaf.
Anyway, for those of you who are sweating, enjoy a moment of cool, Calgary style.
EDIT: ARGH... SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS ON EVERY WORD. I STILL HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT WHY MY KEYBOARD DOES THAT SOMETIMES.
Edit 2: double argh... sorry about the all caps on the edit. I wish I could see them before I hit submit (see DBD smashing on caps lock key to make it stop it).
Here's Another Version Using Some Of Your Ideas And Things I've Sort Of Been Thinking About.
I Have To Tell You What Is Funny Is The Mention Of Patio Blocks Since I Just Freecycled All The Ones That Were Stacked In My Driveway Since Moving Here....about 20 0f Them. I Think They May Have Been What Were In The Dents In My Lawn.
Holy Crap...just Let The Dog Out And Everything Is White...snow White...as In It Isn't Melting As It Hits The Ground!
Meanwhile, Back On Track, In Another Post Last Week I Mentioned The 8x8 Section Being Quite Dead (dog Damage) And Thinking Of Putting Some Sort Of Rock In There. I Was Also Thinking I May As Well Do The Side Opposite It And Now Maybe Run It Into A Path To The Lilac. I Guess I Am Figuring If I Get A Load Delivered It Might As Well Be Worth While. What Worries Me Is Last Time I Used It Was In A New Yard But I'm Thinking Of The Newspaper Game With Edging And Fabric Then Rocks. Think That Would Work?
I Was Also Thinking Of An Arbour But Wondered If It Would Be Too Much With The Covered Part Of The Patio (btw Yet To Be Actually Covered As I Have To Buy The Panels And Get Someone To Put Them Up).
As For Potted Things, I Have Oodles Of Pots, Shiny Black And Shiny Blue Clay Pots. I Also Have Two Large Artificial Cedars That I Designated As Green Circles On The Patio.
I Can't Decide If There Should Be Beds By The Long Fence Or Not. It Does Get A Lot Of Sun But For Now I Put The Other Green Circles Which Are Maybe Some Sort Of Everygreen. Globe Cedars (grow Well Here But Aren't Very Tall). The Skyrocketing Junipers Only Do So So Depending On Where They Are In The City. By The Fence Might Be Sheltered Enough From The Wind To Have Them Survive. I'd Like To Get A Fruit Tree Of Some Sort But No Idea Of Where To Put One.
I Didn't Put Them On The Drawing, But In Beds I Would Plant Climbing And Regular Hardy Rose Bushes (have I Mentioned How Much I Love Those Things More Than 10 Times Before?) Which Could Help Hide The Garage A Bit. There Is Also An Inherited Virginia Creeper That Grows In The Corner By The House And Patio That Is Winding It's Way Up The Patio Cover Supports.
Oh Yeah, When I Was At Costco Last Week I Picked Up Some Bulbs For Hosta, Asilbe, Fern, And Something Else I Can't Remember...all Shade Plants Thinking I Could Put Them In That Long Dirt Run By The Garage/walk. I Also Have 30 Bags Of Soil Stacked Up In The Back Along With Some Peet Moss And Maneur (sp?). The Grass That's On Top Of Should Be Good And Dead By Now. If I Go For More Beds Or The Raised Type Over Paper I Can Get More Dirt Delivered The Same Time As Rock.
Thoughts And Ideas Please.
I forgot to mention an arbour for the start or end of wherever you put your path.
I did a quick drawing for you. Not that I am an expert or anything, just my ideas, lol
If you get full sun by 'D' I would plant herbs, tomato plants etc here. Otherwise if 'A' is full sun then make that your herb/veg garden.
By 'A' if not a herb garden, I would put up trellis and plant creepers that flower or change colour in Fall.
'B' is Deep shade, so plant Hostas, Astibles, White Bleeding hearts, Ferns, Hydrangea (maybe), even consider native plants.
'C' is a bed that runs the entire length of the wall and under the Lilac. Plant woody shrubs for the 'bones' of the garden. Woody meaning the stems and branches remain in winter, as opposed to herbaceous that die down in winter. Plant herbaceous too. And later you can add annuals for colour.
Under the Lilac plant Hostas (or similar shade loving hardy) again in the full shade.
By 'E' it needs a walkway or stepping stones. Some containers with annuals like geraniums or pansies.
Have fun! All the hard work is worth it! :D
I started my garden from scratch 3 years ago. It was barren, not a plant anywhere. I enjoy gardening, so not a problem to get out there and dig beds and plant as many plants as I could afford on a tight budget, at plant sales, or neighbours or markets selling them for under $5.
Have a look at Majorie Harris new book called 'How to make a Garden' I got mine from the local library.
I would trim the lilac to a tidier ball, after it has bloomed. Place a bench near it for a focal point, maybe a birdbath and bird feeder too. Maybe make a short path to the wooden gate using paving stones, or stepping stones or long pieces of wood (like a bridge).
Your zone is different to mine, and I think roses will not survive your cold.
I would plan to dig new beds all around the edge of the fence, under the tree, and along the side of the house. But start with one area this summer, and next year you do another area. Watch the daylight and note down what area gets full shade or full sun.
Go to the nursery, not to buy, but to see what you like, and to check if it is for your zone. With a Zone2 it will rule out a lot of plants.
Also check out some gardening forums. Loads of help there.
For the grass, level out some topsoil or compost all around the bad spots and dents. Seed, fertilize and water.