Privacy Trees, Landscape Beds and River Rock in Union KY

This backyard in Union had a lot of potential - great deck, solid outdoor living setup - but the landscaping around it just wasn't doing it any favors. No defined beds, nothing to add privacy along the fence line, and bare space under the deck that needed some attention. That's exactly the kind of yard we love working with.

We built three new landscape beds from scratch and planted privacy trees throughout. The goal was to give this family a yard that felt finished and intentional - not just a big open lawn with a deck sitting in the middle of it. As the trees fill in over the next few seasons, that privacy along the back fence is going to be a serious upgrade.

The finishing touch was the oversized river rock. We used it to fill the landscape beds in place of mulch, and it does a few things really well. It keeps weeds down, it doesn't need to be replaced every year, and it gives the whole yard a clean, sharp look that holds up without a lot of ongoing maintenance. For a family that wants to spend time enjoying their backyard - not maintaining it - that matters.

One area we paid close attention to was the space under the elevated deck. That kind of dead zone under a structure is easy to overlook, but it's one of those spots that can look messy fast if it isn't addressed. We brought the river rock right up through that area and used it to anchor the privacy trees planted along the deck posts, tying the whole lower level together with the rest of the yard.

River rock is one of those materials that just works in a lot of different settings. It handles drainage well, it's durable, and it looks polished without being high-effort. Combined with the new beds and privacy trees, this backyard went from unfinished to ready-to-use. Congrats to the Bolte family - this setup is built for a great summer.