A path around the boundary of the back yard and allow for garden beds or hedges on the boundary of your property. A figure 8 or roundabout would be lots of fun as well. Remember they will grow out of the little tykes cars and will be on scooters and bikes soon, which means more speed. Mark out tracks with garden hose or line marker spray paint. Think about where a veggie patch or garden beds might go. Concret would be the best surface for a path. Have fun!

My purpose wasn't to dissuade you from having bifolds if it's something you LOVE the idea of but it's a good idea to think through things like what to do about flies and how will it look given there is a step down to the patio so you're going to have a threshold rather than seamless flow anyway. What is your climate? Which way does the back of the house face? It's useful to know the climate to know what will grow well for you and to know the orientation to understand where you get afternoon sun that you might want protection from in summer and where you get winter sun which you might not want to block? There are other questions to work through. Like people have asked, what's your style? Formal or informal? Native? Low-maintenance? Resort? Seasonal interest? Do you want to keep the maximum amount of lawn and plant only sufficient for privacy and shade or is the amount of lawn flexible? Do you like straight lines or curved garden beds? Do you want to extend the patio? Put in some paths between the patio and the back door and the clothes line and down the side? Make a space for a barbecue? Tuck in a garden shed somewhere? Storage for bikes and sports gear? I don't want to say too much until I know what's important to you. But for starters I'd plant a hedge along the back fence, I'd paint the pergola to make it look lighter and airier, I'd put in some paths and garden beds around the back door and clothesline and hws, and I'd plant a tree but I don't know enough about the block to suggest what sort and where to get the best benefit from it. That's what comes to my mind so far.

Wow, what a difference, I had no idea just how big the area was from the before photos, but this looks great - clean and easy to maintain as well. I can see in time the plantings will give a nice lushness and softness to the area that will also help visually cool the area in summer as well. I also like the elevated garden - I can assure you this is a real bonus in senior years. Wondering how many of the old crowd are still around, I lost the ability to post photos after a computer update quite some years back and then couldn't make comments either, so I'm thrilled suddenly the site seems to be working for me. I felt I'd been excommunicated. Not long after this post, I up and sold my Sydney house, was totally fed up with the overdevelopment happening and moved to Port Stephens for some quiet country life. Bought a house on a small block of land that wouldn't be too much for me to maintain in my senior years and the back garden faces north so gets sun all day winter and summer - beautiful in winter as it lets the sun in the house on that side too, but almost unliveable in summer. House had been leased all its life so I literally had a blank canvas - after I'd levelled the craters the tenant's dog had created - I needed privacy from neighbours but didn't want a lot of maintenance, including no lawns to mow, so I've used low maintenance shrubs growing to about 2m around the perimeter and 4 crepe myrtles in the centre area for shade to sit under in summer while allowing full sun in winter. Just waiting for everything to grow now, but thanks to Covid and lockdowns, I've had plenty of time to garden. Thanks for the update Rog, I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

Hi Jase, 1. I would level out the entire backyard salvaging only the tree in the corner. 2. I would then use the bricks from the current retaining walls as pavers for a BBQ area with a pergola.(Looks as though you already have one in photo #1) 3. If you can't remove the existing fence (you should because it looks like asbestos) - then I suggest you straighten it up and paint it (asbestos proof it) then place a lattice in front of it and grow a climber. 4. I would then use the grey cement pavers to create a pathway with mondo grass in between directly in front of that area in #3 leading to the tree in the corner. 5. Using some of the cement pavers I would create a place under the tree for a garden bench and some beautiful pots with flowers. 5.The grass I would use in the newly created space is Sir Walter. Hope this helps - good luck!