Help with Front yard - scaling back the grass

9 years ago

I live in the Pacific NW zone 7B. The first picture is the right side of the house, we just want to remove the grass (retains water) up to the red line. We are going to remove the clay soil and replace with good dirt (with sand). Cut through the small hedge and have an opening to walk to a future bench. Maybe add a ceramic pot with flowers? There is a small rock wall where we dont weed wack, removing and regrading. I want to move the grass line up, add more plants and add a bench. I need ideas for what plants to put in. The space in front of the window has irish Yew, Dog wood bushes, Pieris japonica, weeping larch, and yellow barberry. The property line has Arborvitae, crape myrtle, holly, spirea, Osmthanus Burkwoodi, Katsura in the corner with Davdii. In the other corner, is a merlot redbud, This area has irrigation . We are just tired of maintaining the lawn. I dont mind weeding between plants.

18 x 35'

Second picture I am yanking out the lawn and putting in plants. Need help with design please. 11 x 25 The neighbor has the Smoke tree. This area does not have irrigation .

thanks in advance for ideas.

Featured Answer

laceyvail 6A, WV

9 years ago

If you replace the clay with sand, you will have created a non draining bathtub. Learn how to work with the soil you have.

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Comments (8)

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Yardvaark
9 years ago
There's a lot I don't get about this post, beginning with orientation. The convention (and it ought to be a universal rule) is that calling out "left" and "right" is from the viewpoint of the street at the front of the property. What you are calling the "right side of the house" looks to me like the left side ... unless your house is the one at left that barely shows.

You go on to say all the things you are going to do. But where are the overall objectives that will control what you are trying to create? It seems to me more like you are gardening and don't have much interest in employing landscape design (using plants and other materials to solve problems as opposed to having this or that nice thing somewhere.)
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emmarene9
9 years ago
I agree. Sand is a bad idea.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
9 years ago
If you have drainage issues, you really need to consult with someone who can come to the site to evaluate since changing soil and plants won't solve water issues unless grade problems are addressed.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 years ago
watty, where are you located in the PNW? If anywhere close to me, I'd be happy to swing by to take a look at your situation, if I can fit you into my schedule :-) Professional landscape designers like myself tend to be a little booked up at this time of year but I can usually squeeze in a quick consult.
wattynw
Original Author
9 years ago
Yes i am sammamish, I have had about three companies come out to evaluate the lawn and soil, not designers. They all say to remove the dirt in front yard. One of the reason's i turned to this board because its overwhelming! I at least have figured out I do not like maintaining a lawn. Thank you Gardengal
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 years ago
watty, message me directly and we'll get something worked out. Sammamish is not all that far away.......... :-))
l pinkmountain
9 years ago
Grass does not retain water, soil retains water. Lacyvail, I'm curious as to why you say that removing clay will create a non-draining bathtub, since clay is used as lining for landfills to make sure they don't drain. It seems to me that if your yard was the only one that had good drainage and was surrounded by clay, your yard would more likely be the sponge, not the bathtub. Seems like a french drain is something that would move the water away from your lawn, but it has to have someplace to drain to.