Need some ideas for the backyard! Pics included

Emily227

We have a large drainage area that runs along the side of our yard. It is basically just in case of emergencies. In all the years that the drainage has been there (at least over a decade) there's never been any water going through there. It's just to prevent mudslides (which is unlikely because the mountain behind our house is solid granite---not mud or other debris). I'm trying to figure out how to create more space in our yard. Someone suggested filling it with dirt and just running the risk of water running through it. But I'm not sure if that's a great idea.

I just started getting more into roses and I'd like to try doing hybrid teas. I was thinking that a long-term project might be to grow roses in pots and place them along the drainage area. At least this way they could be moved if need be. How do you think this will look? I just don't want it to look really tacky!

Any other ideas? The garbage/recycling bins have been moved to th garage

Here are some pics:

~NB~

Are you talking about that little cement strip next to the wall? It looks about 2' wide, tops. I can't see much of your yard, but why are you focused on something so small and out of the way when you have (what looks like) so much lawn you could convert to garden? JMO.

blue_elle

~NB~:

I can't see much of your yard, but why are you focused on something so small and out of the way when you have (what looks like) so much lawn you could convert to garden? JMO.

 Eh, everyone has those things that they want to change that other's look at and go "big deal", be it your hair, nose, or yard, lol. 

It's hard to tell how long the area is - would it look strange to do some bushes and flowers in front of the drainage canal? I mean, once everything grew in a little would it be obvious that there's empty space behind the greenery, and if so do you think it would look off? That's what I would be tempted to do, with maybe some curving mulch or pinestraw that would draw the eye forward rather than focusing beyond. Just based on the photos, I would feel like lining containers down the space might feel too forced or rigid, if that makes sense.

 

Emily227

That's a good idea. Right now we have bougainvilla and grapes on vines that go along the other half of the canal. It's actually a bit bigger than it looks from the first picture. We actually don't have very much yard, so I don't want to get rid of much additional space. And this is one of the few areas in the side that gets full sun, so I'd like to take advantage of that. I want to start growing roses, but I can't realy figure out where to put them. That was my biggest reason for thinking about doing pots. I want to do roses, but I can't figure out another place to put them! I just hate wasting that whole side of the yard---especially when I actually really like the wall behind it.

TarHeels&Rebels

Filling it in is an awful area.  It's there for emergencies, like you said.  Nashville just had a 500 year flood, which I'm sure you know, and people probably did all sorts of things like fill in drainage ditches.

Personally, I'd do pots of a trailing vine on top of the ledge and let it trail down.  English ivy (evergreen), sweet potato (annual), and others I can't think of.  For me, the retaining wall would bother me more than the ditch itself.

strangebird

If you want to use the area to grow container roses, I would suggest leaving the drainage ditch accessible by laying open pavers over it (which would allow any water to pass through them) and setting the potted roses on top. This solution would keep both the functionality of the drainage strip, while allowing you to use the area for planting.

If you didn't like the look of the pots seated on pavers, you could also plant low-growing plants along the edge of the strip, which would grow 6-8 inches high and block the view of the cement and pavers, without tacking up too much space in your yard. The overall look would then be a tiered flower garden, which would probably be quite attractive.

Another alternative would be to use the drainage strip as a rock garden. Purchase river stones and arrange them in the strip, along with both potted and unpotted plants. Stick to hardy varieties that grow in small spaces and especially those suited to rock crevices. They wont damage the water flow much, since the rocks will allow for drainage, and could make for a very unique feature.

Yet another solution, which would be a bit more costly: have made or DIY poured-in-place concrete planters that could arc over the drainage strip and use those to plant your roses. It would be moderately expensive or take a bit of research if you've never dealt with concrete before, but the look is fantastic. At our last house, we had poured-in-place planters along our driveway and garage and, painted a bright color, they are so attractive. We got compliments on them all the time.