Any suggestions for our Courtyard Villa backyard? (pics)

[jayerose]

Too much?

We are totally amateurs!

We took out the flowers and shut off the sprinklers in our alleyway so not to damage the neighbor's house in any way from the water.

[DAVES]

Too much?

We are totally amateurs!

We took out the flowers and shut off the sprinklers in our alleyway so not to damage the neighbor's house in any way from the water.


Not sure what you are asking. As to what you can plant, rights of you and neighbors,
the Villages can guide you and if it is an issue they will send a representative to speak with both you and your neighbor.

Opinions, including mine do not matter as they are not binding on anyone.

[jayerose]

I was just looking for any opinions/suggestions...we never planted so much before.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I'd add a few taller plants, so that the eye isn't constantly drawn to the ground. Maybe a hibiscus in each of the two back corners, if it gets full sun back there. Crotons would be pretty awesome, you could two in pots, each 1/4 away from the back corners.

Four "taller" plants I think would be sufficient, the 2 hibiscus and the two potted crotons.

Plus each adds a different type of color to the whole thing.

Where you have your cute little flamingo you could probably put a raised herb bed. Just make sure it's florida-friendly, perennial, and either raised or in pots - or you'll end up with herb roots cracking your pavement in a few years.

[JohnN]

I'd take out the grass and put in mulch or rock. Much easier maintenance.
Same goes for any plants, keep 'em easy. A few wall hangings would work too.

Best wishes.

[CFrance]

Too much?

We are totally amateurs!

We took out the flowers and shut off the sprinklers in our alleyway so not to damage the neighbor's house in any way from the water.
How much maintenance do you want to do/pay for? We have two or three of those tall red thingies (look like crotons only red and get tall) that spit dead leaves everywhere. We had a bougainvillea that was a maintenance nightmare. We had a hibiscus that was huge and spit dead blossoms everywhere. There are some other things in that same strip you are talking about that are just plain ugly. All were there when we moved in. We had the hibiscus and bougainvillea taken out. I want to have the rest taken out. I just don't know what to put in that area that won't spit dead leaves or have to be trimmed. Any suggestions appreciated, and following this post.

[dewilson58]

I like simple (& have been accused of over simplifying), I like your alleyway.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

How much maintenance do you want to do/pay for? We have two or three of those tall red thingies (look like crotons only red and get tall) that spit dead leaves everywhere. We had a bougainvillea that was a maintenance nightmare. We had a hibiscus that was huge and spit dead blossoms everywhere. There are some other things in that same strip you are talking about that are just plain ugly. All were there when we moved in. We had the hibiscus and bougainvillea taken out. I want to have the rest taken out. I just don't know what to put in that area that won't spit dead leaves or have to be trimmed. Any suggestions appreciated, and following this post.

The only things that won't spit dead leaves, flowers, or have to be trimmed, are fake flowers and fake trees. You still have to clean the lizard poop off those once in awhile though.

Your best bet is to get rid of ALL nature, put down pavement, and call it a patio.

[Nucky]

Potted Plants. NICE!

[John41]

Too much?

We are totally amateurs!

We took out the flowers and shut off the sprinklers in our alleyway so not to damage the neighbor's house in any way from the water.

Stain the concrete, maybe an arbor too, otherwise looks good. It will fill in so don’t make the mistake of over planting.

[2newyorkers]

Colorful pots with plants and some wall hangings.

[2newyorkers]

Look at backyard or porch makeovers on youtube.

[CFrance]

The only things that won't spit dead leaves, flowers, or have to be trimmed, are fake flowers and fake trees. You still have to clean the lizard poop off those once in awhile though.

Your best bet is to get rid of ALL nature, put down pavement, and call it a patio.
I think you're taking my post too literally.

[Ptmckiou]

Generally speaking, you usually create “groupings” of plants in your landscape design, using an odd number of plants (vs even). You want to have a taller plant, as a focal point in the grouping. Coordinate your color palette, so you know what colors will be blooming and when. I like the lattice on the sides because it gives that needed vertical lift, rather than keeping everything so horizontal which can be very boring to the eye. I would build a raised planter bed (about 15” high) in the alley and plant beautiful stuff using soaker hoses inside, so there is no spray of water to harm the wall of the house. Plants can then cascade over the edge of the planter giving some softness to the hardscape.

