DIY landscape advice

[Rh1234]

Hello,

I recently bought a house and have run into an interesting scenario in the back yard.  The soil seems to be in bad shape and it doesn't look like there is enough light for grass to flourish. There is also not s good access point to get a mower up there.

I was hoping some of the people w landscape experience could provide some advice on what to do with this backyard! I am looking for a relatively low maintenance option. I do not know what type of ground cover is needed for the slope but I assume one is necessary to prevent too much runoff.  Maybe mulch and large stones on the plateau up top?

I greatly appreciate everyone's help!

[pbkmaine]

Vinca. Loves shade, spreads like crazy.

[Thinkum]

Do a search for what grows in your state, given the different soils there are everywhere. Vines should do well, you just have to find the right ones that will thrive in your yard. They will also help with erosion.

[Rh1234]

Thank you both, I will look into that for the slope!

I am actually more perplexed by the plateau up top.  A more intricate fire pit or mulched area would be nice but not sure how that much mulch would look.

Any suggestions on that section?

[Thinkum]

How about putting some burms up there so that in case of tons of rain, you have less of a flood? In lieu of that, the mulch is not a bad idea. You only need about 2-3" worth and it will really tie it all together.

[Le Poisson]

Are you looking for a patio/seating area or a planted covering? Based on your photos, you already have a patio close to the house, so if you put a seating area up top, it needs a reason to be there. Something like a fire pit or cob oven/pizza oven would give it purpose, otherwise you just have a patio out like an island with no reason to be there. From a functional perspective, I am betting that area will never get used no matter what you put up there.

How long have you been in the house? If less than a year, then give yourself time to see how you use the yard and what its shortcomings are. Maybe you want a veggie garden or something. Give yourself time to settle in before you do anything expensive. Once you are more clear on the property's shortcomings, you will be in a better space to make an investment.

If you decide to plant it, we need to know where you are. And before you ask too much, you should visit or call you state's agriculture extension office (assuming you are American) to get tips on dry shade plants that compete with tree roots. My experience is all Canadian, so I have a different palette of plants to work with than someone in Arizona.

Hope this helps you get started. As I said above, give yourself time to settle in and define your needs for your outdoor space. You'll be glad you did in the long run.

[KarefulKactus15]

This may or may not help but I had a poor backyard situation as well.   The house here before burned down and the cleanup was not good so I couldn't get stuff to grow.       Anyway I took a soil sample and sent it to my local agricultural college. They told me what substances to put down, and what would grow.  I think I paid 10$ for a scientific result of my soil.  Also my county has a agricultural department. They were more than happy to consult me on what to do for free. Apparently our tax money pays for a whole department that nobody even knows about....

[AllieVaulter]

I had a similar issue with my backyard.  I looked for native plants because I've found the maintenance on them is SO much lower that non-natives (plus all the hippie reasons like supporting good bugs and whatnot). 

In my case, I went with a combination of bark & strawberries.  I chose cedar bark because it resists rot, but it's got a strong scent (personally, I like it), so be warned.  The strawberries actually took off quite well.  They're not giving me any berries (darn it!) because of the low light levels, but they're covering the ground and preventing dandelions.  I also got some bricks from Lowe's to make a meandering path through it. 

The bark is crazy easy.  I got a bunch of newspaper and layered everywhere with 2-3 layers of newspaper and spread the bark out on top (3-4 inches).  Some grass gets through the newspaper, but not much.  I probably only weed the grass every 6 weeks or so, whenever it's bothering me.  And it only takes 20 minutes max. 

Another option to consider for ground cover would be a succulent ground cover.  There's a couple different kinds, but they don't require much water at all, so the tree roots won't bother them too much. 

[Grosgrain]

I agree with the PP who advised spending some time to evaluate your needs and usage patterns before making any decisions.  Based on the amount of shade on that upper area, you are not going to have a lot of luck with grass.

If that was my backyard, I would create a fire pit area (either gravel or pavers) and then surround it with shade-loving plants and under-story trees.  Examples: Japanese maple, fern, mahonia, rhododendron, kalmia, camellia, hellebores, sweetbox.  A lot of these plants are shrubs that aren't going to require much in the way of maintenance once established.  For easy watering, you could run a soaker hose around the plantings and cover with mulch.  Having some attractive plantings at this level would also give you a nice view out your windows.  Keep in mind these are plants that would do well in my PNW garden.  I would recommend going to a reputable local nursery (not a big box store) to pick out trees, shrubs and perennials that will work in your climate.

For the slope, I would choose a tough, easy-care groundcover.  Vinca may be a good option in your area. Also look at liriope and pachysandra.

Adding organic matter is a sure method to improve your soil.  I would simply clear the weeds, spread out all the leaves you gather this fall, and then toss some soil or compost on top to keep them from blowing around.  Come spring, you will be able to dig or till in the composted leaves and plant.