New Urbanist Pool Courtyard

Orlando, Florida

The overall goal of this Orlando landscape design was to update the backyard area to match the family’s needs and style. For their grill area we proposed a new wood deck area on the left side of the yard. The wood deck features a curve to tie into the pool deck geometry and sits 6” above the pool deck. This creates some height interest and will work better with the existing grade. A wood deck could be installed at the same grade as the pool deck but it would require some fine grading and might be a more costly and challenging installation. The deck wraps the corner of the covered porch and leads to an area for pool storage. An additional staircase and gate can be added on the side for ease of access to the grilling area and a screen panel to match the fence blocks visibility to the pool equipment.

We recommended resurfacing the pool deck with a new concrete finish. In case of budget restraintst, we recommended to paint it a soft white or gray for a more modern feel. A raised wood deck is located along the garage wall with room for chaise lounge chairs. A stacked stone veneer can be applied to the blank garage wall above the deck for visual interest. Large decorative pots with lush plantings are proposed along the building to provide interest along the foundation.

The side yard fences and gate were in good shape and were proposed to remain. We recommended pressure washing it and treating it prior to plant installation. We also proposed a new vinyl fence along the rear 3’ setback line. This will buy the client between 10-16” of space in the rear yard.

For the play area we proposed an artificial turf panel between the pool deck and side property line. It is approximately 6’ wide (at it’s widest) and about 25’ long. This allows for room to play, visually expands the pool deck, and maintains room for narrow plantings along the fence-line.

For plantings we decided to keep all of the existing new plantings along the fence-line to maximize the usable space in the backyard. The spaces are wide enough for the existing palm tree root balls but not oversized to take up potential deck space.

To achieve a desired clean style the plants were organized in a way that creates clean lines and modern patterns. Plants such as Foxtail Palm, Coontie, and Canna Lily were used along the facade and throughout the yard to achieve a French Florida aesthetic.

This design will require yearly maintenance but no more than that of similar residences in the area. The plant palette features all Florida Native or Florida Friendly plants that are suitable for our local climate. Irrigation is recommended for the first three growing seasons but the plant palette is considered drought tolerant.