Another Zero Lot Line Home

This week we have another zero lot line yard with its own unique set of challenges. There is about 5 feet that separate this home from its neighbor. This will limit light as well as the type and sizes of plant material that can be used.

In the back yard, the homeowner wanted an all weather path from the patio to the back gate, something interesting to look at from her breakfast area window, and she wanted the a/c compressor moved away from the grill. The front yard faced North, so there will be some light issues to address, and the Asian Jasmine ground cover had to go. Again, we were looking for some visual interest in the walk-up to the front door.

To enhance the front we planted some 'Autumn Rouge' Encore Azaleas, Moon Bay Nandina, Dwarf Japanese Maple, and Spreading Plum Yew. With the back yard, PaveStone was used to construct the patio and walkway and we selected a Windmill Palm in front of the breakfast area window with Spreading Plum Yew underneath. Along the path, Supergreen Liriope, Nana Nandina, and Cross Vine help to soften the neighbors wall. A Savanna Holly tree form in the back will soften the view of the alley.

Landscape Renovation

This landscape renovation project began after a major deck remodel. The construction process severely damaged the existing landscape and irrigation system, and without water, last years drought finished what was left. We set out to keep the groundcover and original bed shape. The beds were extended on the east side, but the remaining landscape beds were left in their original form.

The idea was to keep the existing Asian Jasmine and plant widely spaced shrub groups along the deck. The central bed was larger and more open, so we created patterned shrub groups to fill the space. Once spring arrives, the thin patches in the ground cover will fill in.

We selected low maintenance shrubs for partial sun like Variegated Pittosporum, Holly Fern, Japanese Cleyera, Dwarf Yaupon Holly and Red Japanese Maple.

The wind was blowing, but we are still working!

Yesterday began as a mild 66 degree morning, but quickly turned into a blustery day. North winds reached gust over 50 miles per hour, but the crew kept on working. The schedule is quickly filling up and we need to stay on schedule.

This customer was so happy with the side yard we completed earlier in the month, they wanted their front yard revamped. They also were able to take advantage of a special January Coupon on both projects that saved the homeowner a total of $1000.00.

A Zero Lot Line

A zero lot line yard has its own set of challenges. Proper drainage is the first thing to consider, because we do not want to push storm water into the customers or neighbors home.

The next item to consider is how a person is to move through the space. A path of some sort needs to be devised. Creating a path that moves right to left or left to right creates deeper individual planting spaces and gives the illusion of a wider and shorter space. The existing trees in this yard were fortunately in a position that allowed some movement of the path.

The remaining spaces are then planted with triangulated groups of dwarf, slow growing shrubs suitable for the growing conditions. Contrasting color and texture is key to the plant selection. I try to keep things simple and not shoehorn shrubs in these small areas, only to have them outgrow the space in a short period of time.

We installed this project this week even though it was a little cool. The greater number of day before summer the better. Generally, the winter poses very few threats to a newly planted landscape, but a landscape is always at risk in the summer if there is a lack of water. So, if you are ready for your landscape project there is no sense in waiting for spring!