Back Garden Ideas and Designs
Caroline LeFevre PhotographyRustic back partial sun garden in New York with a potted garden and gravel.
Royal Groundworx, Inc.Design ideas for a medium sized classic back xeriscape garden in Los Angeles with mulch and an upvc fence.
Earth Design, Inc.Earth Design worked with arborists to eliminate trees that were sick and too close to the house. We added fresh sun loving sod to establish a new lawn and added lots more interesting native plants! We fixed drainage issues all around the house.
Alderwood Landscape Architecture and ConstructionWhat once was a sloped, roughly terraced, and unusable grassy backyard is now an expansive resort. These clients' outdoor dreams came true with this large paver patio that expands the length of the home, a double water feature focal point and two fire pits.
Sweet Smiling LandscapesWhen I came to this property not only was the landscape a scrappy mess the property also had some very real grading and drainage issues that were jeopardizing the safety of this house. As recent transplants from New Jerseys to Southern California these clients were in awe of all the plants they were seeing in their neighborhood. Living on the water at the Ventura harbor they wanted to be able to take full advantage or the outdoor lifestyle and cool ocean breeze. Being environmentally conscious citizens, these clients were very concerned that their garden was designed with sustainability as a leading factor. As they said in our initial consultation, “Would want or garden be part of the solution not part of the problem.”
This property is the last house on the bottom of a gently sloping street. All the water from the neighbor’s houses drain onto this property. When I came into this project the back yard sloped into the house. When it would rain the water would pool up against the house causing water damage. To address the drainage we employed several tactics. Firstly, we had to invert the slope in the back yard so that water would not pool against the house. We created a very minor slope going away from the house so that water drains away but so the patio area feels flat.
The back of the back yard had an existing retaining wall made out of shabby looking slump stone. In front of that retaining wall we created a beautiful natural stone retaining wall. This retain wall severs many purposes. One it works as a place to put some of the soil removed from the grading giving this project a smaller carbon foot print (moving soil of a site burns a lot of fossil fuel). The retaining wall also helps obscure the shabby existing retaining wall and allows for planting space above the footing from the existing retaining wall. The soil behind the ne retaining wall is slightly lower than the top of the wall so that when the run on water on from the neighbor’s property flows it is slowed down and absorbed before it has a chance to get near the house. Finally, the wall is at a height designed to serve as overflow seating as these clients intend to have occasional large parties and gatherings.
Other efforts made to help keep the house safe and dry are that we used permeable paving. With the hardscape being comprised of flag stone with gravel in-between water has a chance to soak into the ground so it does not flow into spots where it will pool up.
The final element to help keep the house dry is the addition of infiltration swales. Infiltration swales are depressions in the landscape that capture rain water. The down spouts on the sides of the houses are connected to pipe that goes under the ground and conveys the water to the swales. In this project it helps move rain water away from the house. In general, these Infiltration swales are a powerful element in creating sustainable landscapes. These swales capture pollutants that accumulate on the roof and in the landscape. Biology in the soil in the swales can break down these pollutants. When run of watered is not captured by soil on a property the dirty water flows into water ways and then the ocean were the biology that breaks down the pollutants is not as prolific. This is particularly important in this project as it drains directly into the harbor. The water that is absorbed in to the swales can replenish aquafers as well as increasing the water available to the plants planted in that area recusing the amount of water that is needed from irrigation.
When it came to the planting we went with a California friendly tropical theme. Using lots of succulents and plants with colorful foliage we created vibrant lush landscape that will have year around color. We planted densely (the images in the picture were taken only a month after installation). Taller drought tolerant plants to help regulate the temperature and loss of water from the plants below them. The dense plantings will help keep the garden, the house and even the neighborhood cooler on hot days, will provide spaces for birds to enjoy and will create an illusion of depth in a somewhat narrow space.
Today this garden is a space these homeowners can fully enjoy while having the peace of mind that their house is protected from flooding and they are helping the environment.
Boss Landscape DesignDesign ideas for a medium sized modern back formal full sun garden for summer in DC Metro with a raised bed.
