I have lots of different materials too and on principle I like the look; maybe I get bored easily and I don't want the same thing everywhere.

My first thought on looking at what you've got is to question whether every material you use is in fact appropriate to its purpose, and is installed as well as it could be. I think the rock bordering your beds is an example of something that isn't the right material for the purpose - it's too small for the expanse, or something. I like the flagstone pathway, but I don't think it's used quite right; I think I would install it differently. Maybe fit the pieces together and make a walkway with a nice overall shape; or maybe make it more random, anything but in two rows marching, which looks awkward to walk on among other things.

The landscape timbers make for a very angular bed. I think that would look much better planted up, either with a nice tidy arrangement of something like dwarf conifers, or something that will soften the boxiness.

I don't get the regular concrete stones at all; they don't seem to have a purpose quite where they are, nor would I be clear on why they are spaced. Not sure about the arch either, and not sure if I'm seeing the cobblestone patio you mention? Anyway, hope that helps a bit for starters. It can get daunting out there!

KarinL

You could easily over power the mix of materials with a strong planting coposition. If my memory serves me, that is what Karin did.

The biggest problem here is that you have an empty garden with lots of accessories. The only thing there is to notice are the fences, the stones, the arbor, and the stepping stones because there is so little else there.

Those pre-cast stepping stones are meant to fit together much closer than you have them so you may need to do that path again adding more pieces. While you are at it you could change the trajectory and come the other side of the tree and sweeping around the house a bit further out and eliminating the timber. The item that stands out is the arch being stark and white that picks up the palest colours in the stones, in my opinion a naturally coloured arch would be better. I also think the wavy line of the back border adds to the bittiness impression. Having said all that which I hope you take in the spirit it is intended, I agree with laag with his planting comment I also think age will tone things down.

Could you explain the square pavers? Are they connected to the path with the flagstone shaped ones?

I have done a bit of rearranging and just snapped another picture even though it is almost dark. Hopefully, you can see how all this attaches together. I appreciate the feedback as I want our backyard to someday be our haven.

{{gwi:41248}}

To my untutored eye, I'd say it isn't the materials (though, in an ideal world, one could wish for less)--there are too many shapes. Straight square stones, irregular stones, curved bed, straight bed, straight fence.

Draw it out in plan view--just like you would a floor plan for a room and see what you see.

As well, in my opinion, there are too many lines--again, you'll "see" that when you do the plan--just a rough one--no need to measure. You just want to capture the shapes and lines you've made on a piece of paper where you can look at them all at once.

Good luck.

It does look like there is a bit too much going on and some of it I dont understand

for example:

In the first picture there is a raised bed with the timber edging. I dont see a point to it and I think that bed would look better at ground level so that it joins with the rest of the bed that continues around the corner edging the pathway. I also agree that the path to the gate is too rigid, to me it looks like a spine or part of a skeleton and needs to be redone in a more relaxed layout and wider.

In the second photo I agree with karin, the rock edging perhaps hasnt been carried out to it's best potential but if you had plants spilling over them it would soften the look. There is also an area of rocks in the bed on the right, why are they there? I cant see what they are trying to achieve.

In the 3rd photo there is a cobblestone area which has a timber edged area within it with rocks. what does it do? and why isnt it cobblestone like the rest of the area? I also dont understand why there is timber edging around the cobblestone patio. The timber edging is bothering me, it seems unnecessary and stops the cobblestone area from transitioning into the soil/garden area and seems to be creating a barrier to the two surfaces merging more naturally.

These are just my thoughts on it, I think some of the hardscaping could be simplified without too much trouble and that's what I would aim for initially. From looking at your photos the main thing that strikes me is I just keep asking myself "why?/what does it do?".

I agree witn red, above, on the "why?/what does it do?" issue. However ...

It looks to me as though there's a slight slope along the back of the house, hence the raised bed and timbers. Some plants draping over the sides would work wonders to soften those.

With the hose hanging there, I guess I just assumed that the stony area was for drainage purposes. And the timbers that surround the pavers probably keep them securely in place (that soil over to the left in the last picture looks a lot like our own sandy soil that is a great base, but doesn't do much to hole them in place).