[Girlcopper]

Too much?

We are totally amateurs!

We took out the flowers and shut off the sprinklers in our alleyway so not to damage the neighbor's house in any way from the water.
Too much to maintain unless you love spending all your time gardening

[bethk]

My husband changed all the sprinkler heads and added 'tube & nozzle' irrigation and have most all of our decorative plants in pots. The irrigation in our courtyard zone is set for a few minutes a couple times a day and only waters in the pots. The watering tubes allow you to water in specific pots instead of spraying large areas.

My husband watched 'youtube' videos to learn about how to change the sprinkler heads and then went to Home Depot or Lowe's for the supplies.

I have my garden herbs in pots: parsley, chives, thyme, etc. We have many 'shepherd's hooks' for blooming hanging baskets as well as a few 'garden trellis' for displaying pots. We're here year around so we have time to devote to plant care and maintenance. Stuff grows really fast in Florida!

I can't figure out how to add pictures but you're welcome to stop by and see our courtyard as well as the 'zone' irrigation he created for the larger plantings in our front courtyard beds.

(Just private message me for more information)

[Fredman]

Get rid of the pink flamingo. 😂

[FromNY]

Paint the concrete. Maybe find an artist to create a theme fantasy garden look? Potted plants are fantastic.Think outside the traditional looks. Arbor would add a pleasant look. Get some estimates from professional landscapers. Make it so it nurtures your well-being. Remember You see it more then anyone. BTW the flamingo is cute and fun.

[Bellavita]

Put in fake grass load up with milkweeds and native salvia porter weed a Carolina jasmine for wall find native plant candle stick and put in dwarf fire bush you will be teaming with butterflies. Remember to have a birdbath for water

Too much?

We are totally amateurs!

We took out the flowers and shut off the sprinklers in our alleyway so not to damage the neighbor's house in any way from the water.

[GRACEALLEMAN]

I was just looking for any opinions/suggestions...we never planted so much before.

We had an landscaping business in Oregon for 15 years. I can help
Contact 503-550-9188

[Ktygrett]

It looks great. It’s enough, since plants in Florida grow explosively. You may want to put a birdcage or different cement/ rocks eventually, depending on how you use your back yard, so give it time for you to get used to it. There is no rush - just enjoy it

[Dbraisted]

Take out the plants …replace with sod….put a few planters where you would like with a drip system. Less is more. I had a yard of rocks and they are as much trouble as grass with constant weeds and very hot. Replaced with sod. Unless you planned to retire and be a gardener…some people love it…I’d rather golf.

[Pdesensi]

Bougainvillea are beautiful but the thorns are deadly. I totally removed them as they are a nightmare to keep trimmed.

[jayerose]

Everyone...GREAT suggestions!!!!

[G.R.I.T.S.]

Too much?

We are totally amateurs!

We took out the flowers and shut off the sprinklers in our alleyway so not to damage the neighbor's house in any way from the water.

Agree on removing the grass but I’d just even out the edges of the concrete to leave planting beds. If you’re here only part time and want color, make use of a few annuals. If those are vines on the trellises, they have a way of getting out of control and need constant trimming if you want to keep them inside your villa area. Substantial anchoring too. If you’re in the area of SWFWMD, contact Sumter County master gardeners. They used to provide a handy plant guide that was put out by the water district. Don’t know if it’s still available.

[Two Bills]

Put area all down to astroturf, buy another dozen various size flamingos, and have a flock of them.
Easy maintainance, Hoover the grass, and wash Flamingos once a year. :icon_wink:

[Summerhouse]

I think it looks great. May want to add a few pots with plants in your alleyway with individual pot irrigation. Or you may not.
I find it takes a couple years to figure out what we like here!

