You should add an aerial of your property (google earth/maps). It would be easier to see all of it together

You could go with some evergreen trees of your choice along the fence for privacy, with a flowering shrub every 5 or so feet to break up the straight line and add color. Your local landscape nursery is a great place to find advice on which plants. I also think some kind of shade structure like a pergola would look great in the back yard. If the budget allows you could remove existing deck and patio and do a paver patio with curved edging to break up all the corners. Along the side of the house, you could pick some soft textured shrubs for foundation plants, and get a nice dense thick stand of grass growing for the kids to play in. A medium-large shade tree or evergreen in the upper right corner of the second photo to block the neighbors view. Its all up to you, Enjoy!

First thing: invest some $$ in a decent fence. Something at least 4' tall. It can be done in increments.

Second thing: clean out all the flower beds down to the dirt. Eliminate the bed by the deck. NOne of them appear to be functioning or located where they are useful, decorative, or well-placed. This is a lot of labor, but an essential start.

Build a railing around the deck with built-in benches and get a table of an appropriate height. An outdoor sisal rug. In the future, a pergola over one end of the deck to provide summer shade. Opposite the grill, of course. Eliminate the flower bed by the deck and put wide platform steps across the entire width of the deck leading down to the patio.

Between the deck and the fence is where you put the gardening area. What you plant depends on wehther you want flowers or vegetables, bushes, evergreens, etc.

The patio can have a firepit, with cushioned seating. Replace that collection of rocks that borders with a constructed wall, possibly free-form, that leads to another patio or a collection of flower beds and grass and walkways -- great for skating, skateboard, etc. Take this around the side of the house.

The narrow passage between house and fence is a great area for a series of beds bordering a walkway, with a series of archways for flowering vines and an interesting gate.

The playhouse is a great item, but it looks like it's just plunked in the most out-of-the-way spot. It needs incorporation with the rest of your plan as children are obviously a huge part of it. THink about what you can do to the area around the playhouse for safety and appeal (landscape timbers bordering a certain area with a thick layer of sand; possibly new sod instead of sand).

Good luck! Use your imagination. Be adventurous.

Thank you for all the wonderful feedback! I can't wait to apply some of these ideas! I should mention it is early spring here and the flower beds are full of color once summer approaches but I agree, I'd like to start from scratch.

I would love this space as there is so much you can do with it. Just a note about the new fence idea which needs serious thought. First, it will make your yard seem a great deal smaller and add shade to any garden beside it. The positives would be the privacy factor and that it would add some personality to the space. I would not put in arborvitae as these get too big for your space and would feel massive. Lilacs could add some height, if you are thinking hedge maybe privet? I think the kid area should be devoted to that and keep the lawn there. The grassy area by the house screams PATH with something like hosta (will grow anywhere) or fern to cover up the gravel by the house. You could get rid of the grass and put in stepping stones. To the right of this maybe some raised beds for planting veggies. Your kids might have fun with this. The deck could use some large planters to give it a boundary. Lattice could be put up on one side to give some privacy. Yes to large steps and here you could have potted plants to add much needed color. Think of getting rid of most of the lawn or working towards that. My mom had a yard much the same size and shape and she put down flagstone and brick in a non uniform pattern and had one bed which lined the fence and another close to the house for plantings. Have fun!

i can see that you already have a stone patio, so i would overhaul the deck to make it more spacious. plant flower beds and get more green grass by watering and planting for a very pretty feel. Then you might even be able to fit a swing set!

Something for privacy on the sides but keep it low at the back because it looks like you have a nice view. Agree with above that tall fencing will shrink your yard considerably. I like fence sections interrupted by a tree/tall shrub or vines on fencing to soften it up.

I cant help but think the deck cuts the space in half and impedes the flow. If it were replaced with pavers like you have already, maybe with the (joking) grass grout? Then your new higher fence would really give you some great privacy.

