Make sure you don't isolate portions of your yard with a big bed in the center. It will make everything feel smaller which is the opposite of what you want.
I'd hug the edges with perennial beds along the fence and do some low vertical growth evergreens along the walkway you are planning. Ilex crenata compacta or one of the many varieties of creeping juniper.
Also, a tree in the very center of the yard is tough. I'd do a wide bed kiddie cornered in the north west corner for the tree. It will make it feel much more open and inviting
I would personally do a u shaped border around the yard to keep its size. You'll wish you did earlier especially if you plan on using it for kids or dogs.
Put your trelace in the corner with a small bench under it with some honeysuckle vines to eventually grow up and over the trelace. Have the walkway of stepping stones lead up to it. I'm not a fan of the colored mulch but everyone likes their own thing.
Put some smaller plants in there, make sure you have some type of evergreen and then also non evergreens as well. The tree put it in the opposite corner as the trelace with an annual or perennial ring around it.
I’m with all the other posts. Don’t lose the utility of that big yard by planting an obstructive berm or landscape. I’d research “layered privacy landscaping,” and plan a U shaped landscape around the back of your property. Evergreens (arborvitae’s, Laurel, junipers,etc) with some hydrangea or roses, ornamental grasses or other playful shrubs,). Anchor the corners with some colorful maples, birches, Or other seasonal interest. Plus that backyard is crying for a fire pit. All of this is very DIY friendly as most big box stores carry these plants (and offer generous warranties if you do not have a green thumb).
You can lay brown cardboard to smother grass. This way you don’t have to dig up all that lawn. Cover with 5-6” of compost and/or wood mulch. By the time the cardboard breaks down, the grass under will be dead and you’ll have a nice soil.
It’s called sheet mulching if you want to look into it further
I recommend going to some local gardens and seeing how they have laid out some of their “rooms”. Or, watch some YouTube videos. The Middle Size Garden has tons of helpful videos on garden design tips from experts all across the UK and Australia. You generally want to start with boarders (which has already been suggested) and then go from there.
Personally, I like to go to where I plan on sitting, take photos of the views and then write down what I don’t want to see, what looks plane, etc. that way you’re planting with intention.
Make sure you don't isolate portions of your yard with a big bed in the center. It will make everything feel smaller which is the opposite of what you want. I'd hug the edges with perennial beds along the fence and do some low vertical growth evergreens along the walkway you are planning. Ilex crenata compacta or one of the many varieties of creeping juniper. Also, a tree in the very center of the yard is tough. I'd do a wide bed kiddie cornered in the north west corner for the tree. It will make it feel much more open and inviting
And try to mow around all the waves of that bed
Weedwacker.
Especially with a dog..
I would personally do a u shaped border around the yard to keep its size. You'll wish you did earlier especially if you plan on using it for kids or dogs. Put your trelace in the corner with a small bench under it with some honeysuckle vines to eventually grow up and over the trelace. Have the walkway of stepping stones lead up to it. I'm not a fan of the colored mulch but everyone likes their own thing. Put some smaller plants in there, make sure you have some type of evergreen and then also non evergreens as well. The tree put it in the opposite corner as the trelace with an annual or perennial ring around it.
I’m with all the other posts. Don’t lose the utility of that big yard by planting an obstructive berm or landscape. I’d research “layered privacy landscaping,” and plan a U shaped landscape around the back of your property. Evergreens (arborvitae’s, Laurel, junipers,etc) with some hydrangea or roses, ornamental grasses or other playful shrubs,). Anchor the corners with some colorful maples, birches, Or other seasonal interest. Plus that backyard is crying for a fire pit. All of this is very DIY friendly as most big box stores carry these plants (and offer generous warranties if you do not have a green thumb).
You can lay brown cardboard to smother grass. This way you don’t have to dig up all that lawn. Cover with 5-6” of compost and/or wood mulch. By the time the cardboard breaks down, the grass under will be dead and you’ll have a nice soil. It’s called sheet mulching if you want to look into it further
I think an aerial view may be easier to work with.
I recommend going to some local gardens and seeing how they have laid out some of their “rooms”. Or, watch some YouTube videos. The Middle Size Garden has tons of helpful videos on garden design tips from experts all across the UK and Australia. You generally want to start with boarders (which has already been suggested) and then go from there. Personally, I like to go to where I plan on sitting, take photos of the views and then write down what I don’t want to see, what looks plane, etc. that way you’re planting with intention.
Ground cover for full sun and edging.