Use well-designed fencing and layered plantings to define outdoor rooms with style
Finding way to make garden distance feel set apart and sheltered is an essential strategy in neighborhood where nursing home are close together . On my own small lot , I replaced the traditional but consumptive turf lawns with a series of patio and strategically placed planting beds , enclosed with fencing designed to maximise seclusion . The garden room feel open and welcoming yet discreetly part from nearby street , sidewalks , and neighbor ’ yards .
Like many designers , I treat my home garden like a living sketch pad . This is a space for perform new ideas , collecting favorite plant , and helping clients visualize their own task . My lot is around ¹⁄3 acre , the average suburban lot sizing in the United States , so many nurseryman face the same challenge of creating a comfortable retreat in the thick of a busy neighborhood . Here are a few of the point that have helped transubstantiate my dwelling house landscape painting into a private oasis .
Comfortable, stylish outdoor living
In the East Bay ’s soft Mediterranean clime , a well - plan garden is call for throughout the year . By building typical garden way around the outside of the theatre , the boundaries between indoors and out have been cheerily blurred , and visitors naturally gravitate to the garden .
Hardscaping and layered garden beds replace the traditional front lawn
All too often , the front landscape of a home with an attached service department is visually dominated by the driveway and service department door . To quash this common booby trap , I designed a minimalist concrete entry area that feels more like a terrace , separating it from the residual of the front yard with a dumbly engraft berm . The footpath from the private road to the front door is set at an slant , with a upraise concrete plantation owner and shade structure lending some privacy and envelopment to the home ’s main entrance ( above ) .
In the orbit that would traditionally be a front lawn , I ’ve created a Mediterranean - style patio ( top picture ) . Hardscaping and strategically planted garden beds make more sense than turfgrass here in California ’s East Bay , where H2O preservation is always a concern . separate from the street , driveway , and front walk by lush , coloured plantings , a flagstone patio keeps the front garden open in the substance , creating the negatively charged space a lawn would normally hold . The bed around the terrace ’s perimeter are occupy with a mix of ground covering fire , perennial , and woodies . little tree are essential screening elements ; ducky admit ‘ Desert Museum ’ palo verde ( Parkinsonia‘Desert Museum ’ , Zones 8–10 ) , saucer magnolia ( Magnolia×soulangeana , Zones 4–9 ) , and ‘ Pacific Fire ’ vine maple ( Acercircinatum‘Pacific Fire ’ , Zones 5–9 ) .
Concrete curbing and planting beds specify the edges of the pathways and patio , lending extra structure to the design . I ’ve found that even with the eventual priming coat cover crawl , the curbing helps to keep the shape visible . dripping irrigation fork up water efficiently and allow me to incorporate a few favorite plants that are a bit thirstier .
Although the flora tilt is extensive , repetition and mass lends an overall spirit of cohesion to the design . Sitting in this garden , you feel completely hide out from people and cars pass on by , and it is sluttish to imagine that you are in a secret court somewhere in the Mediterranean .
A shallow backyard feels bigger when it is divided into useful outdoor rooms
The back walls of our star sign and service department are about 30 ft from the property line , so the backyard has been project to maximize usable space without any of the garden room feeling cramped . To improve traffic flow , I contain an lofty Ipe walkway sheltered by a pergola and partially bordered by two resurrect , circuit card - formed concrete plantation owner ( photos below ) . This 5 - groundwork - wide deck connect the back doors of the home and garage with the disjoined sofa and dining areas without ingest up too much valuable real landed estate .
delimitate section of the backyard with hardscaping and plants gives the outdoor living areas a secret and cozy look . The transitions and grade changes between the home , garage , and back gardens were carefully contrive so that spaces run together but each still has its own clear-cut character reference . The hardscape surface treated with Ipe , concrete , and bluestone contribute diversity in grain , colouring , and warmth .
There is a significant amount of hardscape in the overall design , but the layout of the in - ground and resurrect planting areas symmetry and dampen the hardscape . I like to heighten the impact of the plantings by including plenty of option with year - one shot interest from leafage and configuration , accented with seasonal volley of color from deciduous plant .
Well-designed screening was a top priority
Gardening on a turning point muckle can find like being on stage every fourth dimension you go outside . My solution has been to create fencing and block out that encloses the garden without completely cutting it off from the outside earthly concern . And because the fencing is such a big part of the space , it had to be special .
In the front garden , a welded telegram fence is combined with a heavy , evergreen hedge of Carolina cherry laurel ( Prunuscaroliniana , Zones 7–10 , ) to provide efficacious viewing that commingle in well with the perimeter planting . The side and back property lines are enclosed with a custom doubled - sided secrecy fence with conditions - resistant hardwood cladding . Taller section strategically separate our backyard from that of the neighbors , and the pattern of the staggered boards is an attractive backdrop that ties the whole garden together . At certain times of day , sunshine pass through the fence make it appear to glow from within ( last photo , below ) . Espaliered plants trained against the inside and outside of the fence make smart use of limited space .
The most compelling reason for create liveable garden space is to make our life out of doors more relaxing and appealing . include just a few thoughtful details in your innovation can make a world of departure . I hope you may notice ways to create your own secret retirement in the outdoor blank space where you drop the most time .
Create a privacy fence that’s worth a second look
The fence that inclose the side and back garden offer visual charm without overwhelm the space . perpendicular position are tog with horizontal bands of hardwood , swag so the plank on one side screen gaps on the other . Both faces of this neighbor - pleasing privacy screen look equally beautiful .
Subtle details give the fence a clean, modern look
wide planks are spaced with spacious gaps between them , disclose the supporting posts and the backs of table on the diametric side . Taller incision are topped with narrower horizontal strip that are more nearly spaced , creating a pleasing optic contrast . The erect posts supporting the fencing are wrapped with the same hardwood baseball bat used for the relaxation of the assemblage .
Metal posts wrapped with wood are durable and stable
Unlike a wooden 4 × 4 , a alloy post will not check , twist , or warp . A PostMaster flanged brand post is designed to be trim out with dimensional lumber to achieve the look of upstanding Mrs. Henry Wood without the drawbacks . The metallic element spot death can be set into the priming coat , preserve the wood component part out of physical contact with the territory . This prevents decay that bowdlerise the lifespan of most wooden fence .
With homes close to property lines, privacy is a top priority
Taller sections of fence separate the outdoor seating and dining areas from the neighbour ’s garden . In this advancement exposure , the steel Emily Post have been set and the wood facing will presently be installed . When complete , the fencing will quietly bind into the backgrounds of these stylistically various outer space without attract too much attention .
Alternating boards block views, but not light
When the Dominicus hit the fencing at a sealed angle , it almost appear to glow from within . Planting bed of various depth abide by the fence line , produce another layer of cover and interestingness . The fence provide ideal trellis supporting for espaliered trees , which are grown inside the garden ( top picture , face pageboy ) and on the outside of the fence .
Kristin Caldwell is a garden designer establish in the East Bay residential district of Moraga , California .
Photos , except where noted : Jude Parkinson - Morgan
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Water-wise plantings can still look lush.Supplemental water is provided to a few thirstier favorites through drip irrigation, but most of the plants in this landscape are adapted to tolerate dry conditions. The colors and textures are rich and varied, a pleasing departure from the typical suburban landscape.
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Illustration: Elara Tanguy
Plants provide privacy around the front door.A concrete raised bed defines the edge of a generous entry landing, which is sheltered by a shade structure. Clear visual cues guide visitors to the home’s main entrance, even though it is hidden from the street.
Dense hedging separates the front garden from the busy street.Carolina cherry laurel backed with welded wire fencing has a soft look, but still feels secure. Along the side and back property boundaries, a custom-designed hardwood fence is a pleasing backdrop to the plantings. The fencing was designed to look good from both sides without being an overly dominant visual element.
Visual boundaries make any space feel more organized.Translucent panels (left side of photo) divide the garden rooms, designed for entertaining, from the raised-bed vegetable garden behind the garage. The taller fence sections in this area ensure that sight lines to the neighboring house are obscured, including the view from the back windows and from the walkway that connects the back doors of the garage and house to the garden.
A wooden walkway facilitates a smooth transition. The back door of the home is one step higher than that of the garage, but traffic flows smoothly from indoors to out via a narrow Ipe deck (right side of photo). Comfortable furniture makes this the perfect spot to unwind at the end of a long day.
Hardscaping holds the whole space together.The custom-built concrete planters and firepit retain impressions of the boards used to form them, echoing the horizontal lines of the fencing. Cut bluestone pavers give the back garden a unified, contemporary look that is compatible with the more casual flagstones that flow through the front and side yards.
Evening is often the best time to be outside.With soft lighting and the musical sound of a fountain to mask noise from the street, dinner on the patio feels like a special event.
Espalier maximizes available space beautifully.Several trees trained flat against fences and trellises adorn the garden’s outside edges with seasonal displays of flowers, fruit, and foliage. ‘Fuyu’ persimmon (Diospyros kaki‘Fuyu’ Zones 7–10, above) has a spectacular fall color.Photo: Kristin Caldwell
Small details make a big difference.A narrow passageway lined with low-growing plants links the front and back garden. Panels built to conceal mechanical equipment playfully echo the horizontal patterns of the fencing and gate.
Illustration: Kristin Caldwell
Illustration: Kristin Caldwell
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