Ideas for lanscaping a LARGE yard?

Question

Just puchased a home on 2 + acres. The back of the property is flat and treeless...any (budget) ideas on where to start other than hiring a landscaper?

I live in central Indiana. Hoping for a landscape idea with low maintenance.

Answer 1

Try dividing the yard into separate areas and give each place a distinct identity and purpose. (patio, water fountain and bench, bbq area, play area, reading area) Make visible divisions between each area with hedges, dense foliage, rows of trees, etc.

Answer 2

I say get your phone book and paper,call around and get directions, give yourself a good twentyfive mile radius, more if you can, and go window shopping. Take paper and be prepared to write, take note of the color size shape is it a bush, tree, is it annual are perennial. Does it take full sun, which is what you will have for a few years because if you plant trees and have to start out with small ones then it will take a while for them to mature. Just buy what you like. Unless you live where there is no winter you really ca'nt do much shopping yet anyway. You will probably need to amend your soil, mabe you can afford to get a load of bulk top soil, check phone book for places and prices. You'll need fertilizer too.
Just remember, you do'nt have to plant a garden in a week, it may take you a few years to have a pretty back yard, but that is ok, alot of people go gun ho and end up stressed because they ca'nt keep up with the watering, so take it easy and enjoy you planting adventure. Do'nt pay someone to tell you what you may not end up liking, ask the nurseries you go to, they get paid to give advise. I hope you will consider some rosemary and lavender, and mabe a couple of eucaliptus trees, you have so much to choose from. Just remember a perennial dies down in the winter and comes back in the spring, so you may want to tag these the first year and also perennials should be divided which is good because you get more free plants. So if you are on a budget go with perennials, you will be dividing for years to come. Annuals are planted every summer, some reseed but most do not. Good luck with your new home and your future beautiful back yard. P.S. If some of your plants die do'nt stress, before you buy please look at the roots, make sure they are white and healthy looking, no browns root. Wish I could help you plant!!!!!!

Answer 3

Decide first how you want to use it - is it an ornamental garden, do you need to have a clothes line or play area for children, or a shed?
Draw out something on paper, and think about it for a while. Make paths wide enough for 2 people to walk, think about which way the sun comes in, where do you want large trees etc. Do you want a veggie patch? that will need to be close to the house, in good soil and sun, and easy to water. Think about where existing powerlines and water lines go, not compatible with large trees. Near the house you might like a sheltered entertainment area. Plan everything before you pick up a shovel - its rather hard to move a mature oak tree which is in the wrong place.
I'm doing the same thing here, only I have 85 acres, no water supply and rocky soil. And yes, I'm going to have a mature conifer too close to the waterpipes, keeping my fingers crossed on that one. But its such a pretty little Christmas tree now! It is a sloping site too, so we have to think stairs and retaining walls before planting too much. Get a plan on paper, think hard and show it to people who might see a problem you haven't thought about. Best of luck to you!

Answer 4

First, set a budget.
The scope of your project will center around it.
Then ask yourself, what do I want the result to be?
Without knowing where you are going, there is no sense in shifting out of park.
Do you have a theme?
Do you want a display of exotics and specimens; or a native retreat?
Formal like an English garden or a twisting trail through vegitation with different assorted "rooms"?
Are you willing to or capable of operating earth moving equipment?
How about some ponds?

Or are you looking for a monolithic hedge around the entire property?

See.... there is lots of information you need to provide before we can find "your" paradise.

You can hire a landscape designer or consultant to help you figure things out..... but, have a budget figured out first.

Answer 5

If you don't plan on making the whole two acre your back yard fence off a size you feel is maintainable. Landscape want you can use now. The fence can be removed later and you can expand to a new size.

Answer 6

where you live depends a lot on the price trees in tennessee are the cheapest place stay clear of silver maple they will grow into the septic lines and on top of the ground you can get a 2 in caliper bradford or cleveland pear for about 55 to 65 dollars red sunset red indian red maples about the same price they are already a shade tree also

Answer 7

1st you need to decide what type of plants you like. then you need to be able to invision it 10-15 years down the road. i would advise you to have a landscaper or two to come look at it and they will give you a few ideas. i would but i dont know what you have and where. i been landscaping for 25years.

Answer 8

It depends on the zone where you are, but there are plenty of websites where there are literally thousands of garden plans, even Home and Gardens generally has landscaping plans on their month issues.
Good luck!

Answer 9

it all depends on where you live go to a local nursery or garden center, even wal-mart to see what grows best but look at shrubs and fruit trees the smaller they are when you buy the cheaper by they will grow. apple trees are really pretty and if you live near deers rosemary (shrub) is good