Ideas for what to do with my back yard?

Dianem424
by Dianem424
I'm surrounded by pines so no sun and very acidic soil nothing grows ive planted every grass see imaginable but no luck. What, besides grass can I do to my yard? I love entertaining but this is killing me. Thanks, Diane
  6 answers
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jun 23, 2018

    Hello there, Lay membrane and cover with sand and Artificial Grass or Gravel or Pea Shingle or Rubber Chips or Wood Mulch. or Slab the area you want to use for entertaining. Then plant Acid loving Rhodo's or other Acid loving plants. Or better still Plant up some rather large Planters, then you can grow a wider variety of plants...........

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Jun 23, 2018

    Perhaps make your back yard no plants or anything in the ground. Use stones, bug rocks, mulch, etc. for the majority of it and put in paths with pacers or brick leading to potted plant gardens. You could put down some pavers and make seating areas at some of the garden areas. By using potted plants you can avoid the acidic soil and grow whatever you want. You could start in one area, say off your patio sides and go from there. I bet you could make a beautifully landscaped area in your back yard this way and will make it a lot better for entertaining your guest outside. Have fun planning your back yard, Diane! Make it the wonderful area that you want and can enjoy.

  • Mkl Mkl on Jun 23, 2018

    I would forget about grass ans put in some beds with acid loving plants. Look at this website for some plant ideas https://ask.extension.org/questions/201876


  • Lisa Lisa on Jun 23, 2018

    Acidic siol can be amended by adding in other things to the soil. It worked for my moms house which is surrounded by pine trees and while it was hard to get grass to grow we eventually did get it to grow. The easiest suggestion I can make would be raised flower beds. I would build them and sit them whether you want them to be. Use good soil in the beds and shade loving plants. I would remove the piles of stones and prehaps make a firepit with them? It would look neat. If you dont want to deal with trying to grow grass. Put down weed block and put in a good quality mulch in the area and it will look great!

  • Wendy Wendy on Jun 24, 2018

    Sounds like a great project, let us know how it goes!

  • Wanda sinnema Wanda sinnema on Jul 10, 2018

    I'd skip the grass, Its nothing but labor and work. Like earlier posts, go for acid loving plants (rhodys, azalea, hydgranges, evergreens in pots-lemon cypress is a fav of mine, hosta also come in lots of sizes and colors and these all love part shade.. large variety of sizes and colors in each. I'd plant several rhodys- away from the patio area- closer to the trees they like the shade to define the space .. I'd mulch a large section of the under tree area. Its so much easier to have than constant weeding and maintain. That will allow you to enjoy the entertaining space more.. I have a path that wanders and winds around and back to the patio . Edging would help keep bark or some other ground cover contained a bit. Maybe add a bench, birdbath or fixture along the path. Again lots of choices use tubs and planter boxes for the remaining splashes of color closer to the house. Most shade loving perennials, are fine in huge tubs. Hardy fuschia, have a huge selection of size and color, not the hanging basket they are annuals and last one season. HEBE an evergreen that you can fill in with too. I put 1-2 perennials in my big tubs and fill in with a few pops of color in annuals.. I would try to carry the inside decor to the outside.. Is it beachy, rustic or modern, that may help dictate what direction to go with the mulch, path and types of planters or the color palette.. Don't worry gardens are never done,, they are always a work in progress.. Have fun