What would you do with this space?
lscheffler86
10 months ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (30)
lscheffler86
10 months agola_la Girl
10 months agoRelated Discussions
What would you do with this space if you were me?
Comments (11)The first thing that I would do is put a nice sharp edge on the bed along the grass side. A good edge makes a bed look neat and carefully planned. Next, I would seriously think about edging the whole bed with a low hedge. It's a box - play that up. As the hedge grows and fills in it also covers/hides/detracts attention from a lot of problems. Since height is the basic issue, I would use a perennial that can be sheared, something like Santolina, Teucrium, Germander, Iberis (Candytuft), or Aurinia (Basket of Gold). I have had good luck in my zone 5 garden with Santolina (only marginally hardy for me) on the outside edges of raised beds with the corners done in Candytuft and Aurinia. If your garden conditions are right, short sedums might be an inexpensive edging/hedging choice, since almost any stem would root for you and shearing would not be necessary. You could check out ones like the blue/grey Sedum sieboldii (6-12in), reddish Vera Jamison (1 foot, but sometimes flops open), or the warm yellow variegated Sedum alboroseum Mediovariegatum (listed as a 2 footer, but only growing about a foot in my clay, forms a nice rounded upright plant for me). There are lots of taller sedums, but my Autumn Joys and the newer Maestro (a sport of Matrona) get really tall in good garden soil. Also, it's just a guess, but I think that a shorter edge will make the other plants look taller than they are, somewhat hiding your height restriction problem. This sedum idea really depends on how much you like sedum and how much sedum you like. You might try mixing and matching some of the shearing plants up with some sedums at your local nursery and see if you get a combo you like, then using the sedums in shorter runs or for structural impact in certain areas. I would stick with just a few types of edging plants to make the area more unified. If you wanted to, expecially since it's a large area, you could also divide the inside of your garden into sections or shapes. Lots of Parterre ideas are available online and in books. Remember though, that even relatively informal hedges, such as I have suggested, are WORK. You could start with a perennial hedge on just the grass side towards the center and see if you like the effect, before spending a lot of time, effort and money on the idea. You can then divide or take cuttings from you existing plants and spread them across and down the sides over several seasons. Also you could easily incorporate the Dianthus that you mentioned into this garden. They are nice low plants that like good drainage. I am especially fond of the Chedder Pinks like Firewitch which form dense mats of bluish foliage. There are lots of other varieties, but the matting forms (versus the grassy ones) also plays into that guess/idea of mine that you need layers. A caution though - keep the Dianthus away from your grass - I have a really bad infestation of grass in some of mine along my grass path, which I just can't seem to eliminate. In fact I would keep your entire edging/hedging planting at least a foot away from the grass edge and keep that area heavily mulched. Some of the sedum groundcover ones such as Dragon's Blood or Angelina are pretty short( 4-6 inches), very colorful in bloom, and spread easily. They could be used to carpet the interior of the bed, lessening the too much mulch look. Another possibility are Thymes. I'm especially fond of wooly thyme, a very low blue-green mat forming thyme. This can take some moderate amount of stepping on which might be nice along a driveway. Lots of other steppables out there in the marketplace, even one using the term as a brandname. When I want to plant a larger-growing new plant in my garden I do not hesitate to simply dig a somewhat larger than usual hole (to give the new plant some breathing room)in the middle of my thyme or tear out a bunch of Dragon's Blood sedum and plant directly into these groundcovers. The removed bits can be patted into the ground somewhere else and usually take well with no extra care. A good edge and some strategically placed pots of creepers might give your garden a finished look and play well with your hot color scheme....See MoreWhat would you do with this space?
Comments (5)I would say the room should fit your interests, yet allow for the dining room to just be. Examples: -reading room ... along with 2 reading chairs add a library bookshelf or small writing table - Game Room / gathering room: a large fabric round ottoman with 2 or 3 chairs around it. The ottoman is the center piece. A game board can sit on top of it. - music room. If anyone plays an instrument that would be the focal point. - arts / crafts room: a hidden organizer cabinet. Small chairs to the side....See MoreWhat would you do with this space?
