Help design layout
 

Help , I am trying to place some plants which will eventually hide some
neighboring sheds etc.

I have several plants dug up and am frustrated trying to get them placed and
looking good. I would appreciate any suggestions on how to arrange my plants
or any site to view designs.

My back yard is pie shaped,

the back area is 20 feet across with corner on each end.

One corner the sun comes in most of the day the other corner gets sun half
day then shade from neighbors maple trees.

I want to plant across the 20 foot area and up each side.

The plants I have ready to use a

Gnom Juniper

Wichita Blue Juniper

Hicks yew (not pyramidal)

Green/White Dogwood

Green/White weigela

Green/White euonymus

Smock Orange

Green spirea

Golden spirea

Different type of hostas.

Any other plants suggested to use I may have else where in my yard which I
do not mind moving.

I am just no good at garden design and help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Help design layout
 

Uh... pies don't have corners. I'm assuming the back of the area
is curved, as in an arc.

question #2 - How many plants of each type do you have... one
?? Two ??? Many ????

Where is your focal point ?? Again... assuming your yard is in
the shape of a pie slice (wedge)... your focal point would be at the
center tip of the yard. BUT if you have drive or street access
the focal point changes.

What is the depth of the area to be planted??? Soil type...ph...
zone, rain ??? Amount of time that owner is willing to spend on
maintaining the yard ???

To answer your question :

Landscaping takes many factors into consideration. Think of it as
decorating with plants. As in decorating, many variable come into
place. rec. gardens is informative but you haven't provided a lot
of information to go on.

My suggestions in order of appearance are..

1- Take the time to learn about landscape design. Curves,
plant height, period of best appearance.. Take a sheet of paper
and list out possible designs, based upon what the trees / shrubs
will look like. Define what your purpose is in doing the
landscape.. For you, is it really functional privacy... in which
case a row of "Emerald Green" aborvitae, "Leyland Cypress",
or a fence would be equally functional depending upon where you live.

Or it sounds as if you want something attractive from your focal point
also. Which requires a different group of plants.

Ask the local garden club if they will help. Some local garden clubs
will be eager to take on projects like the one above (in exchange for
a reasonable amount of donation)....to gain expertise in landscaping.


2- Hire a landscape architect. You're paying for education,
knowledge and experience.


I would take option #2. Here's why... I own a fairly large
house. Being a single male, interior decorating was not my forte.
I did the usual things of visiting home design centers who are all
interested in selling THEIR products. After a few years of effort
the house was not decorated...looked okay, but not great.

So I hired an interior decorator... who started off with the basics,
and using her knowledge, and expertise, had the house looking
like a showcase (took about 6 months)....better yet, it fit my
personal style completely. I did all the grunt work, painting,
sanding, laying tile, pulling out walls, buying furniture, putting
up paintings and artwork, getting sculptures. She provided
the guidance.... (sound familiar...ask any married man).

When you don't know what you're doing, hiring a professional
to provide advice is the best way to go. In the long run it
saves time and $$$. And you get what you want.

In your case, the landscape architect will fill out the basic
design, and you can do the grunt work, or hire labor to
do it for you. Local landscapers here charge about $ 35. per
hour for grunt work. You can save enough here to afford the
architect.


On Tue, 22 Jul 2003 22:56:12 -0300, "Magen" wrote:

Help , I am trying to place some plants which will eventually hide some
neighboring sheds etc.

I have several plants dug up and am frustrated trying to get them placed and
looking good. I would appreciate any suggestions on how to arrange my plants
or any site to view designs.

My back yard is pie shaped,

the back area is 20 feet across with corner on each end.

One corner the sun comes in most of the day the other corner gets sun half
day then shade from neighbors maple trees.

I want to plant across the 20 foot area and up each side.

The plants I have ready to use a

Gnom Juniper

Wichita Blue Juniper

Hicks yew (not pyramidal)

Green/White Dogwood

Green/White weigela

Green/White euonymus

Smock Orange

Green spirea

Golden spirea

Different type of hostas.

