Quoted:
@watercat

I saw some other photos of the shed area, and the slope in your back yard (in a thread in DIY).

It's not nearly as sloped as I though it might be.

I think I would still consider checking whether there is adequate drainage by that side of the house, carrying the water AWAY from the foundation.  But I would not imagine that you would need more tiles (even if you need that) unless the area is incredibly poorly drained, and you would know that by now.

Take pics if you can, when you cut that corner down and get some of that dirt out of there.  And let us know how it works when you get some good rains.  I bet the removal of the sniper perch shed, and the removal of any "hump" that's by the driveway, will do what you need.

Quoted:
@Joemama  

Post above...question at bottom about sod in North Tejas.

Watercat, if it's working, you're right to not mess with it.  If you see water coming out of it when it rains, and it's not soggy by your foundation, you have what you need.  But that is something to check for.  Over years, a drain CAN fill up, and result in damage to the foundation.  So if you start seeing soggy against the house in a rainy season, pay attention.  

Note:  I'm not talking about those times it comes what some of the  old folks in certain parts of the county here would call a "Goose Drownder"  (Yes, that's right.  Not a goose drowner, but a goose DROWNDER, with a D)  when rain is pouring over the edges of the gutters and there is water everywhere.  Most drains can't keep up with that even in perfect condition.  But if you get a day or two of rain, go out there, and it's mushy right up against your house, you should pay attention to that.  So just notice it every year or two.  

It's a good excuse to go out in a nice, warm rain and splash in the puddles and remember what it felt like to be a kid, too.  We don't do nearly enough of that.  At least I don't.

Quoted:
Bumpity Bump Bump.

It's about that time.

Quoted:

Twenty feet over how much distance?

Quoted:
*whistles*

That's a drop.

Quoted:
Bump.

Anybody got immediate needs coming into spring landscaping season?

Quoted:

Questions:

1-On the front, you said, "simple planters, low maintenance...."  etc.

a-Are you saying you want NO in-ground landscaping in front? Should have said planting beds. Was thinking in ground. Open to options

b-how "deep" is that front yard?  I mean how far is it from the sidewalk to the edge of the front porch?   25ft about

c-How deep is the porch from outside edge to front door?4 ft

d-It looks like the columns go from the porch up to the roof, spanning two stories.  Is this correct? 1.5 stories, house is split level

2-In the back...

a- why is the ash tree coming out?  Is it sick? not sure, ash borer is in the area though. Branches are a mess and seems to be losing some more recently. An opportunity came up to get it out of there by trading off some stuff so I took it.

b-Were those pavers there, and you took them up? Do you have plans for those? Yes they were. around the tree and everything. Started taking the ones out around the tree, but didn't pull any more so it wouldn't become a muddy mess. No real plans for them.

c-What do you want to use that space for?  is that going to be the outside entertaining area?    Tell me what you want to do back there.  I had thought about outside entertaining space. Possibly a place for a non-permanent fire pit, I think that would add the most value and appeal. Otherwise just more yard and keep a walkway to the garage.

ETA:  d--how long have you been in this house?  Did you just move here?  have you seen what comes up in/around the yard through a full season?  I'm looking at that curious mound of dirt in the middle of that back "patio" area.  I'm wondering if that's a bunch of cool flowers that are not up yet.  You're in a colder climate, so everything you have will be way behind what I have here.been here 9 years, the curious mound of dirt is exactly that LOL. Dirt/sod I dumped there last fall. More limestone under that area. I have zero plants or flowers anywhere in the landscaping.

ETA2:  I love the color of your siding and the columns.  Is this a split level?  The windows at front porch level are throwing me.  Thank you. I had all that done a couple of years ago. House is a split level.

Quoted:

Okay I have a design in mind for you that I think would complement the formal, symmetrical lines of your house and show off those lovely columns and front door.

The back will be a little harder, but not troublesome.  I hate that you're losing the tree.  That's a nice asset. there is a maple in the backyard as well. Shades the deck/patio area in the aftenoon

Is that door coming out to the pavers --is that the garage? yes, garage access door

Where is the kitchen door?  Off the deck? slider on the deck coming off the dining room

Any plans to expand the deck at all?  Do you store stuff under it? no plans to expand the deck - I have crap under it now, but plans to clean it out and finish the lathe around the bottom. Side facing the golf coarse is done. Not opposed to plantings around the deck.

