Decisions to make when planning your backyard design

 backyard projects  No Responses »
Apr 262011
 

Backyard design is as simple as adding flowers or a complicated as installing a pool or hardscape. But no matter what your backyard plans may be trees and shrubs are a backbone to design. Their color, size and shape help blend the home and yard into a working design that adds enjoyment to you living area.

So what decisions should you make when selecting trees and shrubs?

 

Growing Zone: Your new plantings should relate to your growing zone. I know I cannot grow palm trees in my zone 5 climate. I could grow a crape myrtle but its technically a zone 6 and I am a zone 5 so I would have to baby it in the winter and would probably have to replace it after a harsh winter. Tip: You could check for a microclimate in your backyard or grow the specimen as a container plant.

Size: How tall will this tree grow? Will it invade the electric lines or break up a sidewalk or foundation wall? Does the over all size match the size of your home? Maples and oak tree look nice near a farmhouse or story house but dwarf a ranch style home. Check the growing tag and see how tall and wide the tree will grow.

Lighting and water: Does this shrub need a lot of light or will it do well in a grouping or under a tree? Will it tolerate wet feet or does it need a dry location. Also does it require a lot of water to survive? If you live in an arid climate you may want to select plants with low water needs.

Care: Does this plant need pruning, loose branches easily or have fruit that need so be picked up and disposed of? Some trees and shrubs have few diseases or care requirements. If you’re not a person who wants to spend a lot of time cleaning the backyard low maintenance planting are your best choices.

I have a weeping willow in my yard, which I really enjoy. But its constant care picking up branches after a storm and it also has a few insects that like to invade the trees so its high maintenance. When it’s gone I will probably not replace it.

Display: Will you select a plant that has winter color? How about fruit or berries? Shape may also be a choice. Harry Lauder’s walking stick makes an interesting display in the winter with its twisted branches. Pines add green to a barren winter landscape and flowering trees and bushes will add color all year long if selected carefully.

There are many considerations to be made when selecting new trees and shrubs but there is one that you should keep in mind while buying. That cute tiny plant will grow – remember to check the growing tag. The growing tag will give you information about daily care, planting and future care.

Your local extension office or conservation office has information on plants suitable for your area. Take advantage of their services. Your backyard will appreciate it!

Posted by Denise at 11:26 am  Tagged with: , , ,

Backyard Oasis Design contest

 backyard design  5 Responses »
Mar 162011
 

Successful backyard design adds to the comfort and use of your outdoor space and home. With proper planning you can manage your available space to its best space use.

I’ve lived in cities where the only available space was container gardens or windows. I rented and had to work out a system where you get a landlords permission to do any backyard activity and I’ve been blessed with unlimited space in a rural setting. All situations have challenges and steps to make the best use of any space available.

So even if you live in a city or town you will be able to find a way to use some of the space available to you even if it’s a windowsill, patio, balcony or rooftop.

One step in backyard or garden design is to simplify your work. You want a beautiful garden and living space but setting up an easy design with multiple uses for each space will give you more time to enjoy the yard and family activities.

So as a starting point consider these questions to help you design the perfect backyard oasis.

1. Uses for the yard. Is it mainly relaxation where a garden, patio or swimming area will be a focal point?
2. Ages that will use the yard. And will these ages be changing in a few years. This will determine if a backyard area is childproofed, if a pool is a useful option or if outdoor buildings such as a workshop or potting shed would be handy.
3. Is the size of your available space a major consideration? Will each area need to serve a variety of uses to encompass everyone’s needs? Is your available space limited to a porch or small space by a garage? Small spaces create challenges but make beautiful hideaways.
4. How to blend the new design in with your home and any design elements currently in place.
5. And most important is the amount of money and time you are willing to devote to planning a design for your living space.

Backyard Oasis is offering a contest from March 16th to 23rd to help you with backyard design. Just place a comment below this article on what area of your yard you would like to have a fresh new look for. Three selected ideas will have a design made for their yard. The designs will be made with cost effective plans.

Posted by Denise at 2:40 pm  Tagged with: , , , , ,

Why Perennial Plants Survive Through The Winter

 backyard design  No Responses »
Dec 022010
 

Perennial plants are popular for ease in care and more important, there ability to survive year round in most weather conditions. Perennials live on through rain, drought, sleet, or snow, making them a perfect addition to the garden areas.

What is it about a perennial that enables it to survive a wide variety of weather conditions and still thrive? Annuals and biennials add to any garden but they do not hold up to climate changes like the hard perennial. And with a perennial plant lasting for years it will add beauty to a garden at a very reduced cost.

The perennial plant is able to thrive year after year due to a few survival tricks in its traits. Trees and shrubs drop their leaves and protect their next year’s growth with waxy scales. Examine the bud of a perennial plant and you’ll see that it covered with a sticky looking waterproof wax. When the bud begins to bloom, it scars as its scales fall off and the distance between its scars are an indicator of how many times a year that perennial plant grows.

The perennial plant gears up for the winter by draining its own food supply from its leaves down inside its trunk, branches, and twigs. As the weather gets colder, the tissues of the perennial plant will slowly change and become cold resistant in a process called “hardening.” During these changes, the chlorophyll of a perennial plant will decompose and lose its propensity to project a green hue – leaving the tree with its trademark red, yellow, orange, and brown autumn leaves.

And as with all plants, perennials also have their weaknesses. You need to study the climate areas that the plants will grow in and select plants accordingly.

