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Don't really have a budget right now to afford to pay someone to do anything, or do anything crazy. I want to do something to my back yard to make it look a little nicer and be more usable. Something basic rather than a bare back yard with nothing in it. No experience in landscaping, or design.
I really would like to add some grass(phase 1), then add a paved area with a fire pit (phase 2).
In terms of the phase 1 grass, I just ordered a tiller to help me dig up the soil a few inches. I've already begun to remove the rocks on the surface.
As-is:
My idea:
Questions
1) How does this design plan look? Anybody have any suggestions I should consider? (knowing that I have zero experience or background)
2) What can I do with the extra dirt that I will have after digging up the area planned? Any suggestions?
3) Will be running sprinkler lines to the back for the grass, but before I do that, I want to nail down the plan.
Thanks, I want to try and keep the grass at a reasonable size being that water restrictions inevitably will show up at some point and it’s less to mow etc.
I was thinking what about if I bought some stone bricks and made a raised planter, dump all the excess dirt that gets removed and throw it in the planter and put some drought tolerant plants in it?
Start a meadow. It is one of the cheapest plantings. And fall is a great time to start.
Cambium's fire pitt idea looks great. I love the wall too.
I am not a big fan of grass, and too much of it is maintenance hell.
I am a fan of Piet Oudolf gardens. He designed gardens that look great all year, but didn't require babying or replanting.
Depending on the grass you have it may go brown in the winter or as they did here, go brown in the summer. To keep it neat in the growing season, you are going to have to mow it at least every two weeks.then you got to think of aeration, fertilizers and weed killer and watering us a biggie. Grass is the most watered plant in the US. Their lil shallow roots require constant watering.if you don't live in a place that receives regular rain.
In Piet Oudolf designs he used plants that are more self sufficient. Plants that don't require much watering or fertilizer and plants that you don't need to adjust or replant.
His designs are a work of art, and I don't expect you to attempt to recreate his designs since yortu said you don't have much experience, but you can start simple like starting a meadow. It's just preparing the soil and spreading some seeds.
If you must have a lawn you should look into native sedges. Those things are magic. Unlike law grasses that are none native, out native sedges require far less watering so they look better in the heat of summer. They are evergreen, so they don't go brown in the winter like lawn grasses. They grow in sun or shade, unlike lawn grasses that go patchy in shady spots.
The down side to sedges is that they don't hold up to heavy traffic as grass does and the aesthetic might not be for everyone.
I say that because most people only cut their sedge lawn once a year. That is a huge plus on the low maintenance side, but if you like the golf course look, it won't be for you. Here are examples:
Thanks, I want to try and keep the grass at a reasonable size being that water restrictions inevitably will show up at some point and it’s less to mow etc.
OP, what is your location? I think if you live in a location that is subject to drought and very low humidity then you'll have perpetual problems with lawn grass and/or water waste and should forget about any kind of lawn and go for Zen xeriscaping. See pictures below for examples of xeriscape landscaping.
Cambium has offered a really good example of partial xeriscaping but if you are in a very droughty and heat prone location it would be better to forego any lawn grass and to not use coniferous trees. Instead go with trees, succulents and tall clumps of decorative grasses that are naturally suited to drought and heat and lots of UV sun exposure and won't suffer the afflictions of sun-scald.
Thanks, I want to try and keep the grass at a reasonable size being that water restrictions inevitably will show up at some point and it’s less to mow etc.
I was thinking what about if I bought some stone bricks and made a raised planter, dump all the excess dirt that gets removed and throw it in the planter and put some drought tolerant plants in it?
Plants are like humans - feed them trash and they do not thrive. Buy the best soil you can afford to put into planters. Everything in a garden grows from the ground up. Nothing there - nothing will grow. Have you done soil testing?
OP, what is your location? I think if you live in a location that is subject to drought and very low humidity then you'll have perpetual problems with lawn grass and/or water waste and should forget about any kind of lawn and go for Zen xeriscaping. See pictures below for examples of xeriscape landscaping.
Cambium has offered a really good example of partial xeriscaping but if you are in a very droughty and heat prone location it would be better to forego any lawn grass and to not use coniferous trees. Instead go with trees, succulents and tall clumps of decorative grasses that are naturally suited to drought and heat and lots of UV sun exposure and won't suffer the afflictions of sun-scald.
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I agree with xeriscaping your yard. Check with your local extension agent for a soil test and ideas for native plants that will be suitable for your soil pH, sun exposure, and drought conditions. They may even have a Smart Green Lawn program where they'll come out for a minimal fee and analyze your yard/soil and provide the information in person.
Don't really have a budget right now to afford to pay someone to do anything, or do anything crazy. I want to do something to my back yard to make it look a little nicer and be more usable. Something basic rather than a bare back yard with nothing in it. No experience in landscaping, or design.
I really would like to add some grass(phase 1), then add a paved area with a fire pit (phase 2).
In terms of the phase 1 grass, I just ordered a tiller to help me dig up the soil a few inches. I've already begun to remove the rocks on the surface.
As-is:
My idea:
Questions
1) How does this design plan look? Anybody have any suggestions I should consider? (knowing that I have zero experience or background)
2) What can I do with the extra dirt that I will have after digging up the area planned? Any suggestions?
3) Will be running sprinkler lines to the back for the grass, but before I do that, I want to nail down the plan.
Thank you!
Absolutely terrible!
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