Back Yard- Landscaping and Using Patio Area More

6 years ago

This is a two part question.

1) It might be hard to tell from this picture but where the grass looks yellow, it's actually not grassy towards the back of the yard. Any ideas why or how to fix it? Is there other landscaping we should do? We have a puppy who likes to dig FYI

2) How can we better utilize this patio area? Is there a way to cover up the cracks/discoloration in the pavement (maybe a huge heavy duty rug?)

Thank you in advance!

Featured Answer

l pinkmountain

6 years ago

Yes, and some of them look like evergreen trees, notorious for hogging all the sun and water. Pots of shade loving plants do work. I do mulch under my trees and pots of bright colored impatiens mixed with vinca and begonias. Lobelia is good too.

As for your deck, I'm thinking you just got the house? I wouldn't rip out the patio if you need more space, you can add on to it. Start using it and figure out your needs. Things to think about: privacy and views, are there views you'd like to block or privacy you'd like to establish. That can be solved with landscaping. Shade can be provided by trees, there are some fast growing ones that are nice for patio areas like autumn blaze maple or shademaster honey locust, for example. Figure out the path of the sun to figure out where the shade will be cast. Are you going to grill and eat on the patio? You can start with patio umbrellas covering those areas and decide if you want a pergola. I would love one, but umbrellas will work and the nice thing about them is you can move them around as your shade needs change. I'd wait a bit before committing to a pergola to figure out how big and where to place it. How about views? What do you want to look out on from your patio? Do you want a play area for lawn games or the like? A fire pit area. A kitchen or vegetable garden. An area for birdwatching? Three season interest. A place to snooze in a hammock? Just some ideas. Start with some thoughts on how you will use your yard, which will develop as you live there for a year. Decide on a plan for the whole yard and work on it in stages. Start with the things that will make the most difference, like hardscaping and trees.

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Comments (8)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 years ago
IMO the patio is way too small to do much , maybe a BBQ and a nice table for outdoor eating.An outdoor rug under the table and maybe a matching mat by the door to cover the cracks . I would just rip it up and install a much larger patio properly laid to avoid cracking next time.The grass is not happy there so maybe look at more plantings in beds and not so much grass, nice big space right now just blah, could be awesome. Maybe puppy needs a dog run
Theresa Doan
Original Author
6 years ago
I agree Patricia! Thank you, we definitely want a grill and an outdoor table maybe with an umbrella. My mom had suggested a retractable awning but that might be too expensive and not worth it since it's a small space. I like the idea of ripping it out and getting a larger one installed. Any idea of the cost range on that?

We will look into plantings on beds!

Thanks again!
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littlebug zone 5 Missouri
6 years ago
There's probably no grass under the trees because the trees are taking all the sun and water. They look like large, established trees so their need for water is high. You will have a hard time growing anything there unless you plant something shade loving and you water heavily.

I agree that your patio is too small and too sunny. Could you have an addition poured? Research 'concrete acid stain' to fix what's there. Also research pergola. A pergola would give you some shade. Do you need privacy too? I would plant some small ornamental trees nearby.
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
6 years ago
Here's a cute pergola built over a concrete pad like yours.
Theresa Doan
Original Author
6 years ago
Ah that makes sense about the large trees using the water. Maybe I will try an above ground planter with plants that like shade and water them a lot.

I'll research pergola and concrete acid stain! Appreciate your suggestions!
Theresa Doan
Original Author
6 years ago
Wow! Lots of info pinkmountain, thanks so much! I'll look into those plants and I like how you suggested thinking about it first and building in stages.
PRO
Yardvaark
6 years ago
I don't think the patio is too small for many uses, but one deficiency is that there is nowhere to store a grill outside of the window view or partially blocking a window. Wish the patio extended around the corner of house where there seems to be plenty of blank walls.

There are a number of high quality, durable concrete coatings (not "paint") that could dress up the concrete so long as it is sound. The picture is too blurry to tell.

Insofar as getting advice on general landscaping of the back yard, you need photos that show the complete span. If you were to stand at center of back of house and photograph everything from left to right without moving the camera position, taking slightly overlapping photos, we'd have a lot better idea of what you are working with now. Take the photos with a better camera as these pictures are too small and blurry. Also show a better picture of the patio floor.