Last post, I started a backyard landscape design with a Prairie and a Pond. Today, we finish it by adding shrubs, perennials and accessories. … [Read more...]
Ecological Landscape Design with a Prairie and a Pond Part 1
Today, we start a backyard Ecological Landscape Design with a theme, a prairie and pond. This should be fun, as we are going to put together a design with a strong form and a lot of plants. This design would provide a ton of ecological value compared to the existing lawn that is currently at this site. Not only will the backyard have a small prairie, but we will retain a large portion of lawn as this family has kids and wants a large play area. … [Read more...]
Designing a small residential Japanese garden Part 2
Today, we will continue with our design for the small residential Japanese garden that we started in the last post. … [Read more...]
Formal Design Theme from lines of force
When you are designing your landscape, you need to have an overall pattern to help organize it and tie it together. Otherwise, you can end up with a mess. … [Read more...]
Integrating your house and landscape
When designing a new landscape or renovation, integrating your house and landscape should be a priority. … [Read more...]
Front yard design for a yard with Black walnuts Part 2 of 2
Today, I continue the front yard design for a yard with black walnuts from the last post. The Tough choice This design desperately needs some evergreen shrubs. Finding an evergreen shrub that tolerates Juglone and shade is the tricky part. Besides hemlock, there really are not any other ones listed in the Juglone tolerant lists. However, that does not mean there are not ones that will work. For instance, yews are not supposed to work under black walnut, but I know of several that have … [Read more...]
Front yard design for a yard with Black walnuts Part 1 of 2
Last post, I talked about how growing landscapes in the midst of Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) can be a challenge. This is due to the fact that they produce the chemical juglone. Juglone in the soil can kill plants that are sensitive to it. In today’s post, I am going to help a reader with a front yard design for her landscape that tolerates black walnut’s juglone. … [Read more...]