Here are a few traits to look for:

  • Some perennials are not as hardy to cold or heat.
  • Most perennials have a shorter flowering stage and will need other perennials or annuals to add color or texture to the area when not in bloom.
  • Some perennials are spreaders and need to be retained so that they do not take over a garden or yard.
  • There are short life and long life perennials.
  • For perennials to grow well they need to be divided every 3 to 5 years.
  • Most perennials do better with a compost or ground cover applied around them. This keeps weeds down and lets the plant thrive.

A basic rule of thumb to any plant is to do research and know its strengths and weaknesses. This will let you know if the plant will be a good addition to your landscape.

Posted by Denise at 1:17 am  Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Landscaping a slope with a small retaining wall

 backyard design  No Responses »
Nov 162010
 

A stone retaining wall is an attractive way to make up the difference in grade. It gives much more character to a garden than a terraced slope does. When properly laid out it takes the average terraced slope and gives it an artistic flair. Believe me, with by yard I know all about slopes and trying to make them more manageable.

But there are two questions to ask before starting a project of this size. Is it a design addition that you will want to live with for a long time and what, if any zoning restrictions will apply to a retaining wall?

If the stonewall is the project you want to undertake for your home, climate is your next concern.

A wall, shelter or outdoor fireplace made from brick or stone set in mortar will not stand up in Northern climates unless it is on solid concrete footings. These footings need to go down below the frost line. This can make the wall too expensive for many properties. I live in a zone 5 climate so I have to plan for the effects of frost when creating any outdoor hardscape design.

Provided the drainage in the soil is good, a dry stone wall – one without mortar can be set on a footing of coarse gravel or crushed stone 8 to 12 inches deep and 15 to 18 inches wide. Good drainage in the soil usually means more sand and less of a clay base in your soil. If need be add sand to your mix. This is the style of stonewall I am adding to my home.

If you need a footing, dig a trench for the footing deep enough for the lowest course (layer) of stone in the wall to be buried 2 to 3 inches below the lower grade. For best appearance, build a wall of flat-bedded lime or sandstone from 2 to 4 inches thick, with an occasional thicker piece to avoid monotonous horizontal lines. Always place the bed or grain of the stone horizontally and level, with the trimmed face showing.

As you lay each course in place, to a tight line running the full length of the wall, use a straight-edged board and carpenter’s level to make the courses level. Fill in with earth packed firmly behind each course. Set every fifth or sixth stone with a short face to the front so that the length of the stone goes back into the bank as an anchor.

Note: For safety’s sake, do not build a wall like this over 30 inches high. And for the top layer use broad, flat stones set in concrete mortar. This is the part of a wall I like creating the most. I look for unique flat rocks that will add flair and personality to the wall. I have interesting shapes of flat rock nearby, many with fossil designs.

The rocks set in mortar may crack if the wall heaves from frost, but they will settle back in place afterwards. A good footing should help prevent this or make the problem much smaller.

Also, for strength and river rock landscaping, it is a good idea to build the wall with a slight lean toward the back of 1 to 2 inches for each foot of rise. This will help prevent the rocks from moving forward from frosts or settling.

And as a final consideration is when planning the steps, build the steps into the wall as it is put up, rather than setting them in later. The steps and wall will work together and there will be no hidden surprises. For the steps, have each tread all of one stone, if this is possible, and wide enough so that the step above can overlap the one beneath by 2 to 3 inches.

I mixed stonewall with wooden tiered steps that were 13 foot long. It gives the slope a mixed feeling of stonewall and terraced garden. The steps are dived in the center with a matching wood rail. And the wood raised terraced garden is carried in other areas of the yard and gardens.

Posted by Denise at 12:39 pm  Tagged with: , , , , ,

Landscaping the steep slope or grade

 backyard design  No Responses »
Nov 142010
 

Slopes and grades in the landscape can create a challenge for the backyard landscape and homeowner. Grades in the landscape can create a beautiful finished backyard design but need proper planning.

As a general rule of thumb grades of over 5 percent are too steep for comfort or for best appearance. They are difficult to mow and often have problems with grass and rutting. I know from personal experience.

Where there are differences in grade on a small lot you should put in steps and a terraced slope.  Or a retaining wall could connect the two levels. With a retaining wall you need to plan for the wall to be sturdy. And check for any construction regulations in your area before starting the project.

The most comfortable steps for a garden path have a 5-inch rise and a 14-inch tread. A 6-inch rise and a 12-inch tread will also work. Anything steeper can be uncomfortable, particularly if it has a rough surface. It’s also wise to include a handrail with any stairs. You do not know who may use the steps and what weather conditions may be, so offer your guests the security of a handrail.

Terraced slopes seem to work best if you use a rise of 1 foot in a 3-foot area, particularly if a power mower is to be used. If the banks are too steep to make grass cutting easy, it is much better to plant them with ground covers. My front yard has such a slope and it has one terraced area near the top were I planted shrubs and perennials and added a set of stairs. The lower section has ground cover with perennial groupings and decorative rocks.

Note: Ground covers add instant beauty to a yard. They can help prevent erosion and cut back on mowing difficult areas. And these perennials come in a wide variety of color, texture and season flowering. But, as with all plants, they can have drawbacks and with ground covers you have to check for invasive spreading. Read the rowing tags and instructions well and ask at the garden center when you buy the plants.

You may also want to consider using heavy mulch or crushed decorative rock in certain areas of a slope. In my area I can find free pine needles and wood chips for free. They add a rich base to a slope to build on.

The main concern when landscaping a graded yard is to simplify yard work, prevent any runoff flooding and to make the area safe for family and friends.

If properly planned a yard with a steep grade can be turned into a beautiful garden area that can be enjoyed. Many slopes have incorporated gardens, plants and a place to relax in the design making it a useful addition to the home and garden area.

Posted by Denise at 9:52 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , ,
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