Landscape Project – A Woodland Retreat

Front entry - before
Front entry – before

Sometimes nature has already set the stage and we only need to make slight changes to improve upon the existing composition. The wooded setting for this home creates privacy from the neighbors and a minimal maintenance ground covering that the forest provides. Buckthorn is the biggest threat to the maintenance of this landscape and many were removed as part of the project.

Front entry - after
Front entry – after

An attempt by a prior owner to provide retention for the driveway left the entry feeling crowded and unattractive. The small boulders used were too much random color and surface and left space for weeds to develop in soil pockets. The struggling lawn in the shade of the trees left much to be desired. Random shrubs and hostas gave a disjointed sporadic feel.

A large outcropping stone the color of the trim on the house became the foundation of the landscape design. A grouping of the stone replaces part of the existing boulder wall accomplishing the goal to bring light to the space. Creation of a low maintenance garden of shade perennials formed the outline of spaces. The gravel path provides a place to walk around and brings a strong design element to the space. The central planting bed reused the boulders on site as edging and is anchored with two MN Strain Redbud clumps and highlights a collection of hostas.

Garden featuring Redbud trees
Garden featuring Redbud trees

The mixture of evergreen shrubs, sun perennials and ornamental grass takes advantage of the sunny spot along the driveway leading to the front porch. Steppers in the mulch lead from the sidewalk to the lower gravel walk path. To tie the entire area together the drive way entry point is flanked by plantings that incorporate additional outcropping stones.

 

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