Habitat Island

This landscape feature was installed on a suburban home with a traditional landscape plan. The large front lawn left the house feeling isolated from its surroundings.

The planted bed helps to break up the large open area. It creates visual interest where there was none before. Incorporating plants of different mature heights fills the vertical space in sharp contrast to the 2 dimension look of mowed lawn. The flowering trees and shrubs provide attractive floral display throughout the spring and summer ending with an explosion of fall color. The native plants also provide abundant nectar when in flower to attract butterflies and fruits and berries during summer and fall for birds.

The planting also serves a functional purpose, helping to block the light from passing cars and a new development across the road. While providing some privacy.

Species include Pagoda dogwood, Serviceberry, Fringe tree, Summersweet, Sweetspire, St John'swwort. Native perennial flowers were used as well.

Before and after pictures show the large barren expanse of lawn broken up with properly sited landscape bed.

Plants that are less attractive to deer were used where possible and deer caging was installed around the flowering trees. this is necessary to protect from foragin deer until plants are well established.

this page posted Feruary 20, 2008