Any other plants suggested to use I may have else where in my yard which I
do not mind moving.

I am just no good at garden design and help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Help design layout
 

Thanks for the advice, I don't know what I was thinking, just became a bit
over whelmed with my project and could not see the "forest for the trees".
Your advice put me back on track, I called a great landscaper who helped me
design my front yard 2 years ago.
With some quick advice and design from him I was back on track planting. The
back yard is now starting to look better.
My back yard is pie shaped with the point of the pie cut off giving me 2
back corners, going from aprox 60 feet wide narrowing down to aprox 20 feet
wide.
Again Thanks for the great advice.

Peter wrote in message ...
Uh... pies don't have corners. I'm assuming the back of the area
is curved, as in an arc.

question #2 - How many plants of each type do you have... one
?? Two ??? Many ????

Where is your focal point ?? Again... assuming your yard is in
the shape of a pie slice (wedge)... your focal point would be at the
center tip of the yard. BUT if you have drive or street access
the focal point changes.

What is the depth of the area to be planted??? Soil type...ph...
zone, rain ??? Amount of time that owner is willing to spend on
maintaining the yard ???

To answer your question :

Landscaping takes many factors into consideration. Think of it as
decorating with plants. As in decorating, many variable come into
place. rec. gardens is informative but you haven't provided a lot
of information to go on.

My suggestions in order of appearance are..

1- Take the time to learn about landscape design. Curves,
plant height, period of best appearance.. Take a sheet of paper
and list out possible designs, based upon what the trees / shrubs
will look like. Define what your purpose is in doing the
landscape.. For you, is it really functional privacy... in which
case a row of "Emerald Green" aborvitae, "Leyland Cypress",
or a fence would be equally functional depending upon where you live.

Or it sounds as if you want something attractive from your focal point
also. Which requires a different group of plants.

Ask the local garden club if they will help. Some local garden clubs
will be eager to take on projects like the one above (in exchange for
a reasonable amount of donation)....to gain expertise in landscaping.


2- Hire a landscape architect. You're paying for education,
knowledge and experience.


I would take option #2. Here's why... I own a fairly large
house. Being a single male, interior decorating was not my forte.
I did the usual things of visiting home design centers who are all
interested in selling THEIR products. After a few years of effort
the house was not decorated...looked okay, but not great.

So I hired an interior decorator... who started off with the basics,
and using her knowledge, and expertise, had the house looking
like a showcase (took about 6 months)....better yet, it fit my
personal style completely. I did all the grunt work, painting,
sanding, laying tile, pulling out walls, buying furniture, putting
up paintings and artwork, getting sculptures. She provided
the guidance.... (sound familiar...ask any married man).

When you don't know what you're doing, hiring a professional
to provide advice is the best way to go. In the long run it
saves time and $$$. And you get what you want.

In your case, the landscape architect will fill out the basic
design, and you can do the grunt work, or hire labor to
do it for you. Local landscapers here charge about $ 35. per
hour for grunt work. You can save enough here to afford the
architect.


On Tue, 22 Jul 2003 22:56:12 -0300, "Magen" wrote:

Help , I am trying to place some plants which will eventually hide some
neighboring sheds etc.

I have several plants dug up and am frustrated trying to get them placed
and
looking good. I would appreciate any suggestions on how to arrange my
plants
or any site to view designs.

My back yard is pie shaped,

the back area is 20 feet across with corner on each end.

One corner the sun comes in most of the day the other corner gets sun
half
day then shade from neighbors maple trees.

I want to plant across the 20 foot area and up each side.

The plants I have ready to use a

Gnom Juniper

Wichita Blue Juniper

Hicks yew (not pyramidal)

Green/White Dogwood

Green/White weigela

Green/White euonymus

Smock Orange

Green spirea

Golden spirea

Different type of hostas.

Any other plants suggested to use I may have else where in my yard which
I
do not mind moving.

I am just no good at garden design and help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,