Remember that when you can't spread out, think about building up. Your deck and patio could be at several levels to make it feel more spacious. Also, even if your areas are tiny, think about what you want to be doing in your yard, build those areas, and then make them flow into one another. Relaxing, cooking, gardening, kids play area, bird watching, etc. Really think about not only what you are going to be doing and enjoying out there but also about HOW much maintenance you want to be doing all the time.

Hi, I also think the deck is cutting the space in two. Perhaps a greater expanse of pavers, some curved flower beds and an elevated veggie patch for the kids.

Alongside your house could be home to a cottage garden with stepping stones.

* Ideally the stepping stone path would lead to a point the garden eg: the cubby house or a beautiful garden bench.

I agree with many of the comments/suggestions here. Beginning with new fencing; vinyl coated, chain link fencing is extremely economical preferably in 'black' as surprisingly enough, visually it blends in with the landscape. Reason why it is often used for Commerical use! ie: Hotels, Golf Courses etc. Combined with climbing vines it will also provide privacy with ventilation. There is nothing as beautiful as a wall of perennial flowering vines and as you do have a small yard, it would eliminate the need for flower beds.
What ever you do decide, think MAINTENANCE and upkeep. You want to enjoy your yard .. not be a slave to it.
P.S: Chain link fencing comes in various heights and can be beautifully paired with iron gates.

I would really try to work with the deck, not take it out. To make a space more interesting and feel bigger – DON’T leave it all on the same level. Changing levels so you are moving up, down, around, through a space I think is much preferred to to just stepping “into” the yard and that’s it - you’ve arrived. To avoid the feeling of disrupted flow, work with the rest of the yard around it to enhance the transitions from one area to the next. Wide deep stairs are good for that. Then work with plantings to soften the space and frame views from one area to the next. Your deck appears to be in good condition and a pretty good size. Decks can be so useful and it would be expensive to replace. I mean you can hose off muddy dogs (or kids) before they come inside and the water flows below so no one is standing in a puddle to do it. All that wood can absorb a lot of heat, so if that’s an issue for you, you could consider adding a sail shade or pergola overhead. Plants growing on the pergola would soften the space. You could refinish the deck to a softer color as well.

I would also keep the patio. Just apply the same comments about transitions.

Perimeters are a big issue in themselves. Perhaps you don’t need privacy and would prefer to interact with neighbors over a fence. Consider your needs, views you can borrow and frame, and views you want to conceal, etc. I enjoyed “landscapes make a privacy statement” in this week’s email. Opaque panels will allow sunlight through, but allow privacy, vines growing on a strong metal framework, can soften your space without taking up a lot of horizontal space. You can mix it up as your site and needs direct. Don't limit yourself to one type.

As for maintenance, planting beds that are not separated from lawn with a significant barrier can be a lot of work, especially if you have a rhizome spreading type of grass like Bermuda. By significant barrier, I mean a concrete sidewalk. Also watch

What ypu plant or do depends on what type of exposure you get. What direction does the back of the house face? If its south or west facing you might want large shrubs for some shade. If the back area is already shaded by the house i would only do arborvitae on the sides as suggested. Also, do clean out all the beds. I dont think you have to remove the deck or the existing paver patio. I realize those elements are expensive and you can probably get the most impact woth your money by doing other things.

Gosh there is so much you can do with your yard. Use the RDM Architecture photo you have in your Ideabook of the garden with the path as an "inspiration". It doesn't have to look like this, but this looks like it may be the "feel" you want. If you want to keep things simple and not spend a ton of money you can make three "rooms" by separating them with different layers of plantings: a play area, an eating area and a relaxation area. Carve out your relaxation area a bit more towards your neighbors (looks like it slopes) so you have a bit more space and make more of an enbankment towards their garage and plant some larger, everygreen hedges there for privacy, layering downwards towards your yard with some lower ones and some room for annual color. Upgrade your pathways with some nice pavers from your local home improvement store and be more thoughtful with the placement of the boulders you have surrounding the patio. Your deck and patio can be nicely integrated into a cohesive look; give your deck and the lattice a fresh coat of lighter, good quality, outdoor paint and connect your two spaces (deck and patio) with two complimentary outdoor rugs. Surround everything with low bushes and color. It looks like you have a decent amount of space from your neighbors in the back. Finish it off with some different sized pots of greenery and annual color on your deck and an outdoor table with chairs and an umbrella in a complimentary color to your outdoor rugs. This is simple, should be inexpensive and give you a nice, fresh look for summer.

