In the warm season we like to spend time on the terrace. To make it really an oasis of well-being, the stylish design and the successful choice of plants play a decisive role. We give you several ideas on how to plant your terrace and thus virtually integrate the seating area into the garden.
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Planting a patio: Ideas for design and privacy screens
Thoughtful design can make the garden a favorite retreat. Especially on the terrace the whole family likes to spend time. There they grill together, eat, receive friends and relatives. And on the cozy lounge group can be great to relax. So it’s worth investing a weekend and planting the area around the terrace. Below we explain step by step how to do it the fastest.
1. make a sketch of the garden, mark on it the terrace orientation and try to calculate the number of hours of sunshine per day in spring and summer. The best way to do this is to position a cell phone across from the patio on a sunny day and take a photo every 30 minutes. This is the quickest way to find out where the shaded areas are. Based on the garden sketch, patio orientation and hours of sunshine, you can decide on a garden style that suits you.
2.Depending on whether you have a large or small garden, you can decide on the appropriate number of plants and flower beds. Use a garden hose to mark the edge of the bed around the patio to get a better idea.
3. prepare the ground. If there is a lawn there, then you can use a tiller to remove the grass. You can borrow this equipment from most hardware stores and garden centers. Then you can use a spade to loosen the soil and fertilize it.
4. Then you can plant the individual plants in the flower bed. Leave a minimum distance of 30 cm between the plants. Finally, water the new plants.
From when to plant the terrace?
The right time to plant depends on the flowers, ground covers and perennials. The right time is usually after the Ice Saints, when there is no more permafrost and sub-zero temperatures at night.
Planting a raised terrace
A raised terrace is visually separated from the garden and therefore often looks uncomfortable. The right planting can create a seamless transition between the patio and garden, as well as provide the appropriate privacy screen for this area.
The planting plan and plants at a glance
If you want to plant your raised patio all around, the next planting plan . The plants look beautiful all year round. The rock pear forms bright white flowers in the spring, bears delicious edible fruit in the summer, and its leaves turn orange and red in the fall. The black birch provides sun and privacy protection, and its beautiful white bark is especially attractive in the winter months. The proper time for planting is in the spring. The following tips will help you extend the blooming season:
- Remove the yellow leaves from the iris.
- Cut off the wilted iris flowers in the spring.
- Cover the ground around black birch with mulch in winter.
Plant overview:
A. Black Birch
The black birch has an effective multi-stemmed habit. The tree reaches a maximum height of 20 feet and grows up to 15 feet wide. It thrives best in sunny locations and likes a loamy soil with a neutral pH.
B. Lily grape
Lily vine is a popular groundcover that produces small flowers in late summer.
C. Shrub Chestnut
The shrub chestnut grows up to 25 inches tall and does best in off-sun and shady locations. Therefore, it is perfect for shaded areas.
D. Iris
The iris forms beautiful white flowers in the spring. If you cut it off after it wilts, then it can bloom again in early fall.
E. Red coneflower
Red coneflower does best in full sun. Its large purple flowers add splashes of color to the garden from July through October. The flower grows to about 1 foot tall.
F. Ornamental Deutzia
The ornamental deutzia (still called mayflower shrub) forms large buds of bright white flowers in spring. In the fall, the plant attracts attention with its decorative foliage. Deutzia thrives best in sunny and off-sun places.
G. Prachtscharte
The magnificent card grows up to 70 cm high and attracts attention with its magenta flowers. The plant blooms throughout the summer.
H. Holly
Holly is a wintergreen shrub that thrives in the glorious summer sun as well as in partial shade.
I. Rock pear
The rock pear forms snow-white flowers in spring. Its fruits are edible. The tree feels especially well in partial shade and in off-sun locations.
J. Lily Funkia
The lily funkie is especially popular for its white flowers and beautiful leaves. The plant is perfect for locations in partial shade and shade.
Frame patio with plants: Create a kitchen garden with vegetables
If you want to frame your terrace with plants, then certainly do not think about a kitchen garden. Too bad really, because vegetables and fruit trees can be very decorative. The next planting plan does away with ornamental plants and instead showcases the useful plants to great effect.
A planting plan for a kitchen garden with vegetables and fruit trees
But why is it a great idea to plant useful plants around the patio? Vegetables and fruits not only taste delicious, but also add a natural touch to the garden. The next planting plan is designed to make the kitchen garden look as natural as possible:
- Blueberries add texture to the flower bed.
- Thyme can fill in gaps in shady locations (like under a tree).
- Leafy vegetables such as ornamental kale and Swiss chard can successfully replace other groundcovers.
- The pear tree of the “pine” variety not only bears delicious fruit, but is also considered a good luck charm in Eastern cultures.
The plants at a glance:
A. Blueberries: 4 plants
Blueberry is a shrub that bears edible blueberries in summer. In the fall, its foliage turns orange-red. The shrub grows up to 6 feet tall and is also suitable as a privacy screen.
