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ENLARGE
Almost every home introduces problems areas that challenge the homeowner and the landscape designer. “Western Home Landscaping” by Creative Homeowner Press (2011) offers solutions with a portfolio of designs, and plant profiles (including pictures) of many plants available in the nursery trade.
Filled with detailed landscaping information for the beginner as well as the experienced gardener, this book also covers basics of hardscaping. Included are construction guidelines for patios, walkways, fences, arbors, trellises, and even ponds. Illustrations may tempt even the least experienced to tackle a landscaping project.
As a design contributor to this book, I had the opportunity to create gardens for some of the challenges I have seen most often. First was the narrow planting strip often left by builders, with a straight walkway to the front door defining its outer boundaries. Too often, evergreen “foundation plants” are chosen to fill the space. By playing with the vertical space, attention may be drawn away from the narrow horizontal definition. And, more importantly, plants may be selected to provide a variety of changing interest, while doing little to interfere with maintenance of the house exterior.
Parking strips are another difficult landscape problem. While grass is frequently seen as the obvious solution, with the issue of water efficiency foremost in our planning, the strip may be an opportunity to think beyond the common approach. Certainly consideration must be given to parking access and foot traffic across the strip, but short and wide paths with low-irrigation plants on either side can be very attractive.
Plants adjacent to where people will be walking must be chosen for their durability even when the area to step is obvious. Soil compaction is a potential problem unless the path is so well defined that all foot traffic remains on the path.
My favorite garden to design for the book was the wall garden, a deep border with a wall (or it could be a fence) as a backdrop. Maintenance of plants in the background is the first consideration. All these plants must be limited to no maintenance. Plants that need attention only in the dormant season (ornamental grasses, small trees, late-flowering vines or perennials) serve best.
The deep border is a wonderful opportunity to contrast textures, form, and color of leaf and flower. Begin with those plants that will give substance in winter. Ornamental grasses with interesting seed such as spangle grass (Chasmanthium latifolium), Pennisetum ‘Little Bunny', or the graceful native basket grass, Muhlenbergia rigens. Grasses that are evergreen, such as the beautiful silvery-blue fescues, will hold up even after a load of snow has temporarily weighed them down.
Keeping all plants chosen with similar irrigation needs, add tall plants in the back of the border that bloom late and need no maintenance until winter: perennial sunflowers (Helianthus angustifolius and H. maximilianii) or goldenrod (Solidago), or the taller ornamental grasses such as Calamagrostis ‘Karl Forester'.
Defining outdoor areas can be a daunting task. If you would like to do it yourself, “Western Home Landscaping” is a good place to begin. One project at a time is a good resolution for the new year.
Carolyn Singer has gardened organically in the foothills since 1977. She will be teaching a class on fruit trees January 7, 2012, 9:30-11:30 at Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply (2724769). Past articles may be found at www.carolynsingergardens.com.
Filled with detailed landscaping information for the beginner as well as the experienced gardener, this book also covers basics of hardscaping. Included are construction guidelines for patios, walkways, fences, arbors, trellises, and even ponds. Illustrations may tempt even the least experienced to tackle a landscaping project.
As a design contributor to this book, I had the opportunity to create gardens for some of the challenges I have seen most often. First was the narrow planting strip often left by builders, with a straight walkway to the front door defining its outer boundaries. Too often, evergreen “foundation plants” are chosen to fill the space. By playing with the vertical space, attention may be drawn away from the narrow horizontal definition. And, more importantly, plants may be selected to provide a variety of changing interest, while doing little to interfere with maintenance of the house exterior.
Parking strips are another difficult landscape problem. While grass is frequently seen as the obvious solution, with the issue of water efficiency foremost in our planning, the strip may be an opportunity to think beyond the common approach. Certainly consideration must be given to parking access and foot traffic across the strip, but short and wide paths with low-irrigation plants on either side can be very attractive.
Plants adjacent to where people will be walking must be chosen for their durability even when the area to step is obvious. Soil compaction is a potential problem unless the path is so well defined that all foot traffic remains on the path.
My favorite garden to design for the book was the wall garden, a deep border with a wall (or it could be a fence) as a backdrop. Maintenance of plants in the background is the first consideration. All these plants must be limited to no maintenance. Plants that need attention only in the dormant season (ornamental grasses, small trees, late-flowering vines or perennials) serve best.
The deep border is a wonderful opportunity to contrast textures, form, and color of leaf and flower. Begin with those plants that will give substance in winter. Ornamental grasses with interesting seed such as spangle grass (Chasmanthium latifolium), Pennisetum ‘Little Bunny', or the graceful native basket grass, Muhlenbergia rigens. Grasses that are evergreen, such as the beautiful silvery-blue fescues, will hold up even after a load of snow has temporarily weighed them down.
Keeping all plants chosen with similar irrigation needs, add tall plants in the back of the border that bloom late and need no maintenance until winter: perennial sunflowers (Helianthus angustifolius and H. maximilianii) or goldenrod (Solidago), or the taller ornamental grasses such as Calamagrostis ‘Karl Forester'.
Defining outdoor areas can be a daunting task. If you would like to do it yourself, “Western Home Landscaping” is a good place to begin. One project at a time is a good resolution for the new year.
Carolyn Singer has gardened organically in the foothills since 1977. She will be teaching a class on fruit trees January 7, 2012, 9:30-11:30 at Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply (2724769). Past articles may be found at www.carolynsingergardens.com.
