Defining My Backyard Without Obstructing the View

by Bert Pitts
(Montgomery, Alabama)

Backyard Landscaping - Looking Out From the Back Porch

From our back porch we look out over the back pasture and enjoy watching the goats and an occasional deer. However, our backyard landscaping is pretty plain, just grass, then trees to the pasture beyond. We would like to define the back yard without obstructing our view to the pasture. We'd rather not just do the rectangular low hedge around the perimeter of the grass. Instead, we would like to use varying heights of vegetation in a semicircle or curved pattern to make the backyard smaller, while keeping the expansive view beyond. My wife likes Pride of Mobile azaleas. I wasn't sure if they would grow under the oak trees. We live in Montgomery Alabama and have a lot of prairie soil. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Bert

Backyard or Community Property?!

by Jamie
(Ann Arbor, Mi)

I built a home in a new subdivision. My backyard backs up to a pond which people often walk around. My neighbors often walk (or even ride bikes!) through my backyard since there is no real distinction between my property and the community area...every house around the pond is in the same situation. How can I define my property border without sticking out like a sore thumb?

ANSWER

Hi Jamie,
1. How about adding a planting bed along your property border. By planting low shrubs, you could still keep the view to the pond open.

A combination of shrubs and perennials would form a definition and also provide something nice to look at from your house. The bed can be either straight or curvilinear.

2. Another idea is to install some very low fencing. This could have groups of plants on one side of the fence or both.

If either of these ideas appeals to you, let me know and I can offer some plant suggestions. If they won't work for you, let me know why. It's hard to give ideas without a picture.

Susan

Evergreen Trees - What to Plant Under My Spruce

(Canada)

I have 2 huge evergreen Spruce trees in my front yard and nothing grows there. The lawn is so sparse that we hardly ever mow it.

I'd like to plant shrubs there,and bark chip the whole area. Will my shrubs grow,or can I plant them in containers? We live in Central Alberta and our zone is 3-4. Which shrubs might work best?

I enjoyed your site very much. It has lots of info.

Thanks so much.

ANSWER


Thank you for the compliments on my site.

The roots of the Spruce trees are probably taking up most of the water, making it difficult for other plants to grow there, including lawn. In addition, I would imagine it is shady. This leaves a dry, shady
condition.

You might consider planting the area with groundcover. Ajuga would most likely do fine since it is rugged. It takes sun or shade and can be somewhat aggressive...which is good as it will work hard to cover your area. There are lots of varieties. Some have bronze foliage, others green, and some purple. It's evergreen.

I like your idea of pots. You could use a few large ones, adding them to the groundcover area. I am not sure how much, if any, sun you get, but you might consider using perennials in the pots for texture and color.

Hosta, which takes shade, is very hardy. If you bought really nice pots, they in themselves, could be features during the winter. Plant them with annuals for real color all season. Lobelia will take the shade. I have a Lobelia in a pot on my porch and it is absolutely my favorite plant.

Here is a page from my site with the picture of it:
Blue Flowers Scroll to the bottom
of the page for the picture. It's really much more of a vivid blue!

I hope this was helpful. If you have any further questions, just let me know.

Susan

Creating Privacy From the Road

by Crystal
(Lincoln, NB, Canada)

I have four Maple Trees (two red and two green) planted 10 feet apart in a straight line in front of my house at the end of the lawn near the road.

What trees would look good with these Maples to create more privacy? Do I plant them in front of the Maples or in the back?

Thanks.

Privacy Plantings at Property Border

by Atiur

I have several, tall maple trees in the back yard. These trees are very tall (more than 50 ft). In winter, the trees are without leaf and do not look nice. I would like to plant a few more trees near the property boundary for improving the privacy and also to improve the look.

The soil in this area is clay-like and wet. The area is partly shady, partly sunny. Could you please suggest some trees (preferably evergreen) that would do well in this situation and also will look good with the existing tall trees. I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks/Atiur