Before the Project

The garden area looked like this at the start of the project

Design Discussion

Approximately every five feet at the top of the wall a Cross vine (Bignonia capreolata) is planted. This vine gets orange flowers on it, very similar to trumpet flowers. However, unlike trumpet flowers, Cross vine keeps its’ foliage for most of the winter. In late fall, the leaves change from green to burgundy. Depending on the severity of the winter weather, the burgundy leaves will remain on the vine until about March. For several weeks the vine will have no foliage, until the new spring growth starts in April. Cross vine is a vigorous grower that will cover most of the wall within several years.
To ease the transition between the woods this property abuts and the open land, a Leatherleaf viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum) is planted at the far right, under the shade of the woodland trees. Being evergreen, this plant will provide winter interest. The woodland (not shown in this picture) will also have several Leatherleaf Viburnum planted in it as under-story plants. In the spring this shrub will get fragrant white flowers. In the fall it will get yellow berries that will gradually turn red and then black.
A flowering dogwood (Cornus florida or Cornus kousa) is planted to the left of the Leatherleaf Viburnum. A tall thin dogwood, rather than a full round tree, was selected to comfortably fit in this narrow area. The dogwood will also ease the transition between open space and woodland, as well as provide the Leatherleaf Viburnum with a little additional shade. A dogwood tree was selected over other types, as the woods have dogwoods naturally growing in them.
Planted under the dogwood and beside the Viburnum is a decorative grass called Lyme Grass (Leymus arenarius). This grass will grow in either full sun or partial shade. This is advantageous, as this corner of the area being landscaped will become partially shady as the viburnum and dogwood mature. Lyme grass is tolerant of dry and sandy soil. While it may be invasive in moist soil, it isn’t as invasive in dry soil. As it is being used as a ground cover, its’ aggressiveness is actually an asset in this application. Within several years it will form a thick mat of vegetation that will not even need to be mulched. Unlike many decorative grasses, this grass keeps its’ blue-green color all winter. You don’t need to cut Blue Lyme grass, except maybe to occasionally revive it. The two to three foot long blades of grass arch to the ground, creating a mound approximately one foot tall.
As a decorative accent, a few Globe thistles (Echinops ritro) are intermixed with the Blue Lyme grass. Globe thistles get tall thorny flowers. When the Lyme grass fills in several years the globe thistles may be choked out. However, by this time the globe thistles may very well be starting to decline. If they aren’t declining, they can easily be moved. Globe thistle are drought tolerant.
Three Hollywood Junipers (Juniperus chinensis ‘Torolosa’) are planted in a curve left of the dogwood. The reason why they are planted in a curve is the design would look un-natural and too formal if all the plantings were lined up against the wall perfectly straight. These plants are evergreen, providing winter interest. They will also serve as a bit of a windbreak for the plants to their right. Unfortunately, a computer generated picture does not do this plant justice. Frequently, Hollywood Junipers have very irregular twisted shapes. They provide character and interest to the landscape. Their foliage is very scale like.
Planted with the Hollywood Junipers are Japanese Barberry (Rose Glow) (Berberis thunbergii). Barberries are very drought tolerant. The red leaves of Rose Glow and the red winter- berries will look great with the green junipers and blue-green Lyme grass. Not only are the colors of these plants complimentary, but the different textures and foliage sizes and shape provide contrast and interest.
In front of the junipers is a planting of yellow Yarrow (Achillea). Yellow was chosen because it is very attractive with the red barberry and green junipers, as well as the blue green Lyme grass. The soft fern like foliage of the Yarrow will provide an attractive contrast to the scale-like junipers and the weeping Lyme grass. If not cut off in the fall, the dried flower heads will be attractive in the winter.
In front of the junipers and yarrow is a large planting of English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Lavender loves sandy soil. In fact a lavender grower told me she uses sand as a mulch. Lavender is also extremely drought tolerant. Lavender loves to be planted near a stone wall that reflects heat in the summer. Its’ erect form will contrast with the weeping Lyme grass. The purple flowers will also look attractive with the blue-green, red and yellow of the other plants in this design. Either one type of English lavender may be used, or you may want to mix Hidcote and Munstead. The dimensions and colors of Hidcote and Munstead are slightly different and provides an interesting texture effect when mixed.
This design uses large sweeping plantings to maximize the effect of each plant. As this area is along a road, most of the people passing by this planting will not have time to stop and look at individual flowers. However, as they drive by the effect of dozens of yarrow, lavender and lyme grass will be very noticeable.
While all the plants in this design are deer resistant, it always helps to incorporate some plants that are actually deer deterrents into your design as a little extra insurance. Both the lavender and the yarrow used in this design are deer deterrents.

After the Project

How does it looks based on computer simulation ?