Can you lose the tree house. It looks strange there. then add a fence. Because you are short on space I would avoid too many bushy trees that will fill out and obscure evenmore useable space. If your children are of the age that within a few years that tree house becomes obsolete, I would get rid of it. If you have some bank then I would go for a vinyl fence that looks like wood interspaced with lattice fence panels that you can use to grow a lovely blooming vine from. then add a paver area. Since you only provided to one shot I cannot tell what is behind you but I would put a paved area near the door and keep furniture simple and to scale. You can do potted plants throughout and maybe a small raised planting bet. If you hubby is a outdoors guy then you can go fun with a small putting green and as always proper lighting of the area can make it festive, intimate and fun.

I had a yard similar to yours once and thought -- Hopeless! Then a designer friend told me to meaure it and put it on graph paper. Wow, what a difference! The naked eye is not always a good judge of dimensions.

Determine where you need screening and where you don't. You definitely need screening of those other houses off one end. I'm not sure what is past your yard boundaries on the other two sides.

Don't forget the wall of your house as the fourth wall of your garden. Vines, half-circle pots with draping geraniums, trellises....

Also, instead of fence try a line of Monet arches with flowering vines at either end. You can run a lower fence along with them if you need to keep dogs in or whatever. See examples at GraceDesignAssoiates.com, great for screening your yard from other houses, while maintaining a small, manageable footprint.

But most of all, make your graph map, and make a list of what you want the yard to do. Kids playing? Outdoor cooking? Entertaining? Zen quiet moments? Cutting flowers? A hammock? A fountain for you and the birds? Once you know the real size and the functions it needs to serve, you are well on your way!

PS: I confess, I really don't understand the deck at all. Seems to me it shoud GO. I hate especially that it is raised. Maybe repurpose that wood into a dining pergola tucked into one end?

I agree. Remove the deck and the paver patio. I would maximize your lawn space and planting areas. Especially having kids, the more grass and softscapes the better. If you want a hard surface for seating or entertaining use natural stone installed in the grass (similar to the paths a lot of people have mentioned previously). That will open up the area and make your space feel a lot larger than having it divided by to many elements. As for your screen, it appears that straight out the back it is very open to the neighbor. I would talk to the neighbor and see if maybe they would want to work with you. It might be possible to split the cost of installation with them and extend the planting area. This would give you more flexibility in plant choices also. They may welcome the idea of privacy to their backyard. Where the playhouse sits it looks like a similar situation. As for fencing, look at a shadow box style in that 5 foot range. You probably want to stay away from any type of solid fencing that would restrict air flow to the back considering how close the other houses are anyway. A decorative lattice style fence topper on the side adjacent the neighbors would give you some additional height.

What a great space! Your right though, it needs a little something to give it life. I would add some color and low maintenance plants.
Rocks along the house in image one - push some rocks back, get to the ground, you can plant some great things in your rock bed. Roses perhaps for color. Make sure your plants are appropriate to the the amount of water drainage, sunlight, and soil.
For privacy, protective railing - add white (balance out the light color of the house) trellis to one side of deck (picket fence side), opposite the door to house (and on side opposite bbq pit too if desired). Grow a low maintenance vine, something with color and flowers would be ideal. Make sure it doesn't attract too many bees though! Add an eating area to the deck!
Image 3 wooden box bed against deck - grow a seasonal herb or vegi garden here. Rosemary that gets tall and fragrant would be great here. You can smell it while your bbq. Grab some and add it to your cooking.

