Asked on Jul 22, 2013
Courtyard & Patio Disaster
by
Leslie F
+12
HELP! Our courtyard and patio are a disaster,Anyone of ideas on turning our disaster into a relaxing enjoyable haven?
This is the first picture of our courtyard disaster
second picture of our courtyard disaster
Third pic of our courtyard disaster
Courtyard disaster #4
Our wagon wheel bench
14 answers
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Are those your concrete blocks there at the end and or can you get more ? You can use them to either make some different heights to set some bright ceramic flower pots or turn them into a small raised planting bed, using them so that you somewhat mask the end of the mobile home back end. I have seen some pretty cool ideas with painting concrete and using the holes for succulents. Well of course you need some plants! :) My next question is can you attach anything to the storage shed building? You could possible use some trellis type structures to soften that side if so. Or maybe a small pergola that you can place your cool bench underneath and move the table a bit more towards the back end of the other mobile home. I think I would also use some stepping stones to lead to the table and to the bench underneath the pergola and to the pottery/planting bed area to tie the area together in a cohesive fashion String some whimsical outdoor lights from that totally cool tree., and around the whole area to create a festive atmosphere. I saw a string of hot peppers that really cute maybe at Michaels or Hobby Lobby, I don't recall it being too expensive, but I bet you could find some on the net for a deal, Of course they don't have to be peppers! Just have fun and hit the yard sales and flea markets for some treasures to make it interesting and delightful.
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Jul 22, 2013
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I'm thinking you can create a beautiful cinder block garden and let vines grow down for interest a well as some beautiful flowers. You can create a nice support trellis behind the cement blocks and let clematis grow up and cover the storage shed. I'd go with stone to border around pavers for a nice patio. Use medium size ones for more interest. Install some ornamental grass to block off other corner. Little space always seems like a challenge but actually you can get alot of impact in a smaller space easily. Good luck
Cynthia
on Jul 22, 2013
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Rolled Bamboo fencing might be a pretty and cohesive cover for the sides that face your neighbors and it is easy to remove if need be. I would also get a pretty striped umbrella, strings of lights across the whole area and maybe a little arbor entrance. Lots of bright colored pots too in the same colors as the umbrella.Have fun and keep us posted, Leslie!
Barb Rosen
on Jul 22, 2013
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Yes,those are our concrete blocks,yeah,we can get more.Is clematis poisonou?We have a small dog that we love and would not want her to become poisend from any plants.We are painting the trim of our trailer burgandy and are going to put up white board and braten shutter on the sides of our front window on those we're going to paint thin burgandy accent stipes.I love the ideas,thanks for the picture Barb,it makes it alot easier to visualize.
Leslie F
on Jul 22, 2013
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http://pinterest.com/terifinneren/my-secret-garden/, lot's of great ideas here to help
Teri Finneren
on Jul 24, 2013
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I love @360 Sod (Donna Dixson) 's ideas!! I think those cinders would look great for the camouflage.
Sia@South 47th
on Jul 24, 2013
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Since my last post we have gotten rid of some of the junk in our courtyard.My husband and I both hate the small gravel in our courtyard and do not want to keep it in our courtyard.We have an umbrella post just need to buy a new umbrella,really like the striped umbrella idea that Barb reccommended and the miniature lights too.We're painting the trim of our trailer burgandy so any color suggestions for painting the bricks?All you ladies have given really good ideas and I'm going to try to incorporate all your ideas into our courtyard.
Leslie F
on Jul 24, 2013
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Barb,I saw your water garden,very cool idea,but noticed you don't have any plants in your water garden or do you just rotate your plants from the rest of your garden to your water gardens?Do you have problems with mosquitos and your water gardens?we hate looking at the back end of our neighbor's trailer so are totally going to implement the rolled Bamboo fencing.Thank you all so very much and will be posting pictures as soon as we have a beautiful inviting courtyard.
Leslie F
on Jul 24, 2013
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@Leslie F Hesperia can get HOT and cold, depending on where you are. So maybe a water garden might not be the best idea. IDK, just throwing that out there for you to consider. @Barb Rosen or @360 Sod (Donna Dixson) might be able to help you with how to manage that water in the heat, inexpensively. xox !
Sia@South 47th
on Jul 24, 2013
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@Leslie F what great potential you have for this space. Is it a permanent space, if so, I suggest taking your time with it. To do some quick fixes I would suggest using lattice nailed to sunken posts, to block some of the background - paint to your taste, some potted tropicals to add some ambienance and maybe some hanging pots. If you don't like the gravel you could consider getting some free pallets and placing them on the ground to make a deck and paint to match the lattice. This too can be done in sections. Or you could replace the gravel with 24x24 concrete tiles or peraps lay artificial turf over it. Add a couple of laterns (probably now on sale) with candles and you have great evening ambianace. You can add cushions as well for the same effect. Love your bench - could put some throw pillows on it to enhance your colour pallet. Would love to see update pics. Thanks for posting :)
Gail Salminen
on Jul 24, 2013
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Thanks Gail,by permanent space are I'm guessing you mean do we live here full time,yes,we do it's our permanent residence,we've lived here for two and a hal years and will be living here for another two or more years but hopefully not longer than 2 more yrs.Sia,you had a good point about the water garden.Gail,the pallet idea we tried but squirrels decided they liked living under them so we got rid of the pallets.the rest of your ideas were helpful.
Leslie F
on Jul 24, 2013
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@Leslie F ~ if temperatures are extreme in your area, you might just want to have a water feature without plants. As I am not familiar with your growing zone, I'd suggest going to a local nursery or garden center for advice. These folks are the experts that know what works and is viable in your setting. As for the gravel, setting large pavers or flagstones closely together in it so it is more holding them in place than being a walking surface might work too, rather than getting rid of what you have and starting over.
Barb Rosen
on Jul 25, 2013
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Thanks Barb,will just do some kind of water feature instead of a water garden,This year hasn't been too hot 107 degrees was our hottest so far but we have had 118-120 in the past.and it diesn't get any colder than 32 degrees in the winter for the norm.
Leslie F
on Jul 25, 2013
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Did you get to redo this? I'd love to see a post about it.
Kate
on Aug 15, 2016
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