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Landscape Design Design Dilemma Garden

Need ideas for landscaping small retaining wall

5 years ago

I need help with a design in this area that will provide privacy, but also obviously look nice. The top on the wall is at street level. We're remodeling the house to be a bit more on the modern/contemporary side, and it'll be a dark gray.

Here are a bunch of photos. I live in the PNW zone 8. The whole front of the house is south facing, full sun all day. I'll answer any questions, I'm not sure what else to include. I'm open to all ideas.

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Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

5 years ago

How tall do you need it to be?

Choisya ternata, Mexican orange - will eventually grow to 8' x 8' (evergreen)

Ceanothus 'Victoria' can get to be around 10' x 12' (evergreen)

Morella californica, Pacific wax Myrtle - 15' x 15' (evergreen)

Cotinus 'Grace' - maybe 20' x 15'

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen' - 8' x 8'

You would only need a single specimen of any of these in that space to provide a reasonable degree of privacy screening. And there are bunch of lower growing shrubs that work as well, as well as a wide number of dwarf conifers.

I hesitate to suggest the more common privacy shrubs like laurel or holly as they are both borderline invasive here.

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Comments (7)

Kristen
Original Author
5 years ago
I don't want to raise it. I was thinking of planting something on top to hide my view of the neighbors house/street.
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Ah yes, that helps. The idea of the roses doesn't appeal to me. That might be just because I'm not a rose person, but also it seems to me that wind would be most bothersome in winter when the rugosas would have no leaves - wouldn't evergreen be better? Also, if kids are going to play there, I'd sooner they just jumped or at worst (if their parents can't watch them:-)) fell without getting caught up in brambles. A weeping juniper, I suppose a blue rug type, would look fabulous spilling down the wall, and something taller behind it would look more natural, and visually lower the wall better, than something tall right next to it.
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(obviously you're in a different area but knowing everything you have to deal with on the Cape - we're from the area and my friend is an awesome landscape architect in whatever the town is that starts with a Y - this should get you close). It may be worth starting with a designer, both because they'll be able to design the least amount of wall needed supplemented with other site work, and because if you're anywhere near the water there are often state and town regulations you have to abide by or get massive fines. Ah! I found my friend Andrew's site: http://yportdg.tripod.com/id1.html
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Except for the dog issue, I'm confused about what you're trying to do with fences. If you must fence the property line, which it as top of berm, I presume you would eliminate fence close to retaining wall (so as not to have a strip of land sequestered in between two fences.) It would be vastly easier to understand if you'd take a site plan (I'm sure you have one since the house is currently being built) and mark out your intentions, and submit a photo. Hopefully it will explain what/how you mean about running a fence "half way." In regards to the issue about the dog or children jumping off the retaining wall. I can't really believe either wouldn't be able to learn their capabilities almost instantly. The wall doesn't look high enough to be a real danger and won't there be unpaved areas at its lower side? Doesn't seem like a problem. When I was a child we would think this wall a nice toy. Plantings could easily limit access.
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Kristen
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you for the suggestions! I would need at least 8-9 ft tall. I guess I'm just worried about planting one giant plant and having it look awkward and not blend in well, but I suppose that's what surrounding smaller plants will help with?

And yes, we have some holly scattered around the property that has been a pain to get rid of.
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Kristen
Original Author
5 years ago
Maybe I should plant a tree down below? And shrubs on top of the wall?
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PRO
Dig Doug's Designs
5 years ago
ideas:
Izzy Mn
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I would think there may be some city regulations on planting taller plants so close to road. They may block view for driver backing out of driveway, won't have a clear view of cars going down road. It's hard enough backing out, don't plant something that will block sightlines, if that is the case.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
I've lived and gardened all my life in the PNW and do so professionally. Other than any HOA restrictions or utility easements, there are no rules about what can and can't be planted close to a street. Heck, this the land of giant native conifers.....and they are often very close to any street or roadway.

I just got done doing a concept plan for a new development and my local municipality/county requires a 25' deep buffer zone of native trees surrounding the property......read along the street verge. More urban areas may have different regs but in suburbia or rural locations, anything goes.

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