landscape design

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

We have a few areas of our yard that could use some beautification!

FRONT
We live in zone 6 and our front porch gets mostly shade during the day. We do have a hydrangea that has done well..should I plant more along the porch? I have a few hostas scattered throughout as well (photo from last spring/summer)

RIGHT SIDE
We plan to cut the mangled tree down at the corner but not sure if we plant a larger tree, hydrangeas, or green giants.

We don’t want to block the view of the sunset but want to create privacy on that corner of the house, while covering up the gas vents.

GARAGE WALL
completely at a loss here. I see some people plant a tree in the middle of their window, but I’m not crazy about that. My husband trimmed down the bushes that are currently there but they are struggling.
I think some full hedge bushes that go up to the window would be nice but I’d love to get some other options!

PRIVACY WALL/ TREE LINE ~ VERY IMPORTANT!!

Our property has very few trees, but we would like to create some privacy from the neighbor’s driveway, but don’t want anything too tall that could block the sunset view from upper deck

Thank you!

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Comments (5)

callirhoe123
2 years ago
What direction does the house face? Which side has the neighbor's driveway? Beautiful house. Doesn't need much:)
PRO
Larece Associates
2 years ago
I would do a mini maple tree with the hostas or border grass at the corner of your home and the hydrangeas on the right and left hand side and maybe at the side of the return porch add planters to look like steps
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Maura W
Original Author
2 years ago
Our house faces north
laceyvail 6A, WV
2 years ago
Tjhe first thing I would plan for is shade for the house from trees. For morning shade, plant to E/SE. For shade from the hottest sun of the day, trees to the W/SW. Large trees should be some distance from the house and smaller trees--ornamentals and understory trees between the large trees and the house. Layered shade like this provides the most cooling and also nestles the house into its setting. Of course, the same placements would apply to anything you want to shade, deck, patio, etc.

You mention you want privacy from a neighbor's driveway, but don't want to lose the view. So what you want is not trees, except possibly small trees, perhaps to 20-25 feet, but large shrubs. Some shrubs, like Magnolia stellata for example--good to zone 4--can easily get to 20 feet as can some Viburnums.

Start your planning with the slowest growers and largest plants first. Figure out the placement--and get it right because you don't want to be moving trees around. Then work down to smaller plants.

You have a beautiful home. If planning all this seems beyond your present skill, get a good landscaper to provide you with a basic design and plan to do the work yourself.
Jake The Wonderdog
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Look, you have a nice house with a some nice features and some specific "wants" from your landscaping. Hire a professional landscape designer to provide you with a plan.

If you want to do some, or all, of the install yourself, you can... but get an overall plan on paper.

I think it's a shame that here's this big expensive house and yet everyone puts such a low value on landscaping and landscape design that there is virtually none - and that you feel it's reasonable to crowd-source design from random folks with unknown qualifications based on a few photos.