Running creek in my abondoned backyard, several trees and dead plant life, How can I landscape it?
DP asked:
Hi All,
Hi All,
I am in NJ.
I have no knowledge of how could I revive/revitalize my backyard. My lot size is about 200×100 sqFt. I have a running creek going through last 25 feet of backyard and runs along the width of the lot. It also turns inward and starts washing more and more land. It also has several large size trees, dead and neglected plant life.
How could I turn this into something better? Is there any local rules that I need to follow?
Thanks for advise!
4 Responses to “Running creek in my abondoned backyard, several trees and dead plant life, How can I landscape it?”
Try cleaning it free of debris…you will usually find flat stones and these can be used elsewhere…Is there small animals using the creek? Cheap landscaping is forsythia bushes..you might want to put stones as barrier so more land dont get eroded away.
I am not a gardener, but I would say that I am good at landscaping. First, you need to drive around to other houses and write down what you like about them. Look at the trees. Do you like evergreens? Maples? Oak? Fruit tree? Decide what appeals to your eyes the best. THIS IS YOUR LAWN! Clear the dead trees out. You can cut them down yourself or have a service do it for you. Where the creak is eroding the bank, you have several options. You can pour a concrete wall to define the bank, you can build a stone wall, or you can get steel headwall to make a sharply defined creek area. If you have the money for the steel, it looks nice. Define and cut both sides of the creek and build a bridge over it. Plant trees on the edges or strategically so that your lawn is open but not empty. You want your eyes to feel at ease back there. Also, the most important piece of info: This will not take a weekend, it might take a whole summer or longer. Be prepared and patient to do this project. Take it one aspect at a time. I’m doing the same thing right now with my new house. My schedule is to dedicate every Sunday after church to the lawn and only the lawn. Good Luck! YOU CAN DO IT!
hi i have a magazine called “budget backyard makeovers ” there are some really great pictures and ideas in there..one is about a creek running through .
best thing to remember is it will take you some time.. good therapy and cheaper in the long run than a shrink..
all the other contributers above me have some good ideas.
cost can be a big deal, unless you are independently wealthy . try letting everyone you know what you are doing and lots will give you plants. some may even give you trees.talk to your neighbours and your grammas & grampas.
start with cleaning up. then do what is closest to your house and keep the working areas small so it won’t seem like it will never end.
then do what you can .. remember nothing in any garden is permanant.
the more work you do yourself the more you will love the thing.
.
I dont believe you can change the waters course or alter it in anyway. thats the law here in Tn. so to cheaply keeps banks from eroding I see people use chicken wire fencing and rocks. you lay the wire down in the water and cover the edge nearest the bank first stacking the rocks upwards as you go. when you get to the top or as high as the wire reaches you bring it up and lay a layer of rock to hold the top of it down or lay a second piece on top of the first piece and finish your way to the top of the bank. do you need to mow on the other side of the creek? if so build one of those small archway bridges so you can mow it. this would be a good area for a gazebo if you have the time and money.