Help with new back yard, straight or curved edges?

last year

My husband and I need to decide this week (!) on a landscape plan for our new home with an angular back yard, shaped much like a necktie, long sides about 100' and the corner point roughly a triangle 60'x60'x80', broadest on the "lawn" side. It does have a gradual rise to the point; one corner of the point is adjacent to a natural area of Ponderosa pines, so there will be wildlife there. We have to vinyl fence, and have an HOA. :)
Our home of 18 years is a farm with masses of perennials and shrubs. Downsizing is part of our desire, but I will take quite a few of my plants.
My new discovery is gravel gardens, and I would like to use the far point mostly for that, maybe a few raised vegetable beds, possibly raspberries, as that has the most sun exposure (facing NW, zone 5).
Our helpful contractor has offered to pour curbing 3' from the fence around the yard, but it will probably be straight. I'm trying to decide if that's best. I was so excited for it after years of trying to keep grass from getting into my beds, but am I going to be sorry to have the straight frame around the yard when I am envisioning swaths and curves? The sprinkler system also has to be figured out this week, so I'm on a crunch for time. The home itself is a stretch, so I don't want to add a lot more expense in making a "perfect" yard now, but also hate to do something that we may want undone. Appreciate any help!
We are a retired couple with a dog. We want some lawn, but also open to less work while making it interesting. Thinking of a shade tree area near the house where I can bring hostas and heucheras. I really want pollinators and plan to use a lot of natives, just don't want to be limited to a rigid border look around most of the yard. I'll stop there, just feeling overwhelmed and happy for some ideas. We are going to a nursery today for design help.

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

last year

"Our helpful contractor has offered to pour curbing 3' from the fence around the yard, but it will probably be straight. I'm trying to decide if that's best."

As a professional landscape designer, I think this is a very poor design decision. First, a 3 foot width is barely wide enough to support most perennials, let alone any shrubs that would give the garden some structure and year round presence.. Second, concrete curbing is a far too permanent or hard to remove solution to keeping the lawn out of the planting beds. It takes very little effort to manually edge the beds a couple times a season or you could opt for an easy but less permanent solution and use flexible edging (available at most home improvement stores) or stone or concrete cobbles intended for this purpose. And finally, straight, matching parallel borders are best in a more formal setting, whereas graceful and generously sweeping curves lend themselves to a more natural, casual style.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

Gailan -
last year
last modified: last year
You should develop a planting plan to determine the right size for the beds. Gardengal is right though, three feet is entirely too narrow for a yard as big as yours. You may want to consider steel edging. It provides a much better and consitent curve and will last longer than plastic or wood edging. Plastic edging never worked well for me.
Related Professionals
Beachwood Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Montgomeryville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Wilmington Landscape Contractors · Cerritos Landscape Contractors · Hoffman Estates Landscape Contractors · San Benito Landscape Contractors · Boise Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Commerce City Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Haddonfield Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · North Myrtle Beach Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Racine Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Riverside Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Watauga Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Lincoln Swimming Pool Builders · Valinda Swimming Pool Builders
laceyvail 6A, WV
last year
And plan for trees so the house and yard aren't baking in the sun. For morning shade, trees to E/SE. For shade from the hottest sun of the summer, trees to S/SW/ Large trees at appropriate distance, smaller trees closer up to layer the shade. Near porch or patio, you might just need a smaller tree.
tracefloyd
last year
last modified: last year
No curb, I agree. But it sounds like you know what you want so that's good. I would go with curves for the lawn since that's what you like and with bender board, it can always be reconfigured. For gardens or planting areas, squared off is okay.

With a yard this size you could divide and conquer. You have space for a lawn, plus shade trees, an orchard, and your vegetables and butterfly flowers in your raised beds. Not too much work once established.
kitasei2
last year
Sweeps not squiggles!
tracefloyd
last year
last modified: last year
Here is something. The lawn could also be kidney shaped rather than a circle and the stepping stones could be flagstone for a less formal look.

They have floating fountain kits for birdbaths or ponds that are solar powered.. We got one and they work great...carefree.
3onthetree
last year
Being rushed for a deadline does not usually lend to a great design. Even my response 3 days after your OP is probably moot. When you don't have a landscape architect/designer involved, it may be best to live there a bit before you do anything too permanent. After a couple months of living in this new situation, you may decide to: screen the neighbors; might decide it's too far in the back for the vege beds; might have some grading witnessed after rains that need some management; might want a playset area or shed; the HOA may have a say in all of it.

I'll add another vote that a poured curb = poor idea. When in doubt or just not sure yet, grass. Easily changed in the future. Even irrigation lines are not difficult to change.
Kathy Hilliard
Original Author
last year
I really appreciate all your great ideas! I'm saving an idea board with inspiration, and feel like it's going to come together. Probably living there for a bit and observing the land for awhile is better than rushing it.