Advice on Garden/Terrace/Patio design!
Linsy B
6 years ago
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Patio Garden design/plant advice - Zone 6
Comments (9)Only 2-3 hours of direct sunlight will definitely limit what you can grow successfully. I would eliminate any of those that require more or even full sun - no roses, lavender, baptisia, etc. Hostas may not be the look you prefer but they are well suited to those growing conditions!! If you want to add perennials or other flowering plants, look for those that are much more shade tolerant - hellebores, ferns, brunnera, ligularia, heuchera, dicentra, etc. The container/raised bed is not deep enough (width from the wall) to do anything much in the way of layering. Not sure what the vine is you have growing there but it appears to be doing well, so I'd be inclined to leave it. Just keep it well trimmed to reveal the fountain. And if the smaller evergreen shrubs are doing well also, I'd leave them as well. Often just lush greenery - without flowers - will provide a very soothing and even year-round tidy appearance. Since like most folks, I would assume you spend most of your time in this outdoor space in summer, so containers of colorful but shade loving annuals will help to brighten things up - begonias, impatiens, coleus or plectranthus, caladiums, fuchsias. Pansies and violas can extend the season well into fall and primulas can start it out in early spring....See MoreAdvice for a rooftop terrace/garden
Comments (6)I've talked to my architect and we’re adding a 6’ tall wind-break wall on most of the west side. I think that will help, and if I wrap my trees in burlap for the winter, maybe they’ll make it through? I’ll have to try one or two to start. But I think you’re right, Sigrid, that shrubs may be a better bet. My gardens down below are very informal, but I want to make the rooftop terrace formal for contrast (my house is formal too). We’ll be able to see both the gardens and terrace from our kitchen window, as our kitchen is on the 2nd floor, and the rooftop terrace will be on an office/workshop that we’re building for my husband. If it’s a combination of shrubs and annuals, that wouldn’t be the end of the world, but I’d love some short trees up there as well. I’ll take your advice, gardengal, and head to a local nursery. I want to make sure I make my planters large enough, and now is the time for that. Do you think 3’ x 3’ x 6’ would be large enough?...See MoreAdvice on patio design?
Comments (4)The landscape plantings are a transition that softens the hardness of the high vertical house walls. If using plantings for that purpose, you will be limited to mostly small sizes. If it's just pops of color or places for annuals, that can be accomplished by planters and pots as well. I don't follow if the tub is in a separate small gazebo, or if you are building a larger covered pergola attached to the house, but they may block any sun you need for these plantings. A landscape designer may be able to help you better lay out your patio and plantings, and integrate the hot tub/gazebo better....See MoreHow to terrace this area for a new garden?
Comments (1)Here are some ideas (Admittedly, my software tried to guess the slope of the yard from the picture you provided.) But hopefully, you get some new ideas from these renders....See MoreSouthwest Boulder & Stone
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoLinsy B thanked Southwest Boulder & StoneLinsy B
3 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
3 years ago
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