View Landscaping Online .com

Outside of grass, our backyard is completely empty! We built our home, and I would like to have a nice yard area to go with it. Unfortunately we don't have a patio, so something that I could incorporate some seating areas into would be nice. Any suggestions as to some plants that are "Florida friendly" and fairly low maintenance?

(Also, the land dips down 1-2 feet at the back of the yard - so anything that would help cover that up and make it look normal would be great!)

It's really hard to imagine the yard, to really come up with ideas, without seeing it. But... Some ideas, that may or may not work for you..

*Roses - What is a garden without atleast one Rose bush, right? =)

*Tree(s) - Since you are starting with a blank canvas, in a sense, why not consider starting with a tree, or two. Decide what would work best you you. Perhaps a shade tree, which one mature, can provide a nice shady spot for a yard swing or a bench? Flowering tree(s)? A fruit tree or two?

*Raised garden - Maybe you could build a raised garden at th back of the yard, where it slopes a bit... To bring it back up, make it appear more level?

*Pond or other water feature?

*Build a small patio from flagstone, or brick - surround it with some shrubs or flowers, maybe?

Good luck to you, I know you will turn your backyard into a peaceful retreat, with a little time and imagination! =)

2008-09-30 09:13:40 by OffLiCute

Best management practices for landscaping in Florida. Credits: The Winner Is DeVotchKa & Mychael Danna Little Miss Sunshine (original motion ...

My backyard is mostly sand,what is a cheap solution for landscaping to keep the dirt out of my house? It's an old neighborhood so lots of trees and leaves...sand flys all over the place when my dogs run and need a cheap solution to control the sand from getting in the house.need cheap landscaping ideas please!

Take a look at mulches. Shredded bark comes to mind in my area, because it is cheap and easily found due to the sawmills in the area. Where you live, it would be best to go to one of the larger Landscape supply centers to see what kind of mulches may be available in your area cheap. Buying by the pickup load or even having it delivered in a dump truck will be cheaper than buying it one 50lb bag at a time.

That being said, if you really do not care what the mulch looks like and just want to cover the ground with something, you might want to consider getting bales of hay or straw to cover the bare areas, especially where the dogs are kept. Straw more often times than not has no weed seeds in it, and Hay does. Mulching with Hay often brings in the types of grasses that can take hold in a tough growing situation. Again, look at whats available in your area, thats where you will find your lowest cost choice.

2006-11-25 17:43:23 by lady

Price: $19.95

CREATIVE HOMEOWNER PRESS
Creative Homeowner Press #277853 Pools/Spas Book

I have about 1/4 acre of yard at my south florida home. We have chain-link fences all around, with the back of our property on a canal. I would love to have a place for the kids to play, a vegetable garden and a butterfly garden. And I would like to limit the amount of grass - but there is sooo much to do. Where should I start? I don't have the money to hire someone and want to do it in stages, but work out the overall plan before I start anything.
Anyone have any ideas on how to start? Should I just start working on 5'x5' sections? I am at a loss and the season is already well on it's way. Thanks

it may be worth some money to hire a landscape architect. if you are really against that, make a list of things you want in the space and things you would like to see happen, or not happen in the space. this is called a program. next, spend lots of time in the space and figure out the best spaces for views, spaces that need shade, etc. next draw a to scale boundary of your yard and start filling in the space with the program elements, keeping in mind the views, slopes, sun exposure, etc. it sounds like you want to go the sustainable route, so go to your local nursery (NOT home depot, something local where the people know what they are selling) and ask to see a selection of native plants. butterflies like tiny little flowers, so include lantana or something like that that grows in florida. figure out places in your yard to place the plants depending on shade, sun, wind exposure, etc... it's a complex task. you may want to do it in stages so that you can figure out what is working on a small scale rather than doing the whole yard and then realizing that you made a mistake. like i said before, it's a really good investment to hire a professional...it will increase your home value and insure that the space is designed right. many landscape designers offer consulting by the hour for really reasonable fees. you won't get any drawings out of it, but you'll get some great insight, and the professional will be able to pinpoint any major problems with your site if there are any. good luck!

2007-11-11 20:24:58 by Lauren J

I am getting ready to landscape my backyard, and at the Nursery they have palms that are $11.00 dollars but they are smaller sizes... Then they have the bigger ones for more money. What I was wondering how fast do these palms grow in Florida? I wouldn't mind buying a bunch of the small ones if it takes a year to catch up to the $35.00 dollar ones that are bigger? Is it a foot a year or something?

I don't know about the Christmas Palm, but most palms are slow growers. I would venture a guess of three years. Ask the experts at the nursery center.

2007-11-19 09:10:54 by Brian R