Help with design of back yard

[mrgarden]

I bought a new house about 6 months ago and just put up a fence in the back yard. If I post a picture of the back yard, could someone help decide what trees, shrubs, and flowers I should put back there? Thanks!

[Grey]

Sure - it would be fun!
We'll all also need your zone, and how much sunlight/shade different parts of the backyard get.

[Laurajbr]

Gee, I hope this ends up in the correct thread, apparently my computer skills are worse than my gardening skills!

To the person planning the backyard:
whrn I bought a house, I had an acquaintance Landscape Architect help me plot it out. It helped, but ...

Kids in the candy store have nothing on me in a nursery...

"ohhh pretty!" I say and end up with an unplanned bit of heaven that makes me smile everytime I see it.

I would only suggest leaving some space for unplanned adoptions from the the garden store.

laura

[Grey]

lol @ Laura.
Yep - I've been known to pick up a pretty flower, without a single clue of where I am going to put it. I eventually learned to never buy one plant, but buy two or three of the same plant, so that I had a more "planned" look when I got home and started trying to figure out where to put it.

At this point though, now that I work one day a week at a garden center - I get to play with plants all day, seriously think about what I want to take home, and have the day to think of where I want to put that plant (or seven). I love my job. I sure hope they like me - they are several plants lighter when I go home every day. I'm gonna get the yard of my dreams this way

Leaving space for unplanned purchases is never a bad idea. But... there's always room for more... LOL!!!

[mrgarden]

Thanks! I'm in Atlanta (Zone 7) and the back of the house gets partial sun while the front gets full afternoon sun. Right now in April the sun comes from the right back and sets to the right front. The survey shows
the following information:

Front as N27 37'15" W
Rear as S27 37'15" E
Left as N62 22' 45" E
Right as S62 22' 45" W

It is a small yard at .1212 acres

I have a few plants in the back right now, but I can replant them. I want some privacy if it is possible.

Front
https://i2.tinypic.com/t8sxoh.jpg

Left Side
https://i2.tinypic.com/t8t3j8.jpg

Right Side
https://i2.tinypic.com/t8t4df.jpg

Left Back
https://i2.tinypic.com/t8td95.jpg

Right Back
https://i2.tinypic.com/t8th5z.jpg

Gate
https://i2.tinypic.com/t8u1xx.jpg

Back
https://i2.tinypic.com/t8u2q8.jpg

[Grey]

Hey - you're not far from me, being in Atlanta!

Upon first glance, I'm thinking something tall but graceful in the corners of the backyard to help create some privacy. You have a nice fence as a backdrop - but your neighbors have some high windows! Like a weeping variety in the corner with the downslope, and a long, curved border pretty well all around (different sort of curves to create interest). I'm going to mull your yard over for a while & see what I come up with.

[mrgarden]

Thanks Grey! I have two gates on the right sides so I have two corners to put a lot of shrubs or trees. I need to build some kind of stairs for the gate that is near the house because of the slope. I'm not sure if bermuda grass will grow there.

[Briarwoods]

We are just about to put up a fence in a house we moved into about 6 months ago too. I'm going to line the fence with Rose of Sharons so I see less fence : )

[mrgarden]

I was also thinking about putting some Rose of Sharon shrubs in the back against the fence, but I'm not sure how many hours of sun they require. I was also thinking about putting some Skyrocket Junipers up, but they seem to be too narrow at the top.

https://www.djroger.com/skyrocket_juniper.htm

Let me know what you think.

[Briarwoods]

How many hours of sun does the area get? I have 1 ROS that only gets filtered sun part of the day and it does fine.

[mrgarden]

It probably gets two or three hours of sun.

[Herb2]

If it were my yard, I'd be thinking first of all of how to screen out the views from the neighbors, and conversely, hiding the neighbors' windows from my view.

Thes pictures don't show the species ot trees that I'd necessarily want - but they do show the general shape of trees/shrubs that I feel might help.

