Texas Gardening: Back Yard design help needed, 1 by Dogs_N_Petunias

Dogs_N_Petunias wrote:
Thanks, Sheila. Don't know whether I should try winter sowing this winter or not. If it keeps raining like this, cannot see us getting the dirt work completed before spring in order to have anywhere to plant.

We've already done swale on the south side of the house. Huge one that goes under that sidewalk where the steps go to the dog yard. Quite a project. Haven't dressed it up with stone yet but will when we're sure it is shaped right. Have a partial swale in the back yard and to the front side yard. Just have to figure out the location for it to catch the water in the other area but also be the most attractive place to position it in relation to curved elevated planting beds.

For the back sidewalk that can't be removed, do you know of any product that I could put thin flagstone over the cement? Then it would match up with the path that will go to back gate and detached garage. I think the situation by the back door is why no landscape contractor ever got back with me with their bid. They would come out, spend all the time in the world looking it over and asking questions. Then they would leave, say they'd get me a bid and I would never hear from them again !!! Four of them.