We have a small rectangular backyard that is currently just a weedy lawn and never used (too shady, nowhere to sit, nothing to do)!

I've been browsing the internet, looking for ideas, and have come up with a couple. Could you suggest some more ideas? All comments are greatly appreciated :)

Dimensions: 56' long, 20' wide

West edge: 2 1/2 storey house
North edge: asphalt driveway, 8'x8' shed at the end of the driveway at the NE corner, 6' off the east edge
East edge: 4' high cedar plank fence, backside of neighbouring buildings
South edge: 6"-1' drop to the neighbours' backyards

If you're the visual type, I quickly made a sketch: http://imgur.com/SnGg7.jpg

Here are our ideas so far:
- I picked up eight 2'x1.5' pieces of slate, could be used for a walkway
- Also picked up 600 grey bricks (typical size of 8.5"x4"x2.5") - they're weathered without being in poor shape and could be used for short retaining walls, raised beds, paths...
- Because the backyard is so shady (refer to sketch I posted to see why!) we'll have to rely mostly on shade-loving plants!
- We could build an easy privacy fence with t-bars and 4'x8' lattice along the south edge of the property?

Thanks once again for any suggestions or layouts you'd be willing to share!

Cheers,

Chris

On the south side where the 1' drop is, is there a retaining wall? If no retaining wall, is there an erosion problem? How steeply does the land drop off?

Trellis with shade-tolerant vine for privacy. Put the plants so they block that drop-off.

You will be surprised how popular the back yard will be when you can sit there, eat there and hang out there. Make a summer outdoor living area.

Can anyone point to a good resource for a layout?

Re. timbu's comment, keep in mind that you don't have to fence the entire length of the asphalt, merely enough to block out the worst views from the seating area. That might well be only ten or fifteen feet. And I would think it doesn't need to be more than four or five feet tall.

While you're sitting down in the different locations, make a fence mock-up with some bamboo stakes (maybe with sheets clipped to them at various heights).

If they do compromise the enjoyment of the yard, maybe you can park them further from the house.

KarinL

However, I see I had the driveway backwards the first time I looked at the photos, and the cars could just be rolled back to beside the house for the yard to be enjoyable without them. In any case, I think a divider of any kind would reduce driveway function to mask what is to me either not a problem or one easily resolvable by other means.

You could consider resurfacing the driveway and cleaning up the edge. That to me is the greater eyesore, not the cars on it.

I think your basic plan sounds great. Honestly, if you just get a patio set and put in on the grass, you'll be 60% of the way there (with respect to decision-making anyway). Once you're sitting out there, as Timbu says, you'll start to realize what you want to do from there.

Also, if it's too shady, evaluate the tree scape and decide where those trees are in their life cycles and if they're in the right places, and whether you need to start making a replacement plan. Thinning some of them might also be an option.

KarinL

Imagine you are using the area for outdoor dining and lounging. Bring out some chairs, or borrow some lawn chairs and start pretending to do whatever out there. Use boxes for furniture if you have to.

Figure out what the traffic flow has to be, from kitchen to table for eating, minimize people cutting through the lounging area with trash cans, that sort of thing. For any landscape, there will be good and not so good places for things to be. For example, walking past the poopy dog yard to get to the outdoor dining area is not good.

When you have the activities and furniture figured out, get some bright-colored string and start laying out the boundaries of the activity areas ... for example, your patio has to be big enough for the table and chairs and lounging.

Then start figuring out where you need to block views: Sit where you will be sitting and look around. Where do you need to block things? Does it need to be all-year or just summer. then look for a plant that fits the space.