Brookside Landscape DesignClose-up of Cedar jacuzzi tub and Ipe deck with view of bottom level fire lounge seating area.
Photography: Brett Hilton
Photo of a large contemporary back full sun garden in San Diego with decking.
Photo of a large contemporary back full sun garden in San Diego with decking.
Alpine Construction and Design Ltd.Large classic back formal full sun garden for spring in Calgary with a waterfall and decorative stones.
Interactive LandscapesLarge modern back full sun garden in San Francisco with an outdoor sport court, a climbing frame and concrete paving.
Showcase Landscape & IrrigationLarge back xeriscape partial sun garden in Denver with a desert look and natural stone paving.
Northwest Native Landscapes LLCThis sloped garden was transforming into a modern outdoor retreat with a raised outdoor kitchen and dining area, hot tub, steel raised planters, and a flagstone patio with a fire table. Creative plant placement provides privacy from close urban neighbors and makes this space feel a world away.
Dig Your Garden Landscape DesignAPLD 2021 Silver Award Winning Landscape Design. An expansive back yard landscape with several mature oak trees and a stunning Golden Locust tree has been transformed into a welcoming outdoor retreat. The renovations include a wraparound deck, an expansive travertine natural stone patio, stairways and pathways along with concrete retaining walls and column accents with dramatic planters. The pathways meander throughout the landscape... some with travertine stepping stones and gravel and those below the majestic oaks left natural with fallen leaves. Raised vegetable beds and fruit trees occupy some of the sunniest areas of the landscape. A variety of low-water and low-maintenance plants for both sunny and shady areas include several succulents, grasses, CA natives and other site-appropriate Mediterranean plants complimented by a variety of boulders. Dramatic white pots provide architectural accents, filled with succulents and citrus trees. Design, Photos, Drawings © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design
OSADA DESIGNA tapestry of weaving stems, together with voluptuous, fragrant and multi-petalled flowers add to the romanticism of this garden. Blowsy peonies and "old fashioned" rambling roses grow into billowy shapes against walls, above doors, and trailing from the garden walls and trellis on top of the Summerhouse. Free-flowering and self seeding plant choices help to continue naturalising the garden for the future ...defining the naturalistic approach of this city garden.
Photography : Steven Wooster
Board & VellumLandscape contracting by Avid Landscape.
Carpentry by Contemporary Homestead.
Photograph by Meghan Montgomery.
Medium sized classic back full sun garden in Seattle with a fire feature and gravel.
Medium sized classic back full sun garden in Seattle with a fire feature and gravel.
Ketti Kupper Conscious Life DesignBuild out of the Meditation Hut next to the spa deck and gravel filled steps that lead into a recessed fire pit area. Photo by Ketti Kupper.
This is an example of a small world-inspired back xeriscape partial sun garden in Los Angeles with decking.
This is an example of a small world-inspired back xeriscape partial sun garden in Los Angeles with decking.
Design Outdoors LimitedOutdoor kitchen with built in gas BBQ - also dual fuel if required. Sink with hot water demand heater and outdoor fridge.
Large modern back garden in Kent.
Large modern back garden in Kent.
Eco Landscape Design & BuildInnis Casey Photography
Inspiration for a medium sized modern back xeriscape garden in Los Angeles with gravel.
Inspiration for a medium sized modern back xeriscape garden in Los Angeles with gravel.
June Scott DesignRock outcroppings make a striking background for new lounge areas in this compact Los Angeles hillside garden. Working with the attributes of the site, we added native plants to drape over the stone, and converted hollowed stone planters into a firepit and water feature. New built-in seating and a cozy hammock complete the relaxing space, and dramatic lighting makes it come alive at night.
Photo by Martin Cox Photography.
Chestnut Grove Design Group, Inc.Photo by http://jessicadelaneyphotography.com/
This is an example of a medium sized rural back formal partial sun garden for summer in Boston with a fire feature and natural stone paving.
This is an example of a medium sized rural back formal partial sun garden for summer in Boston with a fire feature and natural stone paving.
Back Garden Ideas and Designs
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