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Landscape Design

blank slate landscape advice

last year

Finally ready to add trees, shrubs and ground cover once the rock steps are installed down the slope. This is a view of the “front” of the house, when arriving from the driveway. It faces west, Im guessing not a lot of sun. I’m in growing zone 7. I’d like a conifer to hide the stone/siding transition. Azaleas and rhododendrons grow naturally on our property. Would love some color combination ideas! I’d prefer flowering trees and great autumn color but don’t know how to go about choosing color(s) that go best with the colors of the house.

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Comments (12)

lidianonn
Original Author
last year
The area in red…it’s sloped.
Sarah
last year
Very cool house and intricate site! I honestly recommend working with a landscape architect to design a plan for you. You can either hire someone to install or do the labor yourself.
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lidianonn
Original Author
last year
Sarah, what colors would you choose to coordinate with the colors of the house?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last year
" what colors would you choose to coordinate with the colors of the house? "

Plants will go with any house color you choose. Matching is not necessary :-) Pick whatever you like or allow your designer (also strongly recommended) to select for you.
Sarah
last year
Here’s what I love in a landscape- some dark and mysterious spots, bright areas, leaf interest, seasonal interest, a few specimen trees, varying shades of greens (chartreuse through deep green), combo of deciduous and evergreens.

If you have a few favorite plants, be sure to let your professional know. And if there are plants you hate, too!
cecily 7A
last year
Got deer?
Lidia
last year
I like those same things too, Sara! I’m going to focus on spring and fall color, just wanted to get ideas for what color and best coordinating ones. With 80 acres of woods and will plan a lavender field, summer blooms aren’t that much of an interesting to me. There’s so much space around the house and I’m getting old, I want something pretty low maintenance.
Lidia
last year
Yes, Cecily…we have deer, turkey, raccoon, bobcat and a neighbor mentioned bear. I’m afraid most of what I’d want to plant will get chomped. I’m thinking redbud for spring and fall interest, daffodils (not tulips) and something orange/yellow and crimson that would bloom in the fall and not be too tasty to deer. What do you think?
Sarah
last year
Wow you have a lot of land! Very exciting! Daffodils are fantastic- I love mounds and mounds of them, including whites. They really glow in the evening!

Since I’m closer to the city, I don’t have to worry about deer. Check with your area about hellebore as it’s a winter/ early spring bloomer with year round evergreen leaves. It’s one of my new favorites.
Lidia
last year
Sarah, yes, I love the forest narcissus white! I hear hellebore is great, thank you for reminding me of them…I’ll look into it!
cecily 7A
last year
My suburban deer are half tame - they remain in my garden munching when I'm outside and I need to jump up and down shouting to drive them away. My husband thinks this "deer dance" is hilarious. The presence of bobcats suggests that you have wild deer which presumably won't hang out in your yard mocking you. But you're better off choosing plants that don't especially appeal to them. Daffodils, hellebores, geranium macrorhizum, sedge and lamium could work for you. I'd plant both dogwoods and redbuds and cage them while young (deer will walk along tasting plants). You mentioned placing a conifer beside your home and I'm stumped there.
lidianonn
Original Author
last year
Cicily your deer and dance sound great! Thanks again for your suggestions!! I love dogwoods as well. Happy Halloween!

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