A cubby house of your own is the most amazing thing when you’re five. There is a great range of cubbies on the market, from the very basic to the overly elaborate. It's important to place a cubby house within easy sight of the house, preferably from where you spend the most time. Position the cubby house at a slight angle in the yard to give children a feeling of privacy while they play but allow you to keep an eye out in case of any accidents. A partially open front is a great idea; it allows for easy transition between inside/outside play and lets you see what's going on with a quick glance. Imagination is still the best toy. A letterbox is a novel addition and a blackboard is great fun, while a window box looks pretty, plus they'll love watering their own plants.

cubby houses

some people are saying to keep the deck, but there is really no point with a stone patio

Even small space can be turned into usable spaces....I would go with a custom designed pergola, if possible with retractabel canopy, since there seems to be a lot of sunshine on that side...check out this Cedar Pergola Kit page http://www.outdoorlivingtoday.com/oltss/storefront/products.php?category=pergolas

Just had to add this for a suggestion

Mrs, Wright

It was good of you to wait for me to find you.

If this is Australia, I would not be criticized for arriving five years later, but in the U.S., someone will follow that thinks poorly of me for commenting at this late hour.

You may have resolved your quest, but it is a common problem, so perhaps others will benefit from my wise counsel. It is fun for me, at any rate.

I love the quality shown by 14thstreet. inkwitch has excellent professional advice; Christine has good logic; Karen from Santa Fe has good experienced advice.

To get started, think of your rear yard as a series of rooms, and let's walk through. Analyze first, then plan.

Walk out the back door and you are on a brick terrace or patio. Walk out the ?kitchen ? door and you are on the rear deck with access to the outdoor grill.

Look left, you are overwhelmed by the neighbor's garage and service area, with no screen or filter.

Look right to see the kids temporary sand box and tree house (I liked someone's idea of a mailbox and house number. They are smack dab at the neighbor's property line, with a bold tree trunk but no branches to interrupt the view. They probably don't like the proximity any better that you do. The window in this end of your house is high, like a kitchen window above a sink or counter, so there is observation of this area to the right from within, perhaps the kitchen or a workshop.

Might I assume that the property on the left extends beyond yours, however the one on the right has your same rear alignment.

Let's continue your rear fence up along the right side of your property, at least to the front line of your house, perhaps to the street, if permitted.

Up at the left neighbor, his solid fence is probably the maximum height allowed in the neighborhood, so the screening could be a structure off the left corner of your house, at least out even with the beginning of their garage, or a low-branched tree.

You are receiving their surface water under the fence, but perhaps your plant bed is managing it there.

The small area above the brick terrace might become a handy herb & vegetable garden for the kids to plant and maintain, away from the TV and electronics. Or you may need to expand the terrace on one level or two.

The wooden deck is where your husband has fun entertaining guests, while he performs his skills at the grill. He needs a few things to improve the party. First, he needs a counter to place things on when they come out of the kitchen, maybe even a radio or record player - no phones please.

He needs benches, left and right, or perhaps just wrapping one corner. Men like a railing to lean on and look important.

He needs a horseshoe court between the deck and the fence line for his pals to play horseshoes or cornhole, while having a few beers. Let's have a small refrigerator against the house, away from the steps, to reduce traffic in & out of the kitchen.

The neighbor on the right has a grill by his door, so be sure there is a gate in the new side fence.

As your daughter is growing up, she can compete with her boyfriends at the cornhole game, while the fathers throw horseshoes - so the cornhole can move around beyond the tree house in the sideyard,

The sideyard is not wide enough for volleyball, but you could do a narrow game of croquet in there, or put in benches or picnic tables for kids' friends meeting and eating, separate from the parents, yet still safe at home, rather than meeting friends at the mall.

There is also the option of planting a forest, that you can walk a path through at both sides of the house, where you can hang bird feeders or have a dog run.

See what fits your family's needs and dig in.