Backyard landscaping ideas

Just moved and back yard is barren. What's the best way to get started. Ordered privacy plants for foot and side of lot but after that don't know where/how to start. Ideas would be appreciated. Zone 5. All sun!

Many on Daves G are professionals, so you can get better answer than what I could give.
But, photos of your space would help.

Also how you would use..entertaining...
kiddies? Sanctuary for wildlife, meditation..? Stuff like that.

Also, what are your abilities? DIY. ..are you strong ..need to hire ?


When I started... I Started with walkways, fencing, and layout.......based on needs/ wants
THEN I made the planting choices.

This message was edited Jun 2, 2015 11:03 PM

misssingrosie is absolutely correct, you will get first class ideas from a good few people on here IF you can give more info re how much time you can give to your garden, no point in getting you to plant oceans of plants and you cant give time to care for them.
Garden making can be expensive so it's important you dont get landscaping that breaks the bank when all you really need is a bit of lawn, a wooden fence and a few pots filled with plants you cant care for.
Give us some pictures of the bare patch of yard and add some plants you really love. Have you got any garden tools, mower, spades etc.
How is your health, can you walk about easy without help, disability etc.I know these might sound very personal BUT you need to make the garden that suits you, not anyone else.
Do you want seating areas, lights, give a picture of the home you have just moved into as any footpaths or structures should really match or co-ordinate with the home .
Love to help you out once you can allow us to learn more about what type of garden you nedd for yourself, Family ? Pets ? entertaining, all this will help people give you the right ideas for your garden.
Hope you can get back soon.
Kindest Regards.
WeeNel.

1) Measure the area, include things like window heights, good views to keep/enhance, bad views to hide and any existing things (trees, other) to keep. Even if the tree is on the neighbor's side of the fence, count it in your landscape ('borrowed landscape')
Draw it to scale, easiest to do this on graph paper.

At this point, scan it and post it here with pictures. Many people may respond with ideas.

2) Lay some tracing paper over it and start drawing some lines to represent the most important parts first. Ignore the plants. Get the hard scape right.
If the property is sloped think about retaining walls as you are laying out the other parts.
Patio-deck-pavers... the main entertainment area.
Include a patio cover for shade. You can also add trees, but a patio cover is instant, trees take time.
Access- walkway to side yard or garage where you will probably keep a lawnmower, pruning tools, fertilizer, and many other garden tools and supplies. Utility area in side yard, or elsewhere. Storage shed?
Swimming pool. hot tub, spa. Need a safety fence? Pool cover? (easiest with a rectangular pool all on one level.)
Outdoor kitchen (gotta think about gas, electric, water, waste water)
Play equipment or area.
Vegetable boxes, area (maximum sun)

3) Go outside with the plans so far, and lay out garden hose, patio furniture and anything else that will help you see your layout. Look at it from several angles, including inside, from the windows. Walk around as if you are using the space. Will you want to carry food all the way out there to the bar-b-que? Maybe bring the outdoor kitchen in closer. Want the pool quite that close to the house? Maybe push it out a bit more.
Are there drainage issues? Go out there in the pouring rain and see if water stands anywhere. After the rain quits see how long it takes to soak in or evaporate. (hint: if frogs are moving in, there is a drainage issue)

Main surface:
If you are on a slope, a deck may work the best, especially if the hill is falling off away from the house.
Concrete or pavers are good on land that is already more level, but can work on sloping land if you want to build retaining walls.
Good to keep some planter space between the house and the patio. Softens that hard surface-to-hard surface effect.
Start looking at possible materials for a patio cover. Different materials may call for different post spacing, and you don't want posts in front of windows or doors. Put something in the garden where the posts might be and see if you have room to walk around, especially with table and chairs in place.

Play area: Good to get it away from the house, but make sure there is a clear path (lawn...) between the door the kids will use and the play area. The kids will trample the vegetable beds if they are in the way.

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While you are still laying out major spaces, start thinking about the details-
Formal- squares, rectangles, circles or half circles, 45 degree angles. Parts that line up with each other.
Informal- curvy, waving lines that really do not relate to anything. Random. Parts rarely line up with anything. A bit scattered, disorganized.
In between- Better than really informal, you might start off with a straight line, then arc it into another feature. Each part relates to the others, and you repeat some theme that relates to shape.

Materials can also play into the details- wood or synthetic decks work best with straight lines, 45 degrees. A skilled carpenter can do curves.
Patio covers are much harder to make curves, and should match the patio to some extent.
Concrete can make all kinds of shapes.
Flagstone mortared over concrete looks less formal that brick or slate.
If the house has certain materials, then re-use these materials. Brick on house = include brick in the landscape. Stucco house = include stucco if you are adding any walls (BBQ, seat wall, fire pit, retaining wall...)