Tidying up Teaneck
APLNJ - landscape design and build in bergen county
This small backyard in Teaneck NJ was quite unruly, overgrown, and old when we arrived. The existing plants were planted with no rhyme or reason. None had been properly pruned or trimmed and years, some had dead branches throughout the interior growth, and some were plain dead. Being relatively small, full sun on all the beds and each bed basically a rectangle along the property line and fence; this design was simple. One of the homeowner’s major concerns was the view of the abandoned house next door. The other concern was to soften the tall fence surrounding the yard. Easily done
We planted a small flowering Plum tree. also known as cherry plum or myrobalan plum, (Prunus cerasifera) a small to medium-sized ornamental tree native to Asia. Purple-leaved cultivars, such as the popular Thundercloud, are more common in the home landscape than the parent species, which has green leaves