r/LandscapingTips

New yard and made the mistake of using compost instead of top soil so here it is now with a ton of crabgrass and other weeds.

Any suggestions? I live in the northeast.

Just looking to add some extra pop to the backyard it’s pretty bland. I don’t love the fireplace it was there when I moved in and just never have got around to doing anything landscape wise as I’ve been focusing on getting the yard in better shape.

Looking for recommendations for privacy plants/trees to plants/add to the highlighted section of the pic. The idea would be to add them close/next to the deck. Primarily looking for privacy from the street when on our deck. Zone 7a. This area gets heavy sunlight the majority of the day.

Thanks!

Please help me create a driveway with a path connecting to the front door.
The drive will have to go on the right due to the porch taking up space but the gate is currently on the far left!
HELP 🫠

Hi All, really need some advice here with a patio extension project I started and got a little messy with the details, as old patio was 900 x 500mm concrete slabs above soil/dirt.

The issues/mistakes I ran into and done:

Digging deep

- I dug too deep and didn't have my string lines set from the start as I have now, I was aiming for 8 inches ended with 10-15 inches in most areas.

- I ended up putting about 1-1.5 inches of the soil/gravel I dug out back in and tamping it on a light rainy day so it's not dry or soaked, but found out that's not right anyway so didn't add any more.

How do I best refill, type 1 is expensive and I'm thinking what the best option to bring it to 8inches under the line is❓

Digging uneven

- I'm not sure how sensitive it is that the slope away from the house is not created from the start? how do I rectify that, or can I do it at the mot type 1 stage❓

- Even though I got my string lines set now, how do I actually create that slope correctly, everyone on videos doesn't seem to do much measuring throughout it and just at the end❓

Drainage/waste clay pipes and water source pipes exposed

- How's best to protect these without crushing them and level the above them with the subbase later, considering the highest point of the pipe is at 6.5 inches below the string line❓

Additional info:

- soil was filling the edges all the way around the old slabs on the house wall, caused weeds to grow, I cleared that all off and was just planning to keep the new patio 15cm below the Damp Proof, and 10-15 cm away from the house, is that correct❓

- I dug out a pile of stones/bricks (thought maybe I can crush that with a sledge hammer and reuse)

- the 1-1.5 inch soil/gravel I put back is mostly tight when I dig my heel into it now

- not much ponds as seen in the pics (it rained today) just a pocket or 2 near the pipes. All taken today except the one that says before.

- I got a heavy duty 90kg wacker plate, but that won't go all the way between pipes, and later over them I'm guess either (to avoid crushing) will the the roughneck do the job❓

Hi everyone -

I recently bought a house and the seller laid the sod down too early and then didn’t water/maintain it properly. By the time I closed and moved in, it was all dormant/dead. I have tried to revive to the best of my abilities with water but I’m looking for guidance/next steps.

I live in Denver where we are amidst a brutal drought and it is very dry. I’ve followed county rules and tried to water only briefly in early AM or evening.

At this point, after revival efforts, half of the sod is growing and the other half is dead. I’m considering seeding but know it’s late and the next 30 days are forecasted to be in the 90’s. My main concern is that weeds are endlessly popping up in the “dead” areas
/in between sod lines and it’s hard to keep up by manually pulling them.

I have metal lawn rakes and a seed spreader. The seller claims that this is Bermuda grass, but I’m unsure. So what do y’all think? Should I prep the lawn and buy seed or wait another season?

I guess during a storm overnight last night the wind blew the tree over slightly and is the roots look lifted. Is this a serious immediate problem? Idk who to even call about this since it’s the 4th, and there may be more storms coming today.

Hi,

Yes, i know there is an app, doesn’t work on my iphone 10 unfortunately.

local yard is claiming this is 15 cubic yards of 3/4” crush gravel, but to me looks significantly less than when we ordered 17 cubic yards last time…got delivered wet so likely lots of water weight in there

Demensioms of conical pile approx 10’-12’ diameter and 4’ height.

What is your approximation? Much appreciated

Hi everyone,

I am hoping to revamp my garden this year.

No major change, but our shed is literally falling apart, and the small slabs of stone it is on is not level anymore.

Hopefully the photos show what I am talking about. But we have quite a small entrance into our garden, i plan to remove whats left of the fence that keeps the bins together to make the whole entrance much bigger.

I have two children and also family friends with kids than wander in out the garden all the time. So its a busy area.

I was thinking of just getting pavement slabs on Marketplace for a cheap price, i'll measure how for how many pieces i'll need.

The ground is quite swamp like, so digging it up, putting down materials (aggregate? A1? mesh for weeds etc?)

Not too clued up on yet. I know YouTube is very helpful but I just worry if I start this project it will take me significantly longer than expected.

Or shall I just ask a company if they can pour concrete?

There's a drain in a sloped area of the garden. If I were to build the ground around it up a even level like i have tried to show in photos, what do I need to look out for? Of course keeping it clear and not covering it. And If I raise the ground that sits next to the house, what materials do I need to ensure it doesn't come a complete water trap?

