Need suggestions for backyard plants to replace the dead ones!
Polina
4 years ago
Hello gardeners!
I would love your suggestions for plants that are low-water and low-maintenance to plant in my yard. I live in a rental house and, over the past few years, we have accidentally killed nearly all the bushes and landscaping :(. I am in the SF Bay Area, and during the drought I couldn't bear to pour so much water into the ground and I think this, along with forgetfulness, is what killed everything. Despite my water use sensitivities, I feel like I need to reinvest in the landscaping because we've killed so much!
Can anyone suggest bushes or plants that I can buy and put in along the perimeter of the grass perhaps (then it will get some water from the sprinklers!) or along that back fence (where there used to be a lot of tall and bushy tree-type plants/bushes). Maybe vine-y plants, or easy-care bushes, or something else? I would really appreciate any suggestions!
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jayferg
4 years agoI love hebes. They don't need a lot of water and they bloom for a few months each summer. And, bees love them! Foliage is nice too. This is mine that gets morning sun.
Polina
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Need landscape ideas for backyard
Comments (52)@littlemissk, I like that instant shade solution. @ashleyoden if you use something with that style, you might want to change out your light pole to something a little more contemporary so it'll match. There are a lot of good suggestions here. I'm not that familiar with which plants work best in Alabama but I think trees give the biggest bang for the buck. Now that the project is bare dirt, it's better to do the most major additions now before you restore with sod. Move in all the bigger landscape trees and stuff you can and while you have the company or labor lined up to install the sod. Just have them prep the beds and use mulch where you eventually want to do smaller planting that you can install yourself if you want. If there are any other structures, future electrical for more lights or an eventual outdoor kitchen or irrigation, put in those services and sleeves underneath walkways. Have you thought about in a high traffic area of putting some synthetic turf and tying it into a putting green? Look at the great ideas on the site and think about what you’re going to be looking at the most when you’re in the house. Then create an outdoor room that looks great while you’re looking out from the windows as well as serves your needs poolside. Your outdoor room should have many elements an indoor room has. The ceiling is defined by the shade structure (or tree canopy), the walls by the fence or plants. You’ll also have your furniture, fire pit and lighting, a carpet of sod. Framed and enhanced by nice plantings and colorful pots as your accessories and it will draw you outside to enjoy. You're camera will help you. I don't think these angles best show the area where you'll want to concentrate. I also like to plan to have a nice large area for a tent or bounce house for bigger family events, so a 30 x 30' space is a good size to start with and keep large trees with spreading branching even farther away they don't encroach. Think about keeping it low maintenance, nice shaped beds that are easy to mow and trim with nice radiuses, easy to access with a piece of equipment if you need a repair. Luckily it looks like you have a nice sized yard to accommodate. Good luck...See MoreSuggestions needed for backyard makeover
Comments (7)Thanks, you have more space than the first pictures were showing. Personally, I like the fourth picture in the last set if pictures - looks more lush and more fun. I would consult with a pool designer first. You can have your oasis!...See MoreNeed Help with Backyard!!! To much concrete and needs privacy!!
Comments (22)Yes, can't have too many layers of safety: fencing, pool alarm when water surface is disturbed, door locks. and.... tell all babysitters the pool is off limits. Once a friend had a babysitter that wanted to go swimming. So, she stacked up lots of things so she and the kids could get over the fence and into the pool. Brainless!...See MoreBackyard Bland into Backyard Bliss
Comments (5)The area does not look like it has a proper irrigation system - most likely none at all. If you think $1.00 per square foot for sod is too expensive, your budget is unrealistic. The cost of sod alone (not counting soil prep or irrigation) in my area is 55cents / SF. You dont have to have grass over more than 1500 SF to make it useable as a play area. Layout the grass area first between the trees. Place the horseshoe and bocci courts parallel to each other for efficient use of space. Dont have the grass abut the fence, rather create a planting area for shrubs to soften the fence. The grass area can be curved using radiuses and a border to separate the turf from the planting areas. Just doing all the above and cutting down the grass areas to less than 2000 SF will still cost over $4000. Also fix the problems (from a designer's perspective) instead of working around them: 1) Remove that courtyard wall that serves no purpose being in a backyard. Not only is it ugly brick painted white, it keeps the patio from flowing into the rest of the area. 2) Get rid of that path to nowhere that leads out from the columns 3) If the firepit seating area is in a bad spot get rid of it. Also decide if you really need to replace it. I like to recommend people consider portable fire pits as they can be placed wherever is the most efficient use of space and used seasonally. With a fixed fire pit, especially campfire style, they tend to look like giant outdoor ashtrays while not in use. 4) Install a proper automatic irrigation system with pop up lawn heads and drip irrigation for the shrub areas....See MorePolina
4 years agoPolina
4 years ago
emmarene9
4 years agoPolina
4 years ago
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