We used to have a pool but didn't use it much, so we took it down and changed the deck. Now the yard is a mess of sand, gravel, weeds and some grass. We have dogs and cats that use the yard so it has to be animal friendly. We are on a very limited budget, but have many helping hands to do the labor. Please any ideas would be great! It is very upsetting to my elderly mother that her backyard looks so terrible. Please help!!!!
I can't seem to get the pics posted on here, so here is a link to the 6 pics of the yard: http://smg.photobucket.com/alb...apecupcake/Backyard/

This message has been edited. Last edited by: capecupcake,

We just moved into a new home with a backyard that was in about the same shape as yours is now. We put flower beds around the entire perimeter and a few placed out around the yard. Then we covered them with pine needles (to prevent weeds) and lined them with old brick. Next we made a limestone pathway through the yard leading from the patio around some of the flower beds. This covered up the worst part of the yard and is fairly cheap to do. I also made "rock gardens" beside the house and patio on the parts of the yard that were totally bare and hard to dig in.
Hope you "get the picture" of what we did, ...maybe it'll give you an idea you can use that is a little unusual.

That sounds like a great idea. Have any pics of it?

I'm not sure how to post a photo...if you can tell me how to I'll send you a couple

I'm sorry, I just can't figure out how to put a photo in here. They are on my computer but I can't get them to show up.

Fredger, you can post a photo on the general gardening board, but not here on the landscaping board. No clue why. Post over there & we'll try to help you.

sorry I dropped out for a while...it's been rather hectic here the past month. I'll try to post photos on the "general" site if I can...I never have figured out how to do that yet!

I'm not a dumb person but I cannot figure out how to post a photo. I went to the general gardening and tried to upload a photo and it keeps asking for a url code...what??? I guess I'll just have to pass on giving photo-advice!
Sorry.

Did you see the post above saying you have to go to the GARDENING board to post a photo. and offering help there.

Fredger, when you go to the gen. gardening board & want to post a pic. Go down just under the post window & click on 'Add Attachment?' Then click on 'browse' & find your pic, click on that & then to 'post now'. If you need any more help, you can PM me if you'd like...I'll be happy to walk you through it.

thanks, I'll give it a try

Well, I give up!! It keeps telling me my photos are too large. If anyone wants to see what I've done with my yar4d, pm me and I'll send you my email address, or give me yours and I'll email you a couple of before and afters.

If your photos are too large, you need to reduce them. There are re-sizing programs for free on the internet. Resizr is one of them & so is picasa (I think that's with google Chrome). They're pretty self explanatory when you go to them. I use resizr.com.