"We are considering a path to the gate from the patio (center of yard) to separate yards."

What is the purpose of separating yards? Or is that just a description of the net result of installing a path?

The wacky-angle pictures are not very useful. Stand just in front of the gate with camera and take a FULL panorama of the scene, with the house in the background, In order to show all of the yard in the scene, the fence just behind you would show in the first and last picture. If your camera doesn't have a pano feature, take it in slightly overlapping pictures while standing at only that 1 spot.

What do you mean by "interior" fence? I see only one fence in the pictures. And surrounding it in landscape bed would be a lot of planting to maintain. Are you up for that?

Thank you

I appreciate your time. I included a panoramic and shots of both sides of tar, overlapping slightly. I hope this helps :)

You’re right about surrounding in landscape - probably not up to that much upkeep.

Yes, the net result of installing a path is what I meant by separating the yard.

How much additional patio do you want?

If the tramp stays, it would be good to kill the grass under it and mulch such that it was in a perfectly circular bed.

You could add bed at fence at the corner areas. (We can't see the corner beyond the tramp.)

The trampoline goes up to the fence. We were thinking of mulching that entire side of the yard as drainage is really poor and the grass on that side is a soggy mess. I do like the idea of a circle of mulch under the trampoline and maybe something different surrounding it. Really just looking for a good design. We have plenty of patio space up top.

Not sure how to help here. There is no good picture or plan to draw on in order to give feedback. Thus, only the most general advice can be given. It sounds like there is no additional patio wanted. A "good design" is one that serves the needs of the people using it. I don't think we know what those needs are, or can see the site very well.

I understand. Our main goal is to not have a soggy back yard. Since the grass is dying under the trampoline we are going to move forward with mulch in a perfect circle under. Beyond that we were looking for a design or suggestions on what to do with the rest of the yard. Since the yard by the trampoline has poor drainage we were thinking of killing all the grass on that side and filling with mulch (similar to the attached drawing).

We like the fire pit and the grass around it. Our hesitation with killing everything on the trampoline side is if it would flow well with all grass on the other side. We have plenty of patio space and beyond that we just want things to look sharp and clean.

I can try a panoramic from the upper deck if you think that would help...

Again, I appreciate all the feedback and I feel I just may not be clear on what we are trying to do.

It would not help to show a pan from an upstairs angle. Your best bet is to provide an accurate plan drawn to scale and ground level panos in slightly overlapping sections (as it seems to be a long yard/house) starting with outward looking views (taken in sharp focus and good lighting, of course.)