B. Ornamental cabbage variety “Lacinato”: 8 plants.
Ornamental cabbage thrives best in full sun, but can be planted in off-sun locations under certain circumstances. The plant grows up to 1 foot tall and wide.
C. Pear tree “Kieffer”: 1 tree
Pear tree “Kieffer” bears its yellow fruits in autumn. It reaches a height of up to 5 meters and the tree crown grows up to 3 meters wide.
D. Thyme – 18 plants
Thyme is the perfect gap filler. The ground cover has a gentle fragrance and grows up to 20 inches tall.
E. Swiss chard: 8 plants
Swiss chard has a stem that turns yellow, red, orange or pink. The plant does best in full sun and grows up to 50 inches tall.
F. Leafy vegetables: possibly for planters
In addition to the other plants, you can plant a mix of different species and varieties of leafy vegetables in planters . Example of a mix: oak leaf lettuce, lamb’s lettuce, arugula, chicory, nettle, green salad.
G. Ornamental apple “Golden raindrops”: 1 tree.
Ornamental apple bears fruit in summer, grows up to 7 feet tall and 5 feet wide.
H. Steppe sage: 7 plants
The tumbleweed forms purple flowers, grows up to 60 cm tall and loves full sun.
I. Currants: 2 plants
The currant is a shrub that grows up to 2 meters high and bears red fruits in summer.
J. Wild berries: 17 plants
Wild berries are the perfect ground cover that can fill in the gaps between other plants. They bear fruit all summer long.
Terrace planting: A planting plan that provides privacy
When the windows of neighboring houses look directly onto the patio, privacy screening is an absolute must. However, especially in the allotment garden, often the area in front of the terrace has nothing to offer except a lawn. The next planting plan for replanting is perfect for terraces that need sun and privacy protection.
These are the plants and trees at a glance:
1. ornamental Japanese cherry
Japanese ornamental cherry provides privacy screen for the terrace. In spring it forms beautiful pink flowers, and in autumn its leaves turn golden yellow.
2. butterfly lilac
As its name suggests, butterfly bush attracts butterflies to the garden like no other plant. The color of the flower buds can vary – you can find white, pink, blue or purple flowering varieties in garden centers.
3. Japanese azalea
Japanese azalea is a beautiful flower that provides flowering splendor from spring. The perennial has a very interesting shape, with which it attracts attention even after the end of summer.
4. dwarf globe arborvitae “Danica”.
The dwarf globe arborvitae is an evergreen perennial that graces modern garden designs.
5. lavender
Lavender is an absolute classic not only in the Mediterranean garden. Meanwhile, it is hard to imagine the home garden without it.
6. funkie
Funkie is a ground cover that is popular because of its bicolored foliage.
7. lily of the valley
Lily of the valley is a very low-maintenance flower that is extremely long-lived. It grows quickly and magnificently in flower beds.
8. pine tree
Dwarf pine trees are perfect for the area around the patio. They can also provide additional privacy screening.
9. hedge yew “Taxus baccata”.
The hedge slice can be cut in various shapes and provides privacy and wind protection for the patio.
10. rhododendron
Admittedly: The rhododendron is not a low-maintenance plant. However, its flowers are so beautiful that it is definitely worth the effort.
11. spindle bush
The spindle bush is popular because of its yellow foliage. It is a ground cover and a climber at the same time, so it is perfect for the area around the pergola.
Border patio with plants: Tips for the rock garden
If you want to border your terrace with plants, but do not have much free time, then you can choose a rock garden. These plants are eligible:
1. mountain pine – 6 trees.
Mountain pine eundeutly plays the main role in this planting plan. It cuts a particularly good figure at the edge around the patio.
2. blue fescue – 4 plants
Blue fescue is the perfect combination partner in the rock garden.
3. alpine carnation – 20 plants
Alpine carnation is perfect for a carpet of flowers. Its dainty purple flowers go especially well with the blue geraniums.
4. geraniums – 6 plants
Plant the terrace all around
If you want to plant your terrace all around , but at the same time do not want to completely abandon a lawn, then the next planting plan is just for you. The main role is played by trees, which provide both shade and privacy. Tall shrubs perfectly surround the terrace and protect it from the wind. Flowers and low perennials together with several ground covers provide variety. Climbing plants effectively complete the ensemble. Thus, the home garden is a splendor of flowers in the summer months.
These plants are suitable
1.hawthorn “Paul’s Scarlet”.
2. cypress “Pendula
3. cup elbe “Hicksii
4. cup elder “Wojtek
5. rocket juniper “Blue arrow
6. sawara cypress “Filifera Aurea
7. finger bush “Abbotswood
8. blueberry “Diabolo
9. hedge barberry “Aurea
10. finger bush “Goldfinger
11. hedge barberry “Golden ring
12. canadian dogwood
13. hydrangea
14. golden rim sparkle “Aureomarginata