[debb3c]

I love it the way it is

[mmguard]

It looks beautiful!!! I think you did a great job.
As everything grows you can decide if you want to add more.
👍🏻

[Coley]

remove grass put in thick plastic layer(prevent weeds) and cover with stone--No more work.

[La lamy]

Looks pretty good already! But personally I would add some wood or wire 'fencing' on the bare walls where vines would grow on. There's some that flower beautifully. Crotons as others have also mentioned in a sunny spot is very 'Florida' to me. Enjoy!!

[stebooo]

If their something you plant every year I agree. What's the py would dir. If you have plants thatoint the last adt byou should have left the water on.

[Two Bills]

If their something you plant every year I agree. What's the py would dir. If you have plants thatoint the last adt byou should have left the water on.

I reckon about $25 a gallon!:icon_wink:

[Mohawksin]

Too much?

We are totally amateurs!

We took out the flowers and shut off the sprinklers in our alleyway so not to damage the neighbor's house in any way from the water.

Sprinklers do not need to be turned off. They can be adjusted. As you do your planning, you do have the option of using your sprinklers.

[wiltma]

Fountain

[Klassykathy]

The previous owners put too many bushes and a bird of paradise down the side that got too big. We have removed them and plan to put gravel down the side and plants in pots as to not disturb the neighbors house. Our landscaper said they can install water to each pot off the sprinkler system. That’s what we plan to do. The picture us my inspiration - not our house...

[mollypeanut]

Too much?

We are totally amateurs!

We took out the flowers and shut off the sprinklers in our alleyway so not to damage the neighbor's house in any way from the water.

I think you did a beautiful job in the back of you Villa. I also own a Courtyard Villa and doing the “Alley” can be a challenge. I wanted it to look nice when I looked out my dining room sliders, but the challenge is anything you do must be a certain distance from your neighbors house. They must be able to access their house for maintenance such as house washing and bug spray..
My solution was to put everything in pots! I think I read that suggestion on this site one time. It worked out great.. I also painted the cement and am now very happy with my “Alleyway”

[Dana1963]

Too much?

We are totally amateurs!

We took out the flowers and shut off the sprinklers in our alleyway so not to damage the neighbor's house in any way from the water.
Keep it SIMPLE.

[Villagesgal]

Take out the grass and put in really good quality artificial grass, new stuff is expensive and looks and even feels like real grass when you walk on it. My nephew in Vegas has it down just over 5 years, no fading and only needs to be hosed down a couple times a year. Crotons come in various color combinations, very low maintenance, azaleas add color twice a year and otherwise stay low and green, some low ornamental grasses might look good too. Have fun with it, you don't like something, just pull it out and put it out front with a "free" sign and try something else.

[courtyard]

The worst design feature of The Villages villas is the sprinkler heads aimed at your neighbor's foundation, especially if your neighbor is a rental house and you can't access their sprinkler system to shut it off when it breaks and shoots water at your foundation in the middle of the night. Congrats that you were so considerate in capping the alley way sprinklers to prevent this flooding disaster from happening.

[TNGary]

Saw an arrangement like yours. The owner planted a few, distanced from each other, dwarf crepe myrtles, red. pruned them so only one of the branches then served as a trunk to form a mini tree and then branch out at about 5' height. A real eye catcher.
Please send photos when your done with your project we those who provided input can see the final outcome.
Txs

[Garywt]

Looks like you have done a lot already. We have left all our grass out back and have not planted anything ourselves, just the builders plantings. On our side we have 3 bushes but no sprinklers, just bush waterers. We keep our grill and Blackstone along the side as well. Out back we have a fire pit with 4 rocking chairs with 2 side tables, we have a table and chairs, we have a water fountain and a wall hanging. Keeping it extremely easy as the last thing we want to do is maintenance of anything.

[joelfmi]

Not sure what you are asking. As to what you can plant, rights of you and neighbors,
the Villages can guide you and if it is an issue they will send a representative to speak with both you and your neighbor.

Opinions, including mine do not matter as they are not binding on anyone. get estimate from a repudual sprinkler company and your problems will be satisfied