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doverp44

Backyard Landscape Design Help

9 years ago

We are embarking on a much needed backyard overhaul and I have done most of the planning of what we would like to do, however I am stuck on what to do for one area of the house. and is the parterre style garden a good idea? I will include my attempt at some bad Photoshop attempts to help some. I am open to all suggestions.

Located in the south Zone: 8

Backyard faces West

The area is the the left near the (unsightly) Propane tank. I was thinking of something tall between the two far left windows. The screen patio would have some climbing roses/vine maybe. heres a closer view

Other backyard elements

parterre inspiration picture

two live oak trees to the side with a cypress tree in the very back. the guest barn will be painted a BM Black with gravel border and potted plants for the landscaping. Any ideas as to what to plant under the live oaks no grass grows because of the shade.

the other side which will have a stone outdoor fireplace with green giants planted as a screen. underneath the trees to the left will be Hostas, Ferns, and Annabelle Hydrangeas



Comments (5)

  • PRO
    9 years ago

    When it comes to layout of proposed elements you wish to add to the yard, you should be working in plan view, not in perspective view with photos. They're fine for general ideas and inspiration, but placement needs to be in a plan that is drawn to scale. Based on the photos, though, I suspect you are placing the fireplace much to far away to be useful.

    A parterre garden is fine if that is what one wants and is willing to maintain. It is a high maintenance feature, however, so no mystery as to why its rarely seen in typical yards. Is someone in your family sufficiently into gardening that they would be willing to maintain a parterre? If not, it would be far more advantageous for you to put your efforts into general landscaping. Another consideration would be the exact plants you hope to grow in a parterre and if you have enough light for them.

    I didn't see that you said where you're located so I don't think you can expect much in the way of plant recommendations. If you're where they grow, many people grow bromeliads below live oaks, especially the 'flaming torch.'

  • 9 years ago

    Thanks! Of course I agree, I have a plan view Ill try to get a good picture and upload it, there's plenty of room. The prescriptive pictures i uploaded mainly to help others get an idea of what else is actually happening on the property. My main issue is the back left area of the house. Also yes, The fireplace is far back

    Upkeep of a parterre isn't much of a concern, as for the type of plants I am unsure at the moment, Ive even seen rosemary used as a border versus the typical boxwood.

    My location is zone 8b

  • 9 years ago

    I like your ideas overall. They will need to be adjusted.

    I might make the garden farther from your house. You have so much room that it does not need to be that close.

    I would not grow anything on the screen porch. I would want the view to be clear from inside the porch which I think of as a utility more than a decorative feature.

    Your house is not formal so I would make a less formal parterre. I found a few pictures.

    When out of flower it is a nice low green hedge.

    dover P thanked emmarene9
  • 9 years ago

    Thank you emmarene. I do agree that moving the parterre further out would possibly be better there is no reason I could not do that as there used to be a vegetable garden way back near the guest house.

    I have an antique Limestone fountain in storage. that I've been wanting to use it is not ornate at all.

    I love the salvia used as a boarder... is that last picture candytuft?

    Sometimes is just good to have some other eyes to look at your ideas.

  • 9 years ago

    This is the image that I originally saw for the reason behind the close proximity to the porch.

    i also thought about this at one point but I love the parterre the most.