Is there currently a path around the side of the house to the back from the front? No path

Do you want plantings down the sides of the house?Wouldn't be opposed to them.

What capabilities do you have, and what would you have to hire out?  (Basically what are you willing to do/plan to do and how hard are you willing to work? ) Willing to put in the work. I'm handy enough to do the work, just need some help with the designs.

What was there before that you thought was ugly? Only landscaping ever was some unkempt overgrown bush (juniper?) along the entire front that completely blocked everything off.

Quoted:

Your property is lovely, and I really like the choices you made with your house.  It's gorgeous.  I love the red.  In winter, that will look like a postcard.

If I were doing the prairie grass thing, I would do a transition strip of shorter grasses between my yard and the taller grasses/forbs in all places where the tall ones are going.  In my experience, being at the edge of a yard with the taller grasses and herbaceous plants right beside me, is that it's a little "too close" and I'd rather have a buffer zone that eases me into it, both visually and physically when I'm walking through. (does that make sense?)  it feels less like a wall and more like a natural transition.

Nature does natural, curving transitions.  You''ve done great with the curves.

Now I have some questions...

1-What do you want for your back yard.  How do you plan to use that?  As a patio?  Will there be a deck?  Is that an entertaining space?  A play yard for kids, complete with equipment?

If you can take Google earth and draw your house on it (just a square will do), with outbuilding and the other structures, that would be really helpful for offering specifics rather than just generalities.  Don't know if that's possible for you.



Here is picture of back of house looking south west., patio area can be seen. No deck, not party people, just a couple of friends now and then. Grilling out, table and chairs. Kids are all adults, no equipment. I have a drwing of house in field, will see if I can post it here.

2-Do you want shade?  any sizeable trees close to house

No, not really, wife does not want trees close to house (no raking of leaves). Shade will be sitting on either east or west side of house. Patio is on east side so shaded in afternoon when grilling out. Porch on west side so there is only sun on it for a little while in late afternoon. Once sun drops behind trees its shaded in evening. Will sit out on porch with wife and drink a cold beverage in the evening.

3-Tell me how you envision using these spaces.  What is your everyday life like in this new home?  Do you like long views across the yard?  Or do you like avenues of longer view, mixed with groupings of plantings that lend a cozier, more intimate feeling to the area around your house?  If you're not clear by what I mean when I talk in these abstract ideas, just holler.  I'll find examples.

enjoy walks around woods and prairies, looking at plants, animals, wildlife. Yes we like the "long" views. right around house we do not want obstructions when looking out windows. I guess we kind of envision the landscaping around yard to soften the house and make it look like it fits in, not just dropped in like it does now.

When I look out at that space, from both the ground at your house and from the upstairs windows, my tendency is to want to soften the edges of the prairie grass/lawn transitions with a few groupings of small trees.  Like maybe an evergreen or two and a dogwood or redbud against them.   I also think a transition at the sides of the driveway where it exits the woods might be nice.

BUT....I need to know how YOU see your property, what YOU think is beautiful, and when you're lying in your hammock on warm spring afternoons a few years from now, what you'd like to see, where that hammock will be, and what your ideal property will look like.  Make sense?

I have thought about the edge between the native grass and the yard. I could use short grass seeds as a transition to the tall grass. Another thing to keep in mind is the lawn is fine fescues, only grow 6" per year, don't have to mow, plan on leaving it a long flowing grass. Not a traditional lawn. Here is limk to grass type
https://www.prairiemoon.com/eco-grass-low-maintenance-lawn-alternative.html
you can see that I think it does blend well into taller grasses/forbs. another thing is even the taller stuff has most of the leaves/body of the plant lower down, top is usually stalk of flower heads. Don't know if it'll be OK, thought of the strict border does concern me.
I'm not a fan of "orderly" gardens or a well manicured look, like a wild native look. But around house needs to be somewhat less wild (wife's orders). Maybe some certain prairie plants at the transition from lawn to native area. I guess I could do some low bushes in areas. Clusters of them?
I don't know what the prairie you see is like but I would say its not a solid looking thing, solid green at the bottom but as you increase in height above ground  the plants tend to thin out, you end up with a thining of plants till they stop and the sky/background takes over.

ETA:  Basically I would want to maintain many views of the woods from all vantage points, but intersperse those views with some closer groups of plantings  here and there.