HELP with backyard patio landscaping

last year

There are so many areas on my patio that I need help with, I don't know where to start, so hopefully I can explain succinctly. I'm in zone 6 for plants, but deer eat most anything they're not supposed to like.

The shed under the deck has a riding lawnmower in it and need something to stop the mud and dirt from coming back onto the patio every time the mower enters and exits.
Was thinking of having a retention wall built to match the one on the opposite side of the patio, approximately 2 ft tall, so how should I landscape the area behind the wall?
I don't like the grassy area that abuts the patio. Need ideas what to do with it.

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Comments (11)

jck910
last year
No help for #1,

Widen the patio to the corner of the house - the retaining wall will be higher than the right side but you won't have that hill to mow. I don't care for the black deck & stairs - too harsh maybe paint it to match shed color.
Sigrid
last year
I used shower caps on my baby carriage wheels. The other option is a tarp that gets rolled over the short stretch from the lawn to the shed and then gets shaken out and put in the shed. But the easiest option is to move the shed to a corner of your yard.

I'd use Rutger's list to find plants the deer will leave alone. "Deer resistant" can mean anything from not the deer's favorite to deer have to be on the brink of starvation to take a bite of this. Pick only plants rated A by Rutgers.

Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance (Rutgers NJAES)
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nicole
last year
last modified: last year
A big herringbone paver patio to adjoin the patio. Behind the new retaining wall to the left...plant columnar Junipers. You need visual interest.
tracefloyd
last year
The side of the shed facing the patio is the main issue and you don't show it.
User
Original Author
last year
It’s not my main issue.
tracefloyd
last year
last modified: last year
Okay-- but the shed wall is front and center when you are in that space, that's what I meant-- I guess I should have used the term focal point instead...just curious as to what you did.

I think another retaining wall would give you a few more feet of space which would be nice.

Lay a canvas tarp for the mower tracks and hose it off and fold it up when done.
User
Original Author
last year
I never thought of the shed wall being a focal point. I consider it a wall of privacy actually. Anyway, i'm only looking to add landscaping around the patio. I'm resorting to using AI now, which I'm finding understands what I'm asking.
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
last year
Some option
User
Original Author
last year
Nice! But doesn't address my main problems.
Sigrid
last year
That AI drawing is remarkably stupid. A wavy wall is going to be a lot harder to build than a straight wall and it ends in the middle of nowhere. The gravel/stone is just odd and will probably be full of weeds in 5 years. The plantings in the mulch are uninspired, at best.
tracefloyd
last year
The AI version is nice and the river rock solves the problem of grass abutting the patio. The paver trim finishes it off nicely. Widen and extend the look around the patio. with pavers as path thru the stone.

The retaining wall could be set further back for more room for the bbq., tho in front of the window seems like it would let smoke in.