Comments (18)Once upon a time we lived in SoCal, and twenty years later I still miss our garden there. If you do containers, you will want to plan to Irrigate them before you build the deck! Will a deck be more or less expensive than a concrete patio? Because critters sometimes live under decks! It’s so hard to find mature trees in SoCal, I would try really hard to prevent what you have, get them pruned by someone, not the mow and blow guys!...See MoreOT- What would you do with this space?
Comments (10)I had a spot much like that one after a tree died. I used it for as many different types of plants as possible. Spring bulbs, Varigated Iris (the sun coming through the leaves in spring is beautiful, sedum as a ground cover, and also the bulb Lycoris Radiata for early fall. In the center I put a statue of St. Francis. Here's the first picture with the Iris Pallida just having been divided: This is a later fall picture when the sedum turns color after a cold night and the new foliage of the Lycoris springs up to add greenery over the winter months: There's usually something blooming there except during the depths of summer (when I don't want to do any maintenance at all). As it is, all I do is deadhead the bulbs after they have passed and keep the Bermuda out of the ground cover. The basic idea is a largish focal point in the center, with whatever you choose surrounding it. You will have lots of fun with whatever you do I'm sure, but it is a good chance for you to incorporate all sorts of bulbs for spring/fall display....................Maryl...See MorePatricia Colwell Consulting
10 months agolast modified: 10 months agotheresa21
10 months agocrcollins1_gw
10 months agoRebecca Averill
10 months agolscheffler86
10 months agolscheffler86
10 months agohousegal200
10 months agolast modified: 10 months agocrcollins1_gw
10 months agotracefloyd
10 months agoShadyWillowFarm
10 months agoShakuff
10 months agolscheffler86
10 months agolscheffler86
5 months agoDesign Fan
5 months agolast modified: 5 months agoDesign Fan
5 months agoShadyWillowFarm
5 months agolscheffler86
5 months agoKW PNW Z8
5 months agolast modified: 5 months agolscheffler86
5 months agoDesign Fan
5 months agolast modified: 5 months agolscheffler86
5 months agoDesign Fan
5 months agola_la Girl
5 months agolast modified: 5 months agolscheffler86
5 months agoKW PNW Z8
5 months agoDesign Fan
5 months agolscheffler86
5 months ago
Related Stories
LIFETips for Moving Into a Smaller Space
Downsize with less compromise: Celebrate the positive, pare down thoughtfully and get the most from your new home
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGN10 Big Space-Saving Ideas for Small Kitchens
Feeling burned over a small cooking space? These features and strategies can help prevent kitchen meltdowns
Full StoryTHE HARDWORKING HOME12 Smart Designs for Small-Space Living
The Hardworking Home: Furnish your compact rooms more efficiently with these creative built-ins and adjustable pieces
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESRethinking the Open-Plan Space
These 5 solutions can help you tailor the amount of open and closed spaces around the house
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNConvert Your Tub Space to a Shower — the Planning Phase
Step 1 in swapping your tub for a sleek new shower: Get all the remodel details down on paper
Full StoryFURNITURE10 Furniture Essentials for Small Spaces
Here are items to opt for when a full-size sofa would be the elephant in the room
Full StorySTUDIOS AND WORKSHOPS11 Tips to Get the Creative Space You Crave
Life, liberty and the pursuit of your craft. OK, that's paraphrased, but we think you have the right to an inspiring workspace of your own
Full StorySMALL HOMESAsk an Expert: What Is Your Ultimate Space-Saving Trick?
Houzz professionals share their secrets for getting more from any space, small or large
Full StoryHOUZZ TOURSHouzz Tour: Watch a Sliding Wall Turn a Living Space Into 5 Rooms
A clever custom storage piece transforms this New York City microstudio into multiple living spaces
Full StoryINDUSTRIAL STYLEMy Houzz: From Raw Space to Hip Home in a Converted Utah Garage
Creative repurposing with an industrial edge defines the first home of an engaged couple in Salt Lake City
Full StoryColumbus Area's Luxury Design Build Firm | 17x Best of Houzz Winner!
Maureen