Foundation Planting Before and After
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Many times, a garden is limited only by what we “think” a garden should be.
Most foundation plantings, for instance, follow the straight edges around the foundation.
But that is not some garden design rule written in stone. At Victoria Gardens, our philosophy is human-first design.
How will humans inhabit this space?
What will make the humans comfortable and happy?
As you can see from this before and after, a foundation planting can be an oasis that welcomes you into the backyard, an attractive path that leads you to the deck, an interesting view from your back window, and a way to encourage drainage away from your foundation.
Humans don’t usually walk in sharp right angles. Adding the curve to the garden bed is a much more natural and comfortable way to walk around the corner of the house.
Adding a tree at the edge of the garden will not only create precious summer shade for the lawn, but it also creates a lovely backdrop for looking down at the garden from the deck, it creates more visual interest looking out the windows from inside, and it also creates a visual layer as you walk around the house from front to back. You see the tree, then as you continue to walk around the tree, the rest of the garden is revealed. There is an element of surprise—you experience the garden differently as you walk through it.
To encourage drainage away from the house (and to cut back on maintenance) we used river stones as a mulch closest to the house. The stones are also neater because they prevent splatter when rain pours off the roof. And it creates a lovely layering of textures and visual interest.
The curved path that goes from the bottom of the stairs to the lawn will be stepping stones. It will encourage people to go ahead and walk off the deck barefoot along the human-friendly path.
Here’s what the client had to say:
Thanks so much. I love it. It came out so much better than I had ever imagined. Beautiful design done by such a talented and creative crew. They worked so hard continuously and are the nicest people possible. Never a complaint!
I’m blown away every time I look out the window!
Cheryl McNally
