Hi Everybody,
I know the membership of LPSG is more than just big dicks and pretty pussys. I need some ideas from those of you with experience in landscape architecture and advanced gardening.
The attached pictures are of my parents backyard. I have been dieing to do something with it since they moved in almost 4 years ago. The good news is I have finally been given the thumbs up! :smile: The bad news is I only have $1,000 to spend. :frown1:
According to the US National Arboretum site I live in zone 7b. In theory that gives me a lot of growing options; but the truth is we have no topsoil. :12: Underneath that smattering of crabgrass, wild onion, that wretched Zoysia grass the developer put in, and dozens of fire ant hills, is red clay. Rock,Hard,Red Clay! In order to dig holes we first have to run water on the ground for a while to soften it. Then dig the hole twice as big as necessary and fill it with purchased potting/top soil and Miracle Gro or some other fertilizer.
I like the idea of a portion of the yard being a sort of hidden retreat . I would love a place where I could do yoga, meditate, and nude sunbathe w/o the neighbors or people in my house seeing me.
Some thoughts I had on what could be done:
I love color and would prefer perennials. I was thinking Italian Cypress or maybe Douglas Firs along the side fence lines. Along the back fence maybe Forsythia. As for flowers I like Shasta Daisys, Iris', Sweet Pea, Holly Hocks, Bells of Ireland, Daffodils, Tulips, Pansys.
Things I Like: fountain, a hammock, or a swing, maybe stone seating.
Technical Stuff: The fence is 6' tall, the pool is 18'x40'. Not sure how big the backyard is; but the property itself is about 1.25 acres.
Oops, forget to mention we are on the eastern edge of "Tornado Alley." So any outdoor structure or furniture needs to be able to withstand winds of about 40-60 mph without flipping over.
Even though we have had a lot of rain these last few weeks we are still in a drought. So whatever I plant has to be able to handle full sun for most of the day and not much water. :redface:
I know the membership of LPSG is more than just big dicks and pretty pussys. I need some ideas from those of you with experience in landscape architecture and advanced gardening.
The attached pictures are of my parents backyard. I have been dieing to do something with it since they moved in almost 4 years ago. The good news is I have finally been given the thumbs up! :smile: The bad news is I only have $1,000 to spend. :frown1:
According to the US National Arboretum site I live in zone 7b. In theory that gives me a lot of growing options; but the truth is we have no topsoil. :12: Underneath that smattering of crabgrass, wild onion, that wretched Zoysia grass the developer put in, and dozens of fire ant hills, is red clay. Rock,Hard,Red Clay! In order to dig holes we first have to run water on the ground for a while to soften it. Then dig the hole twice as big as necessary and fill it with purchased potting/top soil and Miracle Gro or some other fertilizer.
I like the idea of a portion of the yard being a sort of hidden retreat . I would love a place where I could do yoga, meditate, and nude sunbathe w/o the neighbors or people in my house seeing me.
Some thoughts I had on what could be done:
I love color and would prefer perennials. I was thinking Italian Cypress or maybe Douglas Firs along the side fence lines. Along the back fence maybe Forsythia. As for flowers I like Shasta Daisys, Iris', Sweet Pea, Holly Hocks, Bells of Ireland, Daffodils, Tulips, Pansys.
Things I Like: fountain, a hammock, or a swing, maybe stone seating.
Technical Stuff: The fence is 6' tall, the pool is 18'x40'. Not sure how big the backyard is; but the property itself is about 1.25 acres.
Oops, forget to mention we are on the eastern edge of "Tornado Alley." So any outdoor structure or furniture needs to be able to withstand winds of about 40-60 mph without flipping over.
Even though we have had a lot of rain these last few weeks we are still in a drought. So whatever I plant has to be able to handle full sun for most of the day and not much water. :redface: