Any landscape architects here?

[PhineasJWhoopee]

I ripped out the old shrubs and plan on re-landscaping.

Any suggestions on a landscape design taking into account we're in a zone 3 climate?

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_x8zH6g6tPFc/TGCLd6_DCMI/AAAAAAAAAGw/Mwd-0lhH9VQ/s1600/IMG_0070.JPG

 

[IronWing]

A couple limestone/dolomite boulders on each side. Don't go cheap, get multi-ton, 8x10x 2-3h, surface select rocks with the layering showing and oriented horizontally so they look like miniature outcrops. Mulch and low shrubs and ground cover so you won't have anything to mow. In your climate, ferns and other native plants should move in on their own. Echinacea and blacket flowers might work.

 

[moshquerade]

sidenote: love the color of your front door. excellent choice.

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

sidenote: love the color of your front door. excellent choice.

Thanks! We wanted a splash of color to offset the browns. We really wrestled with the color scheme given the odd color of the bricks. I'm not sure we completely got it right, but we did the best we could.

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

A couple limestone/dolomite boulders on each side. Don't go cheap, get multi-ton, 8x10x 2-3h, surface select rocks with the layering showing and oriented horizontally so they look like miniature outcrops. Mulch and low shrubs and ground cover so you won't have anything to mow. In your climate, ferns and other native plants should move in on their own. Echinacea and blacket flowers might work.

Hadn't thought about adding boulders but that's a cool idea.

I bought a couple turn of the century cast iron lamp posts I'm going to install too.

 

[Nik]

sidenote: love the color of your front door. excellent choice.

Didn't the Halloween movies feature a house with a red door?

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

Didn't the Halloween movies feature a house with a red door?

Nice sig. Whoever said that must be a genius.

 

[Nik]

Nice sig. Whoever said that must be a genius.

Yeah, dumb people can quote Einstein and look smart. Other people already know that person is a dumbass from evidence collected from said person. Doesn't make them smart!

In this case, the quote is ironic because that person is irrational. And a dumbass.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2101524

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

Yeah, dumb people can quote Einstein and look smart. Other people already know that person is a dumbass from evidence collected from said person. Doesn't make them smart!

In this case, the quote is ironic because that person is irrational. And a dumbass.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2101524

Except this thread is about landscape architecture.

 

[Nik]

Except this thread is about landscape architecture.

Yeah, I guess you shouldn't have started shit then eh? Don't ask for it and then be bitter about getting what you asked for. I have no problem taking your troll bait. This is called cause and effect.

Kinda like how you asked for proof (cause) and we gave it to you (effect). We kinda expected that by giving you the info you asked for (cause) that you would actually read it (effect) but you aren't interested in truth and your original request was bogus.

 

[zerocool84]

You east coast people and your basements/siding.

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

You east coast people and your basements/siding.

I'm in the upper mid-west, but probably similar to the NE.

 

[darkswordsman17]

What will god think of your lack of faith in her design of your landscape?

 

[iGas]

Rock/s and gavels would add to the landscape, so as mound flower beds with ground cover plants and wood chips/mulch. The place to start are inexpensive landscaping/gardening magazines & books that you can purchase in book stores or grocery stores that give you a variety of design from high to low maintenance gardens & water/sun conditions.

IMHO, it is best to check out the upscale neighborhood in your area as to what work and what not, because plants depend on soil condition (high/low ph, sandy/rocky/loam/clay) as well as rain fall & temperature.

PS. Late summer/early fall is the best time to start landscaping.

[add] What caused the discolouration on the lower bricks in front of the house?

 

[ElFenix]

no gutters so i would keep a gravel bed along the house. it'll keep the rainwater from washing out your new garden.

 

[Nik]

no gutters so i would keep a gravel bed along the house. it'll keep the rainwater from washing out your new garden.

Yes, however gutters also prevent foundation erosion.

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

Rock/s and gavels would add to the landscape, so as mound flower beds with ground cover plants and wood chips/mulch. The place to start are inexpensive landscaping/gardening magazines & books that you can purchase in book stores or grocery stores that give you a variety of design from high to low maintenance gardens & water/sun conditions.

IMHO, it is best to check out the upscale neighborhood in your area as to what work and what not, because plants depend on soil condition (high/low ph, sandy/rocky/loam/clay) as well as rain fall & temperature.

PS. Late summer/early fall is the best time to start landscaping.

[add] What caused the discolouration on the lower bricks in front of the house?

I think the discoloration is from soild splashing up o nthe bricks. We tried cleaning them without success.

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

no gutters so i would keep a gravel bed along the house. it'll keep the rainwater from washing out your new garden.

Suprisingly, gutters aren't very common here. Maybe because the soil is really sandy?

We're planning on installing gutters this fall.

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

Gutters are going in - 1/2 way done. Using bronze color to match the trim. It really looks sharp in addition to the functional benefit.

Still hoping to get the landscaping done before winter.