Thanks in advance, hopefully what ive mentioned in the above helps paint a picture on what im trying to build.

Ah also,

Our washing line is now starting to lean on one side, its been dug pretty deep. But I hope once our new shed is in place, i'll actually use a post from it to attach to the side of the house and just have a retractable washing line (like a lanyard?) Wheel attached to house. I'll drill a hole and use a setting solution to keep the bolts secure. Havent thought about load for it yet, just an idea.

Thanks in advance.🙂

Per the title: we have a patio in the backyard which we love, but I'd like to obscure the view from the homes behind us so we can mitigate the "I'm being watched" feeling when enjoying the space.

My parents suggest a row of arborvitaes, but I don't want this feeling like a fortress. Ideally we'd create something natural-looking - a mix of trees, shrubs, and evergreens that both gives a natural barrier and the feeling that we're surrounded by life. I don't need 100% privacy - just enough to obscure a bit. I also want to protect open space for the kids - a playset is coming, and I'm sure soccer and volleyball nets aren't far behind.

Problem is, I have no idea where to start. Should I just plant a couple shade trees and start working around those? Plant something else? Hire a landscape designer? Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciate for a landscaping novice!

Some more details: Zone 5b. Trees pictured are ~8 year old Autumn Blaze Maple and Eastern Redbud. There's roughly 2500sqft to work with, excluding the patio.

I’m picking up from where I left off last year refreshing the landscaping around my house. I’ve got it figured out with shrubs, but I’m having some difficulty with the trees I want to plant.
Basically, there’s 3 trees that I’m working with: Limelight Hydrangea (already planted; pic 1) Flamethrower Eastern Redbud (purchased; pic 2), Waterfall Japanese Maple (not purchased; pic 3).
The 3 open spots I have are: by my lamppost (all-day sun; pic 4), front of peninsula (late afternoon shade; pic 1), back of peninsula (late afternoon sun; pic 1)
The initial idea that I had was to transplant the hydrangea to the back of the peninsula, plant the flamethrower in its place, and then plant the Japanese maple by the lamppost. My two concerns with that are killing the hydrangea during transplant and the Japanese maple getting sun scorched.
So then the second idea was to leave the hydrangea, and still plant the Japanese maple by the lamppost. But then I’d have to return the flamethrower, which is what I was most excited about having.
The third idea was to ditch the Japanese maple, put the hydrangea by the lamppost, and put the flamethrower in its spot. This would save money, but again the concern would be transplanting.

Any suggestions or new ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Any ideas on how to trim or update this bush/hedge to make it look more modern? It's large and healthy, so I don't want to remove it completely. Appreciate any thoughts of advice!

I have this area in my front yard that is exposed to sun all day long. I’m trying to put in a few crape myrtles for some shade. I’m having a hard time deciding where to place them and would love some suggestions. 3 along the hedge? Or 2 in front and back so they can be spaced out, and then another smaller tree in the middle circle? Open to other suggestions as well.

A bunch of boxwoods died over the extra cold winter (SE Michigan). This spring had them all replaced with holly bushes (blue princess/queen/??). Clay soil, so the holes were amended with bark soil amendment and topsoil. Watered regularly and also have a drip line that runs every 2 days for 30 minutes. Almost half of the bushes are dying. Some bushes right next to dead bushes look perfectly healthy.

Any advice for the inevitable replanting?

I have this space under a duplex that I’d like to fill in with something. I only own half so I’d like it to be low maintenance as I’m not sure the other half will keep it up. It’s just in the raised part where you see dirt. That’s as sunny as it gets for a few hours.

Shoal creek chaste tree (to left of porch in that wider area??), and either tater tot arborvitae or decorative grass around sidewalk edge. The area to the right of the porch will be extended and mulched so that I can match the landscape on both sides of the porch.

I've also considered lorapetalum instead of doing azalea because of the dark purple leaves, but I do like that the azalea is native.

I might split up the sedum in front of the porch to use or can move it elsewhere. I have a peony in one of those pots and a lenten rose. I put them there after we moved for the time being.

I'm completely open to any ideas anyone has for our landscape (both plants and layout), I'm just tired of seeing it so empty. Spam me with any ideas! Much appreciated. 😀

Any ideas for hard-scaping the front yard. Dry season in Colorado with 3 dogs. Grass comes here to die. Looking for a way to keep dogs from tracking in bone-dry dirt. The wife does not want fake turf. Thinking mulch or rocks but not sure what is most dog friendly. TIA

Hello all! This is part of my backyard that I am attempting to landscape after years of neglect from previous owners. I was in these weeds/ bushes and something got me feeling really hot and sick yesterday.. no rash or skin irritation.. does anyone see anything of concern in any of these areas? If so, can you indicate which picture so I can avoid/ handle properly?

TYIA

hello im wondering if anyone has experience with this. i have a very ugly compacted clay area that i want to improve. i would normally dump mulch on it and let nature do its thing but the area is so steep im concerned about it all sliding off. its also full of boulders so tilling is not an option. any advice is welcome