As the OP has already observed, there is a lot going on. With several elements that just don't "gel" into a cohesive whole, the eye bounces from one spot to another, looking for something to settle on ... very unsettling ;-) And it isn't just because things don't match - things don't have to match (thank goodness!).

Ink's suggestion to move the path to the other side of the tree seems like a good idea. Also as suggested, when those plants mature, or if some larger ones were added, that will make a big difference. Maybe remove the white rocks edging the bed? They detract from the plantings and do seem redundant with the low fence there, which we now know has a purpose and sometimes I wish I had one (a low fence, not a purpose ... I can carry on quite well without a purpose, other than gardening).

There doesn't seem to be any real reason for the arbor to be where it is; that entry to the back yard is already framed by house and deck and, in my view, it serves to block visual and physical passage into the yard, rather than invite it. I would try moving it over to the gated entry at the side yard. Something woody, evergreen or with interesting bark, mounding, not too high, in the corner to the right of where the arbor is would soften the transition there and add an element of mystery: what's on the other side of that shrub? (A great place to plant a little gem.)

Removing the arbor would also make the picnic table seem less crowded (or maybe it's just the photo/angle?). It looks like there are sliders at the far end of the patio - to the kitchen? If that's the case, the little table just outside the door makes sense, and the location of the picnic table, even though it seems kind of squished into the space and kind of pushed back out of the way.

The swing in the left foreground of the third photo looks really neat, but in oh-so-bleak a setting and with its back turned to where all the activity would be. Kinda like a time-out seat. Do you have plans for this area? Or maybe there's something more outside the photo?

The border does look sparse, but new gardens, especially those predominantly woody plants and perennials, can look scrawny in their youth, as it will take some time for them to grow into their space. If you wish, fill in with annuals or some additional perennials that you will be willing to dig up and move or give away when things become too crowded.

Just my two cents' worth, and given with the best of intentions. It looks like you have a very livable back yard - have some fun with it! I see gardening as a journey rather than a destination. As a matter of fact, there is no set destination - it is ever changing due to increasing or decreasing tree canopy, changing uses, changing interests, and, of course, new finds at nurseries and plant swaps.

Hmm...a couple of things are bugging me as I look at those photos. I think the 2 rows of flagstones are the biggest. You may be happier if you turn them the long way, and have it only one wide. But, usually when I have seen that style of pavers, they are in the middle of grass on both side, not right next to a rectilinear border edge like the timbers. That is also a bit jarring to me. I *think* you have corrected that in the update picture, if I am understanding the location correctly.

The second thing is the square pavers that end with a random space by the rocks. You have a bunch of odd spaces, and I'm not quite sure how they fit together, and what you intend with the spaces.

First off, it is apparent that you already have something of a haven, and that you're really only tweaking the aesthetics. And those are really not all that bad, now that we can see that (a) the wood edge is repeated in other areas under the deck, and (b) the second photo was an interim stage that is now through to completion. Also that the pathway by the hammock echoes the curve of the bed to its left - nice touch.

I think with this overview the one thing I would do is widen the second pathway (in the last photo) to a double row to go with the first pathway. The two-by-two arrangement may not be perfect, but I'm guessing the amount of work required to redo that would be too much, and I'm not sure you could really make it that much better if you are reusing that particular stone. Irene is also right that unless you actually use the pathway itself as the border of your bed, it is not going to address a key design issue at that location.

The one element that I do think is "too many things" is the archway. It just doesn't make sense to me where it is, so maybe you could use it at the side gate or somewhere else. Maybe right at the "entrance" to where the hammock and swing now are, if you put a patio there.

I think the main thing for a back yard is that you are comfortable there and have things around you that you like to look at. Once you have this planted up, I think that will happen.

KarinL

The biggest problem is the missing material - plants.

