Help with my blank slate

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

I'm daydreaming about the winter being over and what simple landscaping I can add to my backyard this spring. I'm in central Iowa in zone 5a. The back yard faces west.A small shade garden in the shaded nook area to the left? Something tall flanking the slider?What are your first thoughts when you see this?Our yard is substantially smaller than our previous yard, so I don't want to add too much in the yard. I have 3 little kids that need space to run and play ball. But definitely some foundation planting is needed.

Featured Answer

simplynatural

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Fence height is usually regulated by government zoning and/or neighborhood association rules. Limits of 4' in front and 6' in back are common. Nine feet is unusually tall for any suburban neighborhood and would look very obtrusive, I think, especially if only on one property line. Check regulations before even considering that. If the purpose of the fence is simply to hide the arborvitaes, planting an irregular band of other trees, shrubs, and maybe tall grasses in front of them would be a more attractive, if less instant, solution that would also provide a valuable shelterbelt for local wildlife. Or do you need enclosure fencing to keep the kids safe?

I would think about overall layout first. Besides play space, what else would you like the yard to accommodate? Entertaining? Outdoor cooking/dining? Food or flower gardening? Natural area? Wildlife habitat? Storage shed? Greenhouse? Swing set? Pool someday? Other? Where should each of these areas go? How should they connect? And how much time do you want to spend maintaining them? Even if full development is years away, it helps to have a plan in mind to work toward. For me, first priorities would be privacy, shade, and something beautiful to see, even if all of that starts small. The nook and slider area is a great place to begin.

Here's a roughly edited photo for ideas: extended patio (could extend more later), railroad tie steps up the nook slope to help balance the prominent timber deck, red-twig dogwoods as suggested by @everdebz (they're very hardy and grow quickly), a couple of small flowering trees (redbud? serviceberry?), low plants/flowers around them. I left the rest of the yard unchanged (except for greening the grass a bit in honor of spring).

Then in a later year:

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Comments (12)

callirhoe123
4 years ago
Need pictures.
Ellen Smithson
Original Author
4 years ago
I'm new to Houzz and can't figure out how to add a pic! I'm on the website on my phone. Oh wait, there it is.
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Sigrid
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
What are my thoughts when I see your yard? Big and bare. I'd start with improving views from places you might sit. Frankly, I think you can add a lot and still have plenty of room for kids to run.

I like fruit. Most requires little work and kids love to eat berries and fruit. Advice on fruit growing usually lists a lot of work, but you can often just ignore it. You may not get as good a harvest, but so what?

I got thornless raspberries so that they'd be easier to be near. Joan J. They are tasty and give me a good harvest.
cecily 7A
4 years ago
I would start with a split rail fence. Next I would add another shade tree. If finances allow, foundation planting would be third or that can wait until next year.
everdebz
4 years ago
Red-twigged dogwood might not be considered a boundary shrub, but I've seen it in a line. Very pretty seen in the snow.
Ellen Smithson
Original Author
4 years ago
The person behind me has a row of arbovrites lining off their oddly shaped lot. Would it look weird for me to put a 9' privacy fence along the back of my property line ?
everdebz
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I'm not a pro. Tell why the 'weird' comment, to place a fence? is 9' extra tall, I suppose so... I'd think you could plant 'something' to become a 'filler' between their arborvitaes.
Ellen Smithson
Original Author
4 years ago
I'm asking if a fence along one property line would look ok because fences usually cover 4 sides to enclose yards.
User
4 years ago
Re: fence along just one line of a property. We did that. Yes, it was a bit odd looking. Our first house was on a lot that was narrow front to back, as was the house behind us, so our two houses were closer to each other than normal for the subdivision. And, they had a large dog that lived in their (chain link fenced) backyard that barked, barked, barked -- for attention, not out of viciousness, so we felt sorry for it, not frightened by it, but it was still annoying.

We added a 6' wood privacy fence along the back lot line. It helped somewhat, but was obviously for screening out just that one particular neighbor. We moved a year or two later, and the new owners extended the privacy fence to enclose the entire back yard.

I've never seen a 9' privacy fence, 5' or 6' is normal. If you're thinking of fencing, I'd recommend enclosing the yard and going no taller than 6'.
cecily 7A
4 years ago
Your yard is open and spacious which is a great feeling. I wonder why you want to box it in with a privacy fence? I suggested split rail (lined with wire to keep random dogs out) to allow air and sunlight. I don't see any obvious screening needs so I don't understand the tall fencing.
simplynatural
4 years ago
Maybe post a photo taken from the house looking toward the arborvitae?