Moving into a new build shortly. Tips on where to start my backyard landscaping?
by she_had_man_hands98
Moving into a new build shortly. Tips on where to start my backyard landscaping?
by she_had_man_hands98
6 Comments
A mix of native trees and shrubs to provide privacy and so the main view is not the fence. Native perenials. A lawn that is area-rugged size, not wall to wall carpeting. Flagstone terrace for a table and chair. The ideal is predominantly green with flowers instead of the current brown.
You could do something amazing that isn’t just lawn and arbor vitae.
First thing you have to do is fix the grading and the soil. Builders always leave yards heavily compacted with zero topsoil and water pointing right back at the house. Make sure the dirt slopes away from your brick foundation so you do not flood. Next you have to plan around those PVC cleanouts sticking up everywhere. Do not pave over them. Hide them inside a wide sweeping foundation planting bed so they disappear into the plants but remain accessible for the plumber. You will definitely need to bring in real topsoil and compost because what you are looking at right now is just dead builder fill and construction gravel.
Before you buy a single plant or paver run a photo of this dirt pit through the GardenDream web app. It lets you overlay patios and plant layouts directly onto your current yard so you can test constructible ideas before making expensive mistakes. Get your hardscape footprint figured out first. Once you know exactly where your seating area goes you can build your plant beds around it. Create visual calm by designing thick connected masses of native plants that flow together rather than just scattering isolated shrubs along that wooden fence. A good landscape needs canopy trees understory shrubs and groundcover working together to actually look finished.
Do you have a dog? My first priority is creating a yard where mine can run and lie down in the grass. 70% of my yard would be grass and 30% would be an outdoor kitchen area with a table and chairs for eating and grilling outside.
What are you’re requirements?
first step is to decide what style you like
Budget ?