skip to main content

Landscape Design Trees Design Dilemma

Landscaping ideas

Christina Lekas

29 days ago

Hello! We just put in a new fence (the white fence is ours). We could not move the fence up closer to driveway due to piping/drainage. I want this area to look a little cleaner. Any suggestions for a tall narrow tree/shrub I could put where the wood fence is? It is my neighbors fence, so I cannot paint and clean that up. On the left I was going to add white ground coverage/make the bed smaller and straight, along with some stepping stones. I am not sure if I just leave it as is or if there is a pretty plant I could put there. Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

floraluk2
29 days ago
How wide is the strip? Since this is essentially a path to the white gate I don't think it is practical to have even a narrow shrub there. There's really only room for a thin strip of a low edging plant against the house. What that might be depends on your location and the amount of available light. Btw I would not use stepping stones. They would make wheeling anything down the path awkward.
KR KNuttle
29 days ago
last modified: 29 days ago
The only thing I can think of that would help this area, is to come out about 10 or so feet beyond the down spout, and put in a large bush. With the bush, it would block the view the between the house area. This would not prevent access to the gate as the path would then be around the house, behind the bush and back to the gate. The distance to move the bush out would depend on what you are moving through the gate, but 10' seems like it would accommodate anything that would pass through the gater.
Related Discussions
Need ideas for a bbq area/landscape ideas
Q
Comments (7)
The outdoor structure is attached to the house as part of the roof. Removing it will change the roof structure and incur a large expense. U can update the posts but those type are very common here in Southern California. U can paint white and add cone lights to the bottom to give more light. For your yard I believe in using space for whatever u need it. Seating areas are great u can always buy a bar if u don’t want to build one in. Matching your pavement is going to be a challenge because that pavement is from the 60s. I do see play equipment. You could do synthetic if u don’t have a dog and u can always put chairs and a bar on synthetic. Also it is unsafe to put a charcoal grill under a structure. We have to put in vent hoods if we put a grill in and our grills are gas not charcoal.
...See More
New home build landscape ideas
Q
Comments (3)
We need more of a close up to see where you might put foundation beds. I think every house looks more grounded with a tree on the corner. I'd put an evergeen just to the left and slightly behind the facade of your house. Make sure you have plenty of room for the grown size. Then, I'd have a beautiful flowering tree in the middle of the front yard. You can adjust the placement to hide views you want hidden, to preserve views you want to preserve or to make it the view. We need a zone, but I like redbuds, magnolias, carolina snowbells and fringe trees. You can also do fruit. Most fruit trees are really pretty in bloom. Depending on your critter population, you might or might not get fruit.
...See More
landscaping ideas-traditional or tropical or both
Q
Comments (3)
" there is no way we would get the 20k out of the house if we had the landscaping done professionally. " I doubt that is true. A professionally designed and installed landscape generally increases the value of the property well beyond the cost. And if you don't feel you can comfortably afford the whole package, go with just a master design plan that you can install yourself as time and budget allow. There is usually a very modest cost associated with that. As an aside, I often wonder why folks are reluctant to spend money beautifying the outside to the same degree they would the inside. It is an investment that typically has a very high ROI. The architectural style of your home does not readily lend itself to a tropical look. It is quite cottagey or country in nature and I think a more traditionally styled landscape would suit it better
...See More
landscaping ideas on budget
Q
Comments (8)
I highly recommend joining your local FB garden group. Neighbors are always dividing plants and happy to share. In the meantime, walk around your neighborhood and see what plants are doing well, observe the growing conditions for similar to yours, chat up the neighbors. I’m always sharing my plants and letting my neighbors know what’s doing well in their conditions and locations (plus commiserations on the bunny and squirrel destruction!). And check out the everything is free section for sidewalk materials- I got some bluestone pavers a few years ago for free and over time installed them in my side yard path. Saved me a load of $$$.
...See More
Kendrah
29 days ago
How often and for what purposes do you access and use your new gate? This will help us figure out how to deal with this area.
cecily 7A
29 days ago
It looks like your downspout is directing water onto the neighbor's property. I hope that's just the angle of the photo.
BillMN-z-2-3-4
29 days ago
last modified: 29 days ago
Just ask you neighbors if it would be alright if you painted their cruddy old fence white (but don't call it that). You might be allowed to do that and brighten your (and theirs) day!
Sigrid
29 days ago
You're only option is a vine on a trellis. You might be able to grow Dutchman's pipe.

Related Stories

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Design a Great Garden on a Sloped Lot

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Get a designer's tips for turning a hillside yard into the beautiful garden you’ve been dreaming of

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Design Solutions for Oddly Shaped Backyards

By Natasha Saroca

Is your backyard narrow, sloped or boxy? Try these landscaping ideas on for size

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Garden Lessons from a Grand Northwest Reserve

By Debra Prinzing

Borrow classic landscape ideas from this Washington state treasure, a series of gardens as thoughtfully planned as they are spacious

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Fantastical Landscape Lighting to Kindle a Fanciful Air

By Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

Set the night aglow and hearts afire with these gorgeously inventive landscape lighting ideas

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Steeply Beautiful Slope Retention

By FormLA Landscaping

Don't let things slide or give in to sandbags and cement. These slope retention ideas will keep your landscape hitting the high notes

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Vegetable Growing Lessons From Longwood Gardens

Get ideas for your own edible landscape from a Pennsylvania showpiece and teaching garden

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Step Up Your Garden Game With Terraced Plantings

We're going to level with you: Slopes in the landscape can be tricky. Use these ideas to create balance and harmony in your terraced beds

GARDENING GUIDES Great Garden Ideas From the 2015 Chelsea Flower Show

By Debra Prinzing

Peruse inspiring plants, plant combinations and design ideas from London’s famed garden exhibition

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Garden Tour: Enchanting Greek Landscape

By Annie Thornton

Get Ideas for Mediterranean-Style Plantings on a Beautiful Paros Garden Stroll

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Inspired Designs for Sloped Lots

Get new ideas for outdoor spaces from the lines of your terrain

Sponsored

More Discussions

Front yard landscape help needed - Chicago (Zone 6)

12

Will my lemon tree recover

1

Can these be saved?

10

Who has planted a Stewartia ‘Pewter Form’?

1

Advice to update my flowerbed.

5