Where are you located? Garden Zone?

San Diego

Looking out from the inside the house.

do you want a patio cover/pergola of any type over the sliding doors? what direction do the back doors face out too?

No we decided not to get any covers since that makes the space feel smaller and blocks the light.

The doors fold open to the right.

Wait that was not a good picture

The opening is 10 feet

How about some stock tank planters from the feed store for vegetables and herbs?

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Rainwater collection cistern that can be used to to water plants and help fight a wildfire.

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I would also consider creating a bee/butterfly/hummingbird/bat garden. Lots of natives and perennials.

Looking west out the windows

It’s pretty much all shade till noon. Only after noon from 1:00 to 6pm is sun coming in directly.

Not sure what landscaping because I'm trying to figure mine out as well but LOVE LOVE those doors.

It’s so difficult to figure out. Even though I want something simple and my yard is not treat big it seems like a monumental task. More importantly I don’t want to make a mistake. But I think that the way you learn by making mistakes.

Gevork, my sis lives in carlsbad and has a small backyard. she packs a big punch w/a lot of foliage though. I'm posting it so you can see what's she's planted against her fence, and the type of hardscape and garden stuff she uses.

Here's her front. (it's a rather small house)

behind that fence is a nice patio/courtyard

she does a lot of succulents, plumerias, ferns and a bazillion others! If you did succulents, like she's done here, they don't require a huge amount of tending. you have the perfect climate for them. add some hardscape like a path, rocks, pebbles, birdbath, fountain, plant a few fruit trees, or container plants. (there's a huge nursery she goes to in Escondido )

here's the back

This one is mine.

another option against your fence could be something easily done by you with a raised flower bed. I did the teak wood path myself and used flagstone/pebbles with it.

our styles aren't too far apart!

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Very pretty.

I like all the greens.

First, can you post dimensions of space. With a long fairly narrow space, you need to create “rooms” with destinations. I would also determine how much maintenance you can handle. That will help you in plant material decisions. Also, minimizing use of water in your area is probably a factor to consider. Do you plan on entertaining in this yard? Is it mainly for adults or will you need some children spaces?