Landscaping Tips for an Irregularly Shaped Lot
Landscaping an irregularly shaped lot can be frustrating for most people, but it doesn’t have to be. Its uniqueness is what makes it stand out and offers many more design options. As with any project, you need to consider what type of landscape you are looking for. Possibilities range from low-maintenance perennials to tropical plants. Selecting the type of plants you will use is very important.
As we all know, purchasing plants is expensive and it is in your best interest to keep your purchase receipts for your plants, especially from major retailers. They provide replacements within a year of purchase if the plant is unsuccessful. A good mix of plant types is 5% annuals, 15% tropicals, 30% perennials, and 50% evergreens. The reason for this percentage breakdown is that annuals will only survive one year. Although some tropical plants should be kept in a greenhouse over the winter, many will return in the spring, provided they have some protection from wind chill and are properly mulched. Perennials are very hardy and will come back every year. Then there are the evergreens that provide color throughout the year.
Depending on the direction you face the doorway, you need to consider what type of shade protection you’ll need and whether you’ll be getting morning light from the east or the hottest part of the day from the west. Thus, it is advisable to plant trees in these areas. Things to consider when selecting a tree are: growth potential, longevity, and root invasiveness. Note what underground utilities are within the root growth area, such as water and sewer lines. If your property already has established trees in the path of your lines, it’s best to remove them. It will be much more expensive to repair those lines on an ongoing basis as the tree roots will continue to expand.
If your property has gradual or steep degradation, you can minimize soil erosion by leveling your yard at various levels. This can be done by building retaining walls or as simple as planting evergreen shrubs in strategic areas. An example of this is my pie-shaped property that sits alongside a river. I placed 80 pound bags of cement in the back of the property to minimize soil erosion. I simply stacked the crisscross bags up to 4 feet high and then thinned them out. This method is very viable and the least expensive.
For properties with a lot of traffic noise, I recommend planting Wax Leaf Privet shrubs which are evergreen and will grow up to 10 feet. Although there are several types of Privets, the wax leaf has deep green leaves and is very easy to work with. Other plants that can be included are Red Leaf Photinia, which can be kept as a shrub or trained as trees that reach 20 feet. Depending on the area you live in and possible restrictions from homeowners association guidelines, installation of an 8-foot treated wood fence is recommended. This height serves several purposes. Create discovery of potential property thefts and the privacy you deserve. A fence this tall will also protect your plants in the winter from wind chill and keep your backyard at least 10 degrees cooler in the summer by minimizing water evaporation. In addition, by landscaping the paths, it attracts birds that help create a tropical environment.
On my pie-shaped lot, I planted green ash trees on the north side that provided protection from rain storms that usually come from the northwest. To the south, I planted evergreen shrubs to protect myself from the constant southerly wind. For color, I have numerous different colored Crepe Myrtle trees that reach 30 feet at this point. They provide an abundance of color visible from a great distance. Since most people do not spend the day in the front garden to enjoy themselves, it is in your best interest to have a small front garden. It’s true that the front yard is judged by prospective homebuyers and you need to keep it in good shape, however, the landscaping emphasis should be on the back.
With all the work that goes into creating a landscape worth coming home to every day, you can add a touch of class to your garden by building pergolas and gazebos. On my property I built a 16 foot radius gazebo, 4 feet off the ground, in the corner of the lot. This strategic location provides an overview of the courtyard and draws you in for morning coffee or weekend cookouts. As a landscape enthusiast, my knowledge-based website provides landscape design ideas.
