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: , , ,

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: , , , , , ,

Rough Grade in a Backyard Project

 landscaping  No Responses »
Oct 292010
 

There are times when a large backyard project will leave you with a mess to clean up or more work than you had anticipated. I have had such a project this year and now I am trying to refinish an area and make it workable.

Yes, I could have had the project done for me but sometimes you have to cut costs in one area to spend in another.

So, I have an area of my yard that has had fill added and been roughly graded by a bulldozer. I need to clean this area up and make it “useable.”

When contracting for a job there is a term called rough grading. Most building contracts or landscaping jobs call for the rough grading to be complete, but this may be pretty rough. When a bulldozer is used, the surface is usually packed hard. Depending on the fill used or location the area may have bricks, rock, wire and boards pressed into it. Even a better grade of fill will have rocks and possible branches.

If your area is very rough leave it alone until the mud dries out quite well. Working it too soon could ruin the texture of the soil and depending on how wet it is you may leave ruts or sink in soupy soil.

As soon as you can walk on it without getting stuck, pick up and get rid of any rubbish and larger rocks. You may find that a few knolls need to be shoveled into low spots. I use a rake to smooth the final layer.

This rough grade should be 3 to 4 inches below where you want the finished grade. You are leaving room for rich topsoil for planting and your lawn. You will also want to excavate shrub beds and others to 9 to 12 inches below the finished grade.

Usually poor earth, either sandy or clay fill, is used to make the rough grade. My fill was heavy in clay. The good topsoil is either buried or scraped off and sold as topsoil to someone else. So be prepared to spend some time or extra money for finishing off the projects and adding topsoil for your yard and plants.

I am just finishing up my rough grading and will be adding soil to finish off the project this next week, if the weather holds. My topsoil is good soil that was moved and stored to the side and compost I made to enrich the final soil layer

Posted by Denise at 8:20 pm  Tagged with: , ,

Last Minute Backyard Fall Projects

 backyard projects  No Responses »
Oct 272010
 

Fall is the perfect time to catch up on those projects that you don’t have time for in the summer or don’t “see” due to the backyard chores that seem to take precedence, like mowing.

Today I dug up peonies from the front yard and repotted for next spring. One third of these I will replant, some I will sell to make more money for new plants and the rest I will trade for plants with my neighbors and friends.

Peonies have long roots and are difficult to dig so I wait until we have had plenty of rain and dig them up then. I have a rich mix of compost and potting soil ready for the plants and use recycled shrub containers that I have cleaned and sterilized.

I also received bulbs from my neighbors who were thinning their garden areas. I rototilled an area for them and added compost and shredded leaves. I also piled the soil eight inches high and then added timber for a raised bed. I have too many problems with animals to grow bulbs in soil like many do. A rock wall will also make a fast raised bed if you have rocks available.

My new raised bed took about 2 hours to make. Tomorrow I will add a wire fence screen across the top to stop my wandering visitors from mulching all my bubs before they have a chance to flower.

Late fall is my time to collect plants from the wild, neighbors or stores that have perennials and shrubs on sale. Later this week I will make one more trip to my favorite garden center and but their left over healthy plants for my yard or to trade for other plants from friends.

I will also take some time out to enjoy the last of the fall leaves and collect any seeds from wild flowers. They grow just as nice as those you purchase and no one will ever know they were harvested from the wild. .

When the grass dies down I see all the jobs I missed like filling a hole in the yard and rocks that were kicked up so I will do those small jobs before the snow falls and covers my yard until spring.

Posted by Denise at 6:53 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

When to Rake your Leaves

 backyard projects  No Responses »
Sep 222010
 

My backyard is lined with tall red oak trees along the creek. In fall I spend quite a bit of time taking care of those leaves. To me, it’s an enjoyable job but I have learned a few shortcuts along the way.

So when should you start to rake your leaves?

As long as the grass continues to grow, you can continue to mow your lawn. This will mulch the first falling leaves of the season. I take this lawn mulching and add to the compost bin or cover a garden if its retired for the season. Once the lawn has ceased growing, it is the right time to begin raking.

Tip: If you don’t have a lawn sweeper, rake the leaves onto an old sheet and pull the sheet to the compost pile. It’s easier than loading and unloading a wheelbarrow or garden cart.

Where to rake

There are some people who leave leaves that fall and collect under trees and shrubs where they are to compost by themselves. If you have a more natural look in the backyard this is an easy alternative. The leaves will break down into mulch on their own and benefit the soil and plants.

Open areas of lawn however will need to be raked. A thick carpet of leaves can kill a lawn or create bare spots because they do take so long to break down. They also will block the sunlight the grass needs to grow in the spring so the grass will get a tattered look and may even get a disease.

Make sure that you rake the areas where the leaves blow and gather into deep piles such as along the foundation of your home, ditches, pathways or fences and gates.

The proper rake

There are certain rakes that will do a better job or that are easier to use. The old-fashioned rakes often will get clogged at the ends. This means you take time out of raking to clean out the tines. I have also stuck myself a few times when in a rush cleaning tines. I didn’t cut myself but it didn’t feel good.

Newer rakes are available with variations in the design of tines. This makes them less likely to clog as often. A thicker handle will help to decrease the fatigue to your hand. Also make sure the handle has no cracks or areas that can sliver and cause an injury.

Rakes with comfort grips will prevent hand-slippage and reduce blisters. As will a good pair of garden gloves.

And if you have back trouble or just want to reduce muscle strain, an ergonomically designed rake may be the right choice for you. Almost all garden centers and farm supply stores carry tools designed to ease back and muscle strain.

How often should you Rake?

It’s not necessary to rake every time the wind blows a few leaves from the trees to your lawn. However, it is not wise to wait until the leaves have piled up too deep. In my backyard near the oak trees I have a heavy leave fall so I rake about twice a week during the heavy leaf fall. A normal yard raking could be raked somewhere between 3 and 5 times, depending on the size of your lawn. Just remember to spread the work out over a few weeks to make it more enjoyable. Really raking leaves can be a relaxing backyard task.

Fall is my favorite time of the year. I like the feel in the air and the abundant colors in NW Pa. And if I take care of the leaves in stages it’s a fun, relaxing task that benefits my compost pile and next year’s gardens.

Posted by Denise at 1:59 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,
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