Ideas for my backyard

[blue777]

As you can see, the backyard is a complete mess. Any ideas on how to bring out it's potential?

[NJBoy3]

First things first - Take out anything you don't want to keep.

[petsandgardens]

How nice and relaxing. Peaceful niches.

Yes, take away the urns. Move the table and chairs out of view so they don't infringe on your envisioning for the moment.

Rake. Cut any dead out. If there is anything not growing the was you like, leggy on one side etc, address that. But don't go ahead and just cut everything back. You can do some other work and then check back on those things if they need further trim back.

Take out the old wooden border and steps. See if you can find stones for the border for a change. (A few years ago I found some big ones online that a woman was cleaning off her horse farm to make more space.) They don't rot.

What for steps? Is the ground hard and firm enough to be the treads? Wood still fits the scene. (Any trees you may cut back see if you want to save the wood for steps and borders and accents here and there.)

I'd do two tiers on each side going up the steps. Not super deep tiers but just enough to be flat and to plant something pretty on.

The areas going uphill that are not tiers...lower ground cover.

Up on the top level, rather than arriving at the table, I'd try it - as the pic goes - to the right sort of under the long long tree branches. Or to the left a bit under and behind the trees there.

You might have a romantic path..concrete, crushed stone, simple mulch....from the area at the top of the stairs off the the left or right into the romantic mysterious areas behind the trees. Perhaps, as the path bends a bit, a planting in the crook of the curve.

Keep us updated as you go along with however your plans turn out.

[gentlearts]

I would embrace the natural woodland. I think it’s beautiful. Pull out everything on either side of the clearing next to the steps, and put down pine straw, or whatever the ground cover is under the trees. Then, on either side of the steps, I would have big matching planters, with abundant flowers. Done.

Just for fun, I would hang something over the picnic table to draw the eye up...like a big hanging lantern with candles, a whimsical hanging sculpture. Or, even brightly colored cushions on the benches would work.

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