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.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| full-backyard.jpg | 32.46 KB |
| yard1.jpg | 89.07 KB |
| yard2.jpg | 62.06 KB |
Comment Guidelines
We welcome your feedback on Houseandhome.com. H&H reserves the right to remove any unsuitable personal remarks made about the bloggers, hosts, homeowners and/or guests we feature. Please keep your comments focused on decorating, design, cooking and other lifestyle topics. Adopt a tone you would be willing to use in person and do not make slanderous remarks or use denigrating language. If you see a comment that you believe violates any of the guidelines outlined above, please click “Alert a Moderator.” Thank you.
DBD....wow...you really have a blank slate to work with...the divets are easily repaired with lots of topsoil and grass seed.......if you remove the firepit...you would have more options.....I love the idea of a secondary patio area...that can be done with little expense.....maybe using those 2X2 pavers....maybe you need 20 of them....and make a square big enough to put a screened in gazebo..the one's you see at Walmart for less than a few hundred bucks........I would buy those cedar shrubs that you can put along the fence...they run about $20-$30 bucks each..spaced apart....okay you may need a few....and then shape out a garden around the lilac tree or put a bench there........I am not that great at garden advice...but you are always so helpful with everyone who posts...so I really wanted to give my two cents...even if I am way off base on what you want........good luck DBD.....
edit...okay I re-read your post...you already have a covered area...how about creating a path to the lilac tree with a bench as a focal point...could you use large flagstone.......so you could rip out the middle area from the firepit down to the tree and then break the yard into sections...fence side have cedars and house side maybe mimic that side for symmetry with cedars too....and create a flowerbed down the sides of the path........if you could post a picture of the deck area and house I probably would get a better picture....I am not good with diagrams........good luck.....
I'm not much help as I can barely keep a plastic plant looking alive :o . The one thing I'd do is start by getting rid of the ugly firepit.
At the garden stores there are some beautiful fountains that would make a nice focal point. Unfortunately they start at a less than beautiful price too. How about a nice big patio. Depending how you are feeling you might be able to do this with the hired help of a young student or two. Can your path go down one of the rows where the indentations are? Plant something in the other.
What about trellis and vines to hide the fence. I think a kidney shaped herb garden is attractive and another one with grass. Lots of filler - stones, whatever is popular and cheap in Calgary - around them. Pick up a whole lot of huge pots at the end of the season that you can put colourful plants in next year. Allow for where they will be and put an underground drip system in now.