HELP!! Need Ideas!!! Anything!! I'm Stuck!!

I would build a bench all along the brick wall with a planter at each end. Then add poles on each side of the patio door and do an sun shade across to the wall. It will add privacy and shade the area. You could hang flowering pots on the sides of the poles to dress it up or plant strudy plants after you remove the concrete for more visual appeal. Add a small bistro table and chairs so you can sit outside while your son is playing.
Hope these suggestions give you more ideas. Best Wishes!

I like the trees, but I'm a sucker for anything that looks at all palm-like, LOL! My only concern with the flowerbed going all around is the sun; if it hits your deck all day, there are few flowers that could sustain that. Florida-friendly plants can take it, so maybe you could alternate?

I would actually go to Lowe's and Home Depot and get involved in their "how to" classes...they will teach you the aesthetics and HOW TO do it...

I like the wood planking that you have going....and I like the stone I see there...it looks like it complements your house color!!!

I'm sorry I'm not that much of help to you!!!

Hmm. With the gray, I would go with dark flagstones. But that's just me - I like the dramatic look.

And the brick wall may not be completely useless - I like M.B.'s suggestion of a bench w/ a planter, and there are lots of places where you can get artwork that can go outside. Or try a trellis with a flowering, thornless climbing plant. (Honeysuckle, trumpet vine, or jasmine, maybe?) Any of those vines you would want in a pot, anyway - once they get hold, they go EVERYWHERE, and being restricted to a pot helps them be less invasive.

Blocking the apartments....hmm. Since you are building beds, anyway, you could build one for bamboo. You'd want to build a bed for it, I think - it's a grass, and it propogates by runners. It'll be all over the place, if you don't restrict it to a bed. Otherwise, you'd do best to ask the folks at a garden center or plant nursery..people who love plants. They'll know what you need for a small space that does well locally. The benefit of having a local plant is that it's a whole lot easier to take care of.

For the brick wall.....I would plant an ivy or bougainvillea by the wall to cover it. Maybe look into a wall mural that would be fun for your child. Flower boxes on the top filled with bright colors may help too.

Go to some different landscaping websites for ideas for the deck. Every year the local mall sponsors a garden show and about 10 landscaping companies do displays for small areas. I've seen a few that were simple to do and looked amazing. It all depends on your tastes.

Good luck!

I would deck the whole yard, do raised beds on 1 or 2 sides. there is not enough room for a tree. make the walls of the beds tall enough to sit on. and you can use those beds for dwarf fruit trees, tomatoes, flowers what ever.