Master Tree Plan
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
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7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago- 7 years ago
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Comments (14)The new pictures help. Looking at a whole yard takes more time than looking at part of a yard. Placing all of it in one thread requires more time so be prepared to wait longer for responses. You mention mowing as being not that pleasant. An alternative is to place some of the now lawn into groundcover. It requires being rigorous about not allowing weeds in the beds. While the groundcover is establishing it takes regular patrol, but once it's established, weeds are much less likely to invade so maintenance becomes less than mowing (as long as weeds have been kept out during the establishment phase.) Groundcover beds make sense below groups of trees and around shrubs or wherever you don't want to mow, such as hills or rough terrain. The following notes apply to places I've marked on your plan per photo below... A) River birch being grown a great deal for what shaggy bark offers, is better with more of it. I think a grouping of 3 trees--multiple trunk-- would make a better statement for the corner. Terminate the beds into the fence at 90*. While your curve keeps the curved theme going, it does not work out to have grass occurring behind the beds. It's impractical and won't look good like you might imagine. B) There is such a radical difference between leyland and maple that your thought process (those being alternatives for each other) cannot be second-guessed. One can presume you're trying to screen neighboring property, though. I think here's where I'd opt to put the row of crape myrtles... at about every 10-12' on center, matching. I prefer them pollarded (as your photo of the pink one is.) I prefer a wider trunk system (as your photo of the lavender one is.) The dashed red line... there could be a groundcover bed below all trees, simplifying and reducing mowing. C) Here you have an existing tree (we don't know what kind yet) that I'm indicating with darker green color (closest to letter "C".) Depending on what the existing tree is, I'd either get two more and create a threesome group of same (which might require relocating the tree) or... D) I'd get 3 altogether new trees and create the group shown by the lighter green symbols. Shade trees or sizable flowering trees would work. Groundcover below would be nice. Regarding the crapes you are proposing here, I think they will be weaker looking than shade trees or larger flowering trees. At any rate, I dislike very much the idea of intermixing colors as you show. This will read as a little too cute and too 'country.' Instead, think of the whole group as a single item. You're just making it of parts. You wouldn't want a car with varying colors of fender, hood and trunk deck. E) It seems to me like a missed opportunity not to display two small flowering trees in front of those blank wall spaces at the corner of the house. No one would be surprised that I'd recommend multi-trunk trees--like giant flowering bouquets --for in front of a blank wall. More trunks = more art. (The single trunk --though good for when a window is in the distant background-- reads weaker against a blank wall.) Hedges of low woody shrubs or perennials could underscore windows at either side of trees. Groundcover below trees and in front of the one hedge if more GC is desired. F) Another opportunity to display flowering trees in front of a blank wall and change it into something more interesting and adding 3-dimensionality so that all the foundation planting is not flat up against the house... and as with 'E', screen a portion of the giant, naked roof. G) What is the distance from lamp post to nearest edge of sidewalk? The amoeba shape of the bed does not read as a positive landscape contribution to me. H) I moved this tree (if that's what it is) to the right a little so it is away from the other group and falls between the groups of trees showing in it's background (as viewed from street.) Seems fine to have a separate tree here....See MoreThe amazing ever-changing possibly final grand master plan
Comments (29)Oh I see you like gaudy colors, like me! My fave combo last year was butterfly weed and perennial geranium, long lasting and in your face blue & orange (Go Bears) all summer. This year, I'm putting orange in all my beds. Today, I'm on the hunt for an orange begonia for the shade garden, among other things. If I can just figure out how to post pics, you can see how that turns out. The reason I mention the blue spruce, that is the single biggest regret I have for MY gardens, so it is the voice of experience talking. I really wish I had left it alone (I let my BIL do the awful deed itself). Maybe later you'll get interested in dwarf conifers, layering them into this bed. In any case, it's one of those things that can't be undone. FWIW, the peony CAN be moved, the fall is the best time for that. I moved mine last year, and it bloomed this year, same as always. I think digging the new hole beforehand and not planting it too deep are the keys to success with that. Besides, it is much easier to replace than a fully grown, mature specimen conifer. IF you decide to move it, but it looks fine where it is from here. I can see in the flower pic that you have a nice strip of lawn between the bed and the tree, and I personally like how the turf sets off the shape of the bed. Push mowing, and digging, are good exercise (beats having to go to the gym), esp. as it sounds like you already have a push mower. I've been looking for one, they're getting hard to find! I have a very small lot (shrinking every year, heh) so my battery-powered mower works great. I think you're doing a fine job, keep it up. :)...See MorePlans for your tree(s) this year?
Comments (6)Sounds like you have a plan. Since I decorate EVERYTHING in my house including over 7 trees that are 6' or taller and several more that are over 5', I start Black Friday (which is red & green Friday for me, LOL) and it takes all that weekend and then my Mom comes over on Monday to help with the 9' tree. I have the outside of the house ready to turn on lights Thanksgiving night, except the front porch is still Thanksgiving, so right now I have a schizophrenic house, LOL. I highly recommend the pencil tree for bang for the buck! It is tall enough, but takes up very little floor space. A live tree would be fun and smell so good, but I have them up for over a month, so live trees aren't an option for me. Your little basket tree was darling! Tinsel is so pretty, but very time consuming! Unless you use the toss method, LOL. Have fun planning and purchasing! TFS, Candy...See MoreFloor plan critque - master on the main level
Comments (23)I think a lot also depends on your daily life. I don't bring in groceries every day, so the kitchen being extremely close isn't a deal breaker to me. I do prefer though, not to have to walk through a living area between the garage and kitchen. You don't have that set up to worry about. In addition, I have to wear nice clothes to work, but I don't wear them around the house. We live in the country and also have pets, so I have much relaxed 'uniform' that I change into once I get home. For that reason, the master bedroom is normally the first place I go when I get home. This would work great with your layout. The only concern I have with your plan is the wall that the bed is on. I wouldn't want to be on a main, shared wall. I don't think flipping the bedroom/bathroom would be a solution either, as I wouldn't want to be on the garage wall either! If you wanted to put your bed below your windows, that would work with your current floor plan. I don't know what kind of windows you had imagined there, but if they were not tall windows, that would work. Alternately, could you make one big hall closet and slide your doorway to the side. This would also give more privacy to your bedroom if a guest were using the hall bathroom. I did a copy/paste of that. In addition, I think you could work to create a design that was better configured for the bathroom/closet. It seems like a lot of wasted space to not even include a tub....See More- 7 years ago
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