Why is this forum suddenly departing from landscaping issues?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years ago
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woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
7 years agoYardvaark
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Very Large Landscape Design & Drainage Issues
Comments (19)This thread spiraled more into a drainage thread instead of landscape, which is alright with me. I really like the my latest design (listed below).. yeah it has pathways and may not be for everyone... but I like it. I have a few other completed beds with the same pathways and I really like the look. pls8 - The land all kind of slopes towards this "wet area" I have listed below. It rained 3" last week. Today just 3 days later and all the water has soaked in. The ground is still squishy in spots, but no standing water. I mowed yesterday... in the "Wet Area" I had marked below, the mower made a mess. In the other areas it didn't. You can stand in this wet area and see the land slightly slope towards it. After I mowed, you could actually see where this wet area was because of the mud streaks. I spent a few hours after I mowed yesterday studying the land and where everything sloped. I cut it short just so I can see exactly where this land slopes and now it looks more clear. Below is an image of what I found. You can see the two wet areas. The one at the top of the image is an empty field that always has standing water. Here are my thoughts after I evaluated it: 1. The bed I have that's almost flat on the left. After I raise & slope this entire bed, it'll not only prevent the neighbors runoff onto my land, but give them some of my run off. 2. When I raise the other beds, It'll just allow the runoff to accumulate faster in the two wet areas. Preferably that brush/field behind my lot that always has standing water and is more like a swamp. 3. I only have a few pathways in this design that water may accumulate, which I don't think it will. If for some reason it does, I don't see why I couldn't just create a few small swales like I mentioned above. Just a small indent maybe an inch deep x a foot wide or something to carry the water away into the wet/wooded area. After I get the 300 yards of dirt out here, I plan on getting prices to have it spread... perhaps I could also get a price on regrading. Just by looking at my current yard, I don't think regrading will solve the problem. It's to large and you would essentially need to create a pond or deep hole at one end to get enough slope. That would equal $$,$$$. By just adding soil and sloping it, I'm just recreating what's already in parts of my yard. My front yard, side yard, and half of my back yard is built up... you can see it slightly arch in the center and slope off to lower points where it gets a little soggy. My field is "Flat", it does slope some, but it doesn't have that arch if you know what I'm talking about. I do have a few places in my field that slightly arch and it's as dry as can be. I think building my beds higher than the surrounding soil, slope them away from my property, will solve my problem without the need to regrade. This post was......See MoreLandscape Design Forum FAQ
Comments (19)Getting a headache using the navigation bars since this post is sized so large - harkens back to yesteryear using micro-fiche. That being said, let me add that humor and wit may well assuage the underlying message. I lurk and learn here because I'm simply a gardener, or better yet, simply someone who gardens. What I know I know from reading, asking, or experimenting. Every new season is another opportunity to get things "right" given the confines of my property and the idea as to how I wish to use it, the set of my house which is no doubt the real controlling element, the hardscape, garden areas, existing large trees, focal points, etc. After almost a year of following these posts and going back through those of interest to me, I accept the fact that presenting my situation to any 5 landscaping pros would get me 6 ways it's not someone's idea of good. I agree that good planning should be the first principle; taking into account there is no substitute for taste and knowledge as well as being aware the world offers a wide range of different conditions and materials with which to work. Also wide ranging is one's ability to cope with both the practical and financial implications of planning even a simple garden. I see no fault in prompting or pushing someone in a certain direction for plant selections or regional growing conditions. I also see no fault in expecting a poster to provide pertinent information: a photo when possible, location, exposure, budget, likes, dislikes, maintenance issues. I do have pause with some of the seemingly unncessary put-offs or downs. Why does one bother to repond to a post in a manner that serves no purpose other than to put one in their place? What has been referred to in previous posts as "abstract snobbery" might not have its intended effect in helping someone think outside the box, or to identify the 800 lb. gorilla, or the misplaced nose on the Pekingese. No offense to anyone as these were interesting think pieces, but someone not "getting it" should not be relegated to the dunce corner....See Morelandscape or house issue?
Comments (34)Yes. LOL! It's both....did they decide they wanted more light from the front door and chop off the roof there?? The color does nothing for the house and the roof appears to be floating....short of reroofing, I think you can improve this house dramatically with a pale taupe paint (grayish beigy with the slightist pink undertone) The roof definitely has some pink in it on my monitor. I'd paint the trim a darker taupe, add shutters in the same tone, window boxes and most important? A pergola to frame out the entry and improve that mistake. I'd create an island connecting to the walk and around that tree and put a variety of shade shrubs, hostas etc there...but not right in front of the windows....let in the light (keep it to about 3'-4' high max with shrubs in the middle....evergreens and mix of deciduous. Have some fun with the front door...paint it a dark pink?? Add more substantial trimout above the door...consider replacing that door too. There's a lot of empty space on the wall next to the door...hang perhaps 3 pots. Sweet Autumn Clematis could cover that pergola in two years and is exceptionally hardy and fragrant. White urns on the porch, steps would also help frame out the entry. I'd paint first, build a pergola and then see what you've got before I worry about landscaping....and always paint out the gutter downspouts the main body color...they're not focal points, lol. I love doing virtuals at 4am in the morning! Oh, I haven't seen this forum before....not on GW much anymore with the darn popups but this appeared to be a challenge I couldn't resist! See what you think.......See Moregoogle finds the old posts why not the forum?
Comments (9)I know I know - for what I pay for this I really shouldn't complain..but it gets so frustrating. Anyway since you suggested I post my workaround method... sI remembered some of the more unusual words in the post- one of them was needlepoint navy.(scary what trivia my brain retains) So I put "needlepoint navy" in quotes just like that in the google search bar. Then a few possibilities came up, one of which was this. I just tried it now, and it didn't work, but thankfully it worked before. My suggestion is to put in whatever unique definite words you can recall in the google search box and chances are it will bring up a long lost post. hope this helps someone:) Here is a link that might be useful: the long lost post...See Moregardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years agoMike
7 years agoYardvaark
7 years agoemmarene9
7 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoCelia Lin
7 years agoYardvaark
7 years agobluesanne
7 years agoCelia Lin
7 years agoadriennemb2
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoatmoscat
7 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years agol pinkmountain
7 years agoKim in PL (SoCal zone 10/Sunset 24)
7 years agoYardvaark
7 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years agowoodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoYardvaark
7 years agoKim in PL (SoCal zone 10/Sunset 24)
7 years agoYardvaark
7 years agoatmoscat
7 years agol pinkmountain
7 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years agol pinkmountain
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoYardvaark
7 years agol pinkmountain
7 years agoYardvaark
7 years agoatmoscat
7 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoatmoscat
7 years agolittlebug zone 5 Missouri
7 years ago
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woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada