Landscaping Opinions Sought

[Red4re]

Just looking for opinions on the following:

How does the job look (i.e. workmanship, plantings, materials, colors)?

What can be my next steps (waterscape, nothing, more flowers/plants)?



Thanks and looking forward to feedback and/or suggestions.

Regards,

[Mykster]

Next step would be to post the pictures you're wanting opinions and suggestions for.

[Red4re]

Looking for feedback. Such as:

Overall plant & material selection
Future look (will have gaps, will fill in nice, etc)
Additions (water feature, more plants, arbor, trellis, etc)
Do I need more plants?

I am in Zone 5 just North of NYC (about 65 miles). This is my 1rst design and partial install. Looking to do more. Please let me have your feedback.

Red4re

Mike: Thanks for the reply. I had pics that were too big and didn't attach. Hope I fixed that now. Thanks again.

[Red4re]

Here's another pic. Hope it gives another perspective..

[Red4re]

OK. I'm getting better as we go here. Another pic. 2 of 5

[Red4re]

Three of five and hope you're getting a good look at the overall job. It goes around a patio and up the side of the house.

[Red4re]

Not sure if the mechanics of this site are too clear. But it seems to be working.

[Red4re]

Almost finished. One more after this. That should be a good idea of what I was trying to do.

[Red4re]

OK. Last one for here. Hope this completes the picture. Your comments will be appreciated, though not paid for. Please remember I'm an amateur....very!

[mexiking]

I would put another Tree in the middle of that bed... For some shade in the patio... Other stuff looks good

[landproscapes]

bed lines look real nice. Raised paver patio looks good. The planting scheme and design is awful. I dont understand the white areas in the mulch.

[mexiking]

Yeah I just saw those white parts too,, I don't like them either

[Red4re]

Thanks for the feedback Mexiking. I am hoping that future growth of the Donald Wyman Lilacs in front at the patio stairs and the Weeping Cherry to the side will provide future shade over the patio area. But you're right, I may need a better shade tree in the middle.

Thanks for the reply.

Red4re

[kbenvironmental]

Land
It could have been said with a little more tact. I am not a fan of the white stone peanut shapes either but being he is new at this I think we need to temper how we critique him.


land:
I liked the buffer zone you created between the lawn and deck and also like the deck dimensions. Good use of freeform to soften the squareness on the corners of the house.

What effect/look were you going for with plant selection? A good eye sees functional balance and scale in design and planting. In the future, I would use a more natural look for rock peanuts. Try using flat boulders (300 to 600lbs) set off with rip-rap for a more complex texture. Remember to bury 30% of the boulder for a natual look. It is really dramatic with accent lighting and has a rough but easily maintained look.

[landproscapes]

Keep telling him its great. He is sure to get better real fast.(Please) I am also wondering where the steps from the patio go. I dont see a walkway or a way out of the bed area. Maybe Im wrong. Red4re I mean no offense just have to break you in hard. Your business will thank me later.

[landproscapes]

Red4re , Donald Wyman is a Crabapple not a lilac.

[landproscapes]

I stand corrected I just remembered there was a lilac as well under that name. Just wanted to make sure you didnt get a 25' tree where you wanted an 8' shrub

[Red4re]

Land & KB: Appreciate the feedback. It seems everyone has an issue with the "mulch" bed material selection on here. It is actually two colors of stone and no mulch used at all. I had some reservations about the "2-tone" as well. In "real life" it looks very classy (personal & neighborhood popular opinion). The white stone looks much better live so the pics may not be doing it justice. It does bring the eye to certain plantings and the contrast it provides with some of the foliage on the plants makes it very effective. On the other hand hand, it is "busy" and not enjoyed by everyone as I can tell.

The stairs are flanked by the Lilacs and the sand cherries and the yuccas. The finishing touch will include a "walk" embedded in the stones.

The plant selection was basically made to ensure future growth would provide privacy by creating a background at the edge of the bed with smaller plants within the bed to be viewed from the patio out. Hope I hit the mark.

Land & KB: Thanks for the comments and critique.

KB: What is "rip-rap"?

Thanks,
Red4re

[Red4re]

One more thing. The plantings up the side of the house are mainly for cover of the AC unit & electrical services boxes on that side of the house. As well, the side is very tall to a peak with zero windows and looks like a huge blank wall of light sage. I figured the Purple Leaf Plum right in the middle would contrast well with the color and bring that side of the house down. The Andromeda's flanking the Plum will provide cover for the AC Unit when grown and stay green all year. The Weeping Forsythia's will provide cover of the electrical boxes at the end.

Thanks again.
Red4re

[kbenvironmental]

Red:

it is 5" to 9" subterranian rock so it is rough unlike river rock. It is used out here for faux creeks and erosion control. We have a lot of clay based soil so when we do finally get the 2" or 3" of annual rainfall, the creeks run and wash away anything smaller.


http://www.worldwidegarage.com/userpics/10131/P3290023.JPG