need some Ideas for this Simple Brick House

[jasonlandscape]

i just want to get a few opinions and ideas on the landscape for this house...its a very simple brick house, its a big house but just simple. money is no issue so any ideas are great.

also i want to put mulch down...what do u think
Dyed brown cypress mulch or
Red Oak mulch...not dyed red, but Red Oak

i kinda like the idea of some plum yew...for an evergreen type of feel.

heres a few pics i have more close ups if needed.

[B. L. Landscaping]

I would start by redoing the walk its very uneven and there is not a good landing at the bottom of the stairs.

[PearsonExteriors]

Mulch-Obvious choice is hardwood mulch. You need deep brown color to match the shutters on windows. Red is not going to compliment well with a red house.

I cant figure out where the street is in relation to the house. I assume it is at the end of a court or something...?

If money is not an issue there are a lot of things you can do.


1. Obviously the first thing you need is a foundation planting.
a good choices for shrubs may be:
compact japanese holly ilex cenata 'compacta'
(color will compliment the brick color very well, easy to care for)
I would put a dwarf alberta spruce picea glauca conicaafter the
second window from the drive to separate the two areas.
I would put a baby blue eyes spruce picea pungens 'baby blue eyes'[/I]
next to the driveway.
Secondary foundation planting could be a mix of 2 different height spirea ie little priness and magic carpet
Maybe some grasses behind the compact Japanese holly on the other side to add height 3ft.
a globe blue spruce would balance the color from the other end if put at the end of the sidewalk.
2. From there add perennials on both sides of sidewalk extend the bed from around the tree all the way across.

3. add a soldier course of brick around the sidewalk and driveway (pavers)

4. sell them an irrigation system, lighting, and drain tile.

5. annuals and planter boxes under the windows.

5. maybe around that tree in the front keep chocolate chip bugle weed in mind, the leaf color will match the shutters, as a border or ground cover.

6. trellis over beginning of sidewalk, a nice custom one. Match the trim on the trellis to the trim on the house

Well that's all I can think of in less than 10 minutes. Here is a sample 2 minute plan on what I am thinking.

[PearsonExteriors]

if money really has no limits then try to put as many perennials as possible. look for high profit margin high dollar plants. Really give it a great custom look, and don't pick any plants that are already in the neighborhood. Looks like they have a walkout basement in the back?...deck, patio, hot tub, water feature. Natural stone border on beds.

If they really want to spend money on it, be creative and find ways to make them happy, make it unique, and make it high dollar. You can probably put $50000 into the front and back and not think twice about it if that's the case.


here is another cartoon like drawing to get what I am thinking across.

[E LAND, Inc.]

JasonLandscape, you have a great opportunity here. Yes, it may be
a plain-simple home, but its very nice. This could bring you alot of business
if you do it up right. First of all dont worry about the small stuff right now.
Mulch is one of the last things you do. You need to concentrate more on
a good design right now. Any landscaper can throw something in with an
open budget from the client, but dont waste your time or your clients
time if you dont have a good design. Im not trying to be an a$$, just
stating a fact and I want to see you do a good job on this project so
you can advertise it to bring you more business. Gonna start out by
saying I agree with my buddy BL Landscaping, if their budget really has
no limit, you need to think about ripping out the existing walk and start
fresh. Maybe a new brick walk, bluestone, flagstone. I would make it a little
more inviting by bringing a new walk further down the driveway instead of
being so cramped by the corner of garage. Also, agree with BL need a bigger
landing off of the stoop (staircase). So maybe go back to your client, start
picking their brains and see what they say. If they like the idea, start desiging
your hardscapes first then work into your bed lines and plant material and
last but not least that mulch you cant wait to spread. Please, feel free to
ask any other questions.

[E LAND, Inc.]

Ok, it just came to my attention. Looks like theres some kind of
Pine or tree by the sidewalk? Looks like the roots are heeving the sidewalk
a little bit? This tree may effect your design a little bit, but still you need
to get as much info as possible from you clients. See what there
likes and dislikes are if you haven't already. Good luck!

[dave k]

Don't forget to use landscape lighting, the dormers would look real nice lite up with some 10 watt MR 16's and path lighting and accent lighting also tear out the path and re do.

[jasonlandscape]

Hey thanx for the ideas

I have actually cme up with some of my own maybe yall can say yes or no.
BTW this is in GA so zone 6 or somethin

A crape next to the driveway
japaneese maple, maybe red dragon color in the second corner from the driveway
anise shrubs under the windows
feather reed grass on either sides of the stairs
annual beds near bottom of stairs
mondo grass around crape and maple
maybe some decrotive rock around maple

thats just some basics
if anyone can add or subtract from that please let me know

also if anyone would like to draw this up real quick on some program please feel free, i'd love to see it.
i think i'm gonna be getting some software soon

[PearsonExteriors]

watch the stone around the maple...don't want a bunch of heat hitting it.

[Lite4]

Call Matt with firefly lighting (no affiliation with me), he is in your area. He could make that place look amazing. He will take the lighting to a level beyond others and make your work really stand out in the neighborhood. Don't ruin the house with a few dormer lights and some path lights, that would just look amateurish. Let a lighting designer put it together for you.