Hi Kim,

I can't be specific as I don't know your location, climate and the deck's orientation to the sun. However, given that you have trellises, I would like to see vines with prominent flowers of a color that will show strongly against the green (lawn) and white (trellis) backgrounds. You could either plan the vines on the outside of the deck (in the natural ground) or inside (in pots). If you are OK with pots on the patio surface, I'd get some flower boxes for between the the uprights and planting colorful annuals in them.

Thanks Daniel! My house is south facing and I live in NJ. Love the vine idea. Any thoughts of perennials or shrubs for the ground around the outer area of the patio trellis?

Visit local plant nurseries to get info on which plants will do best in your area. Ask gardeners in your neighborhood for plant recommendations. Online botanical sites for your state can be helpful. There is a great deal of info online for most plants.

Decide how much effort you are willing to put into upkeep for a new planting. You don't specify whether you want shrubs or perennials, but all plants need extra care during the first year after planting. Shrubs, however, usually require less upkeep. Perennials won't need dividing usually for three years, but may need deadheading, or cutting back of winter-killed tops in the spring. If you are not into gardening, ask for plants that don't need much maintenance.

Be sure to check the expected mature size on plant labels. The term dwarf only means smaller than the species. If a plant is expected to be 36 inches wide at maturity do not plant it closer than 18 inches to a foundation or fence. If you mix plants make sure larger growing plants won't encroach on smaller plants. When you first plant you will have open space between young plants. Consider filling in this extra space with annuals until young plants have time to fill out.

In the photo below I show Ilex crenata, cv. Brass Buckle, which only grows 12-18 inches tall. It's evergreen, but prefers moist yet well-drained soil.

Is there need of walking-over-the-deck protection for elderly and such? I like the rustic type of shrub called red-twigged dogwood. It looks great in the snow and has changing leaves. It doesn't require much.

Some things to look for when you are looking at perennials or shrubs.

1. Maintenance. Some plants don't look good unless they are staked (e.g peonies), pruned (vines, some roses), stop blooming if you don't divide them up regularly (irises), sprayed for insect or disease damage (roses) etc. Vines can need overhead pruning which can be harder to do.

That can be bad if you're not sure of what needs to be done, or simply don't have the time.

2. Watering should not be necessary at maturity, so consider native plants too. All plants need watering when they are new.

3. Bloom time - some only bloom for a very short time, then are boring.

4. Appearance when not blooming. Interesting leaf color maybe?

5. Size at maturity tells you how many you will need. Shrubs can get large which I think would look great around your beautiful patio. One huge shrub in each section of your railing. Also economical.

Hydrangeas have a long bloom time and are carefree. Combine early and late bloomers. They can be 10 ft tall and wide. I have a Viburnum "Judii" that has wonderful smelling spring flowers - also a big shrub. Or a fragrant lilac. Your local nursery will have varieties that do well in your area. Plant in fall for best health/growth overall.

Go here: https://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/

Select your USDA hardiness zone and then start filtering. When you get to the bottom of the page, click advanced filters and filter some more.

Most of all, add some small trees to the west/southwest for shade during the hottest part of summer days. Without that, your deck will be essentially unusable.

Go to the local garden center and you will get all the info you need . How much work do you want to do on gardening is always the first question