I feel that the deck's too high to feel comfortable using to relax on - too exposed to the neighbors. Hence the idea for a more private patio under the deck - and the sliding patio doors to give a view of the garden to enjoy (when it's finished) from the inside.

Once I'd done something along those lines, I'd start thinking about what smaller shrubs, flower beds or lawn etc. I'd like to fill in with.

Just some ideas.
[url]
https://www.pbase.com/embe/image/58656722[/url]
[url]
https://www.pbase.com/embe/image/58656754[/url]

Herb

[mrgarden]

Herb,

Thanks for the ideas! I agree that the deck is too high for privacy and was going to concentrate on the backyard for some. It still will be hard because of how close the houses are to each other.

What kind of trees were you using? It looked like a large Japanese Maple and some others I could not identify.

Grey was suppose to put out some ideas so I'm waiting for his too. I haven't planted anything back by the fence yet, but I definately want to put some tall trees (not too large).

[mrgarden]

Hey Grey...got any ideas yet?

[wingdesigner]

I didn't read thru every reply, so I hope I'm not repeating something (sorry). Junipers: If skyrocket is too narrow but you don't want something really wide, try Moonglow or Wichita Blue--they're about 3' wide at the bottom and have a nice taper. Both are pretty "blue" need little to no trimming (except for the occasional dead branch--they're sensitive to salt). IF they go dormant (cool winter), ease up on the water a little, and they'll turn a silver-blue. Good drainage is a must. If you have sandy soil, they'll do fine after the first year of pampering. You do have to watch out for spider mites, if it's dry. Up here in MI, Rose of Sharon can be a pest, re-seeding all over the place, but if you don't mind...
If you have a low spot or area that drains into storm sewers, you may want to look into a "rain garden"; it helps filter the rain water into the aquifer and reduces the load on sewers. I'll try to look at the pictures and write more later (I'm at the library).
Happy Gardening
Wingdesigner

[wingdesigner]

Only pix that loaded were the back yard ones. I agree about the area under the deck as a more private patio. There are oodles of paving materials out there--whatever you find attractive.
I see by the slope that drainage won't be a problem!
Also, I don't know the size of the deck above, but you could effect a partial screen with: a few potted shrubs (Skyrocket-types would work well here); some rail planters with both taller plants, annuals for starters(mini sunflowers)and trailing plants to partially shield the patio below, I.e., variegated vinca vine, sweet potato vine {black/chartreuse/tri-colour) Asparagus fern does well in containers and is both bushy and trailing if well watered; some taller marigolds if it's a sunny deck. Again, ask at local favourite garden store/nursery about narrow screening possibilities for the deck.
What kind of soil do you have? Clay or sand? Is it acidic? You may want to try some rhododendrons/azaleas underneath some taller crabapples or kousa-type dogwoods or other flowering trees: Golden rain or golden chain? Would you like a fruit tree? Or a nut tree? (beware of walnuts--they don't play nice with a lot of other plants.
This all looks like new construction, and sturdy, so you could put some decent sized hangers and hanging pots around the perimeter of the deck, also, to further the privacy.
Except for the latitude, you're in pretty much the same pickle I'm in--houses stacked on top of each other. Too bad we're not neighbours...but then, we'd never get anything done!
Hokay, maybe more later.
Happy Gardening!
Wing

[mrgarden]

Thanks for the tips Wing!

I looked up WICHITA BLUE JUNIPER and found the below link:
https://www.monrovia.com/PlantInf.nsf/79208f4c809f607c8825684200835992/f27b50e2404a0abf8825684d0071af8b!OpenDocument

It is a pretty bush, but it may be too wide along the fence. My back yard is small so I don't want to plant something that gets 6 feet wide. I was looking for around 3 to 4 feet wide.

I couldn't find anything about the Moonglow bush. We have red clay soil here in Atlanta.

[wingdesigner]

OK, how 'bout Skyrocket (bluish green) or Spartan (green) junipers? Both get about 10-12' high by <2' wide. I get mine from Musser's Forest catalog--they are good with questions, too!
Happy Gardening.