The right side of the property had mature deciduous trees that while lovely, were casting heavy shade on the lawn making it patchy and hard to grow. Worse yet, invasive and fast-growing goutweed from neighboring properties had all but taken over the yard.

The client wanted a hedge along the front of the property and dogwood shrubs had been chosen some years earlier. They were not the ideal choice for this location for a number of reasons; their mature size was too large which resulted in heavy pruning to keep the sidewalk passable. Over time, they had become misshapen and unattractive.

A mid-century courtyard design with repeated geometric lines is the perfect complement to this lovely home. The design incorporates easy to maintain raised beds and crushed Nova Scotia granite pathways.

An evergreen hedge replaced the dogwood shrubs. Glossy, fine foliaged boxwood is a much better choice for structure and year-round interest in this garden.

Behind the boxwood, a tightly planted row of mixed purple and white-bearded iris will form a perennial hedge. Contrasting vertical foliage and tall blooms add presence and strength to the foreground.

Patchy grass struggles in the full shade caused by the canopy of mature trees while invasive fast-growing goutweed from neighboring properties has proven impossible to contain.

Standing at the back of the garden and looking out to the street, the mature trees were lovely but a sunken flagstone path, poorly pruned shrubs and randomly planted hostas offered little ornamental value. The garden was tired and after numerous failed attempts at improvements, so was the homeowner.

The home’s mid-century features influenced the design of three large raised beds with clean geometric shapes.

The weed-filled lawn was removed, a barrier trench installed along the property line, and crushed granite paths installed to resolve the goutweed issue. Along the property line, a two-level raised bed with an upper planting of rhododendron creates privacy and frames the garden.

Japanese forest grass along the edge of the bed will move in the wind and soften hardscape edges. Pink rhododendron bloom will brighten shady corners while peony, ladies mantle, and repeated groups of iris will fill in for a lush planting over time.

A mature privet hedge borders the far left corner while evergreen yew and rhododendrons create a lovely foundation planting.

The turf had been replaced on numerous occasions without success as evidenced in this image. A decision was made to remove the lawn and turn the entire front yard into a garden landscape that would suit the mid-century style of the home.

The front lawn was removed on both sides of the entrance. An oversized forsythia removed and the mature privet hedge and foundation evergreens pruned.

The evergreen hedge on the right garden was repeated across the entire front of the property for a strong structural element that frames the home.

Creme fraiche deutzia with lovely variegated foliage and three smaller variety forsythia shrubs add year-round presence and structure.

Repeated plantings of purple and white iris, fragrant white lavender, peony, and other flowering perennials will bring season-long blooms.

The left side of the property is largely shaded with some filtered light penetrating the canopy of mature trees planted along the city street.

A few years earlier, a hedge of 21 lilacs had been planted about 18 inches apart and set back a similar distance from the sidewalk. The shady location was preventing the shrubs from blooming while their mature size of 15’ tall and wide will overtime require frequent pruning to keep the sidewalk passable by pedestrians.

The lawn area behind the lilacs was largely moss due to shade.

Always artful, Amy hand draws garden designs becoming more intimate with each garden which supports nursery shopping and the installation phase of each project.

The lilac hedge is removed in the new design and a flagstone path is created to direct foot traffic to the oil tank for filling. A chartreuse Japanese maple is sited between the house windows for the perfect view; the color choice is outstanding against the purple exterior cladding.

Shade tolerant, blooming evergreen and deciduous shrubs bring year-round structure and color.

The lilac hedge was a poor choice for a heavy shade garden. The lawn was patchy moss and in the absence of a focal point, the oil tank dominated the view.

Flagstone stepping stones were placed to direct foot traffic to the oil tank. Evergreen pieris japonica was planted in front of the tank and will form a low-maintenance and attractive screen with a 6 foot mature height. A perfectly placed maple will grow to about 15 feet in height; the chartreuse foliage is a dramatic contrast to the purple exterior of the home. Textured evergreens shrubs and colorful, contrasting season-long blooms will brighten the garden. Low maintenance plants will fill this garden over time; rhododendron, azalea, thread-leaf Chamaecyparis, two varieties of pieris and ornamental evergreens will delight the homeowner and neighbours alike.