What to do with my new backyard?

Question

I have a huge backyard in my new house. The previous owners added filler dirt, but it ran off into the neighbors' yards and now I have holes under the fence. Half of the backyard was sodded and the back half was not (where the dirt has run off). Our neighbor has a pond for several days after it rains because my backyard runs off into theirs. Any suggestions on what I should do?

Also, I have NO trees as the developer bulldozed all the natural trees and the previous owners never planted any. I live in Texas and it is very hot in my area during summer/fall.What are some good trees to plant?

Thanks in advance!
Kari

Answer 1

It is late in the season to plant anything, but there is a lot you can do to get ready for next year and a couple of things to help out your neighbor.

Since you have no garden or lawn to disturb now would be a good time to slant the dirt a bit to the other side of the yard. There was likely a watershed before that shunted the water across your yard that the developer ignored when they filled it.

I don't know the legal requirements to do so, but dividing the yard with a small "fake" dry creek as a part of an overall design to divide an "upper" and "lower" yard with a bridge over it. That can also make the yard a lot more intimate.

As for trees I would have flowers for show, deciduous trees on the south and west sides and edible vegetation as much as possible on the rest. In particular I would look to whatever rare stuff you can find, as it will provide delight unavailable in any market.

I have also used yard timbers as inexpensive pergolas to train vines and make beautiful accents. 4 uprights with 2 across and a bundle of lath cut in half just makes the right amount of cover for the vine to spread out over.

The so called Sandra Berry vine is slow growing but has excellent fruit often found in special energy teas, and will grow in many temperate climates so should do well there.

Another fruit that many folk associate with the tropics is the Lychee, but though I am in Florida, such frosts as we have had have not fazed it in the least.

A much larger tree and close relative called Longan or Dragoneye might also do well. It might be a bit more cold sensitive, but worth the try as it has a lot more fruit a lot more often. I am eating the last of this years crop at this time.

There is also a climbing cactus called Dragonfruit that has beautiful yellow, red and green scales (on the delicious fruit), and huge beautiful flowers. It starts very easily from seed but is also a slow grower but excellent on a pergola.

Kiwi fruit is another vine that prefers drier weather than Florida and is capable of starting well from the seeds of fruit that you buy at the store. Grapes would work as well, but Kiwi, or Dragonfruit would be more exciting to have.

I am also growing winged beans. It is an excellent vegetable that is much larger than a similar string bean, but unavailable at the store.

With such a blank slate as you have and a few years to work on it you could have a garden that would be like something out of a fantasy novel.

Neem would also be an excellent tree, and perhaps very profitable as well

Answer 2

To prevent runoff you need to cover the exposed ground. If you don't know if you want grass or vegetable garden or flower garden there then cover the bare back half with 3-4 inches of mulch or straw. The mulch or straw will prevent run off while you decide what to do.

Think about how you will use the space and what you want. Do you have dogs or kids that need space to play? Do you want to grow vegetables or fruit? Do you want flowers? Do you need a patio for outdoor entertaining? Do you want shade? Do you want a swimming pool or hot tub? Do you need a backyard work shop? Need a shed to hold bikes or hobby equipment? Want an outdoor fire pit? BBQ? Do you want a horseshoe pit? Shuffleboard court? Badminton court? Basketball hoops? Beach Volleyball sand court? etc etc.

If you are not experienced at gardening and the yard is large, you should consider consulting a landscape designer to help with planning the area. The designer will need the answers to the questions I posed.

Answer 3

I also live in Texas and have planted a lot of trees in my yard. Fall is the best time to plant trees so wait until October. I highly recommend Texas Ash ( make sure it's a Texas Ash and not an Arizona Ash), and Bur Oak. Both are natives so they are naturally drought resistant and both need full sun. They also are long lived and fast growing shade trees.

Get the book Howard Garretts Trees for Texas.

Answer 4

get trees and have an alarm or something to tell you when to water them so they don't dry out in the heat and a fountain also if you have kids get a sand pit