Thank you everyone. I wish I had a picture of what I actually had to start with when we first bought the house. All of the patio that is cobblestone now was plain concrete. Where the dirt is inside the timbers was all filled with white driveway gravel. I would love for it all to be cobblestone but opted to fill the old gravel area with plants as that would be cheaper. I guess the arch was put where it is because it is sort of an entrance to walk past the flowers and into the hammock. I do need lots and lots and lots more plants! I love planting. I did start with zero plants so it is taking me awhile to get it filled in but I do have every intention of filling it. I'm still not sure what to do about the stepping stones. I think I don't even like the color/style but now I can see it might be because I used them incorrectly.

Maeflower,
Here are my ideas:
The location of your beds is fine. I think the stone edging is the problem. If you take up the stone, you will be left with two beds in nice corners of the yard. Round out the shape of those two beds to be a graceful casual curve, not tight curves. I envision the arbor in the middle of the bed with the fence, with lovely climbing roses ( do you get sun there?) as the focal point of that garden. Where you have it now draws the eye to a funny spot. Usually an arbor is used in a more open area to invite entering the garden, but the spot you have doesn't appear to be open. I have seen arbors as a focal point in the middle of a garden and they are lovely.
Can you find a home for the swing and hammock? I think they seem out of place. Hammocks seem to need trees nearby; this one seems odd out in the open. Anyway,when you lay in it, you see the sky, not your garden you are working so hard on! If you must keep one piece of furniture, I would place the swing in the corner where the hammock is now, but place it cattycorner, so that your back is facing the corner, and you can see your whole yard from the seat.
Then you are left with the fountain. It looks lovely, but out of scale with the swing, which will be gone. I would continue a path through the garden, ( I assume that is how you get into the yard), but it should be a graceful slow curved path, not straight, like you have now. Then it will feel like it belongs to the garden with the curved outside edge. You have 8 pavers, but I think the path is too wide and out of scale. Make your path one paver wide, so that you have a narrow path, and that should get you through the garden to the grass. Or if you can get more pavers, continue the path two wide, but don't line the pavers in a straight line. Each set of two should line up, but the pairs should curve gracefully Then place the fountain on the right side( as you are walking ) of the path.If you are looking at that space from above, as in the picture, divide the garden into thirds. The path should be at the edge of the left one third, and the fountain should be in the middle of the remaining two thirds of the space. The fountain in heavy looking and needs more space to balance it out. When you plant around the fountain, use tall plants behind it to give it a sense of belonging and to balance the scale. I see a black eyed Susan there; they reproduce quickly and could fill in the space right in front of the fountain.
Are the piles of stones near the drainpipe for drainage? If so, you could have the downspout turn 90 degrees to the left as you look at it, and deposit the water away from the garden, towards the corner of the house, into the grass. That pile of rocks needs to go; it is really drawing your eye.
I would take out the redwood trellis, too. I think simplifying here is the key.
Oh, I just found your new pic. See, you did swell with the new path configuration! Now shorten it, so that it deposits you into the grass. The point is that in a small space, it doesn't serve a function. In the garden, it leads you through the plants, and in a full garden, provides a place to step so you don't smash the plants! In the grass, you don't need it. You can find the corner of the yard just fine! ( grin)
Now finish decluttering! Take down the swing, remove the table placed on an angle, but leave the pretty bench. It is pretty and serves a pupose; you can sit there and clean your dirty shoes, or put on garden shoes, or set your tools while working. Looks like you have a hosta theme going on under the deck where the swing is. Do you get sun there? If so, continue with the hostas. But I assume there is no sun, so I would just clear it out, and mulch it or place gravel there. You want to look at the beautiful yard you are creating, not the dark dreary stuff! The picnic table is out of place. If it were me, I would choose to place the picnic table in the corner where you have the hammock and swing. You can sit there or enjoy the garden while you eat. It seems to belong in your yard more than the metal swing or hammock, just because it is wood, and the scale seems better.
Can you remove the square landscape timbers by the cobblestone walk? It is competing with the round stones. And again, if the cobblestones don't fit together, just use one stone for the path. Arrange them so that they have the widest part from left to right, and that will simplify again.
You have good ideas, don't be discouraged. Just remember, the point of the yard is to look at the gardens, not all the hardscape. Less is always more! Good luck and don't despair, it will come together! You have a great space with wonderful privacy. It will be beautiful.