Ayscough Landscaping and deck
along the side of the house which is shaded all day - Plant an allée of trees. Similarly sized and shaped trees planted along a path or driveway can emphasize the mass of an area. Notice how these trees both pull the eye through the space and lift the eye toward the sky. To make a short path feel longer, consider planting trees of slightly decreasing size at closer intervals as they proceed toward the end of the run.
along the fence between neighbor's house?Trees When we think of plants and structure, trees immediately spring to mind. Very straight and narrow trees, such as this installation of European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’, USDA zones 4 to 8; find your zone), ‘Slender Silhouette’ sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’, zones 5 to 10) and ‘Tokyo Tower’ Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus ‘Tokyo Tower’, zones 6 to 9) can add height to a garden. These are particularly effective when used in small courtyards that adjoin taller structures, as they reinforce the lines and scale of the architecture.
Pollarded trees. Pollarding is a centuries-old technique that originated in Europe. It involves pruning a tree (originally to above livestock grazing height) when it is dormant so that it produces multiple new growths once the tree breaks dormancy. Correctly performed, pollarding keeps a tree within a manageable and predetermined scale. Here we see a sculptural allée of pollarded trees thoughtfully installed in a very contemporary space. The following trees are good candidates for pollarding: beeches (Fagus spp., zones 4 to 8, depending on species), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia, zones 3 to 9), lindens and limes (Tilia spp., zones 3 to 8, depending on species), and planes (Platanus spp., zones 4 to 9, depending on species).
How to use it. Thunderhead pine is useful when an evergreen year-round focal point is needed. Its smaller size makes it a perfect choice for urban gardens. It is traditionally used in Asian-themed gardens, like the one in this photo, because of its presence and the fact that it is easily pruned and shaped. The tree shown here is over 40 years old. Its sculptural quality makes this pine a perfect garden mate for boulders. To control its growth and keep its form compact, the tree may be “candled” in early summer. This means removing or shortening the new growths, or candles. Planting notes. Thunderhead pine is best planted in average, well-drained soil in a location where it receives more than half a day of sun — full sun is ideal. Water it well (1 inch of water per week) until it becomes well established
Botanical name: Pinus thunbergii ‘Thunderhead’ Common names: Thunderhead pine, Thunderhead Japanese black pine Origin: Japan Where it will grow: Hardy to -20 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA zones 5 to 10; find your zone) Light requirement: Full sun is ideal but will accept partial shade Water requirement: Average (1 inch of water per week) Mature size: Slow growing to 10 feet tall and up to 15 feet wide
Bring continuity through bed lines. Whether a garden is large or small, bed lines can make or break the aesthetic. Continuing bed lines from front yard to backyard is a great way to unify both spaces, even if they are separated by a fence. Notice how the serpentine bed lines in this large garden create a peaceful feeling and continuously pull the eye through the space, posing the question of what lies beyond
Botanical name: Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’ Common name: Blue atlas cedar Origin: The Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria Where it will grow: Hardy to -10 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA zones 6 to 9; find your zone) Water requirement: Average Light requirement: Full sun is preferred
sculptural trees - luv
Could we use these grass in the front yard?
Irish moss (Sagina subulata, zones 4 to 8) and Scotch moss (Sagina subulata 'Aurea'), along with Club moss (Selaginella kraussiana, zones 6 to 10), are not mosses at all. Selaginella is actually more closely related to ferns than to true moss
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