Defensive Landscaping

In late April and early May, my mind is abuzz with gardening and landscaping plans. I research plants, dream up color schemes, make lists, haunt garden centers, and chart the hours of sunlight for my new garden—yep, I’m hardcore. In years past when I had a large suburban lot, my focus was on what to do with all that space.

One of our four large gardens in the suburbs
One of our four large gardens in the suburbs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that I live in the city and have a very small yard (intentionally), I focus on defensive landscaping—how to create something attractive to camouflage undesirable views, including those of my much closer neighbors’ yards.

  1. Create an inspiring view for my office window.
My current view
My current view

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What if I had a silver moon clematis growing on a trellis by the garage?
What if I had a silver moon clematis growing on a trellis by the garage?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Cover up my neighbor’s deteriorating garage.
Sigh
Sigh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe a columnar birch would camouflage the neighbor's garage.
Maybe a columnar birch would camouflage the neighbor’s garage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Add native grasses to screen the view of the alley.
John's new fence adds some privacy.
John’s new fence adds some privacy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What if we added clumps of feather reed grass along the fence like this?
What if we added clumps of feather reed grass along the fence like this?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In April everything seems possible. By August, it’s all over. But if this year’s plan doesn’t turn out as great I’m picturing, there’s always next year!

Comments

9 responses to “Defensive Landscaping”

  1. […] No doubt, future tourists leaning across the velvet rope blocking entrance to my office will say, “Ooooh, that’s where Ellen used to write! There’s the honey locust she used to look at while she wrote, and there’s the sad clematis on the too-big trellis—remember her blog about defensive landscaping?”  […]

  2. […] via Defensive Landscaping — WordSisters […]

  3. Eliza Waters Avatar

    Great ideas, Ellen. Wishing you the best of luck this planting season!

    1. Ellen Shriner Avatar

      Thanks! In April, I always am so optimistic and believe the plants will actually look like the pictures on the plant ID cards 😉

      1. Eliza Waters Avatar

        I know what you mean!

  4. bbachel Avatar

    Right now I’m worried that I’m the one with the yard spoiling my neighbor’s view so thanks for the inspiration.

    1. Ellen Shriner Avatar

      Nah, I’m sure that’s not true . . . unless your garage looks like my neighbor’s!

  5. Cynthia Kraack Avatar
    Cynthia Kraack

    All good thoughts, Ellen. Fun dreaming.

    1. Ellen Shriner Avatar

      You’ll have to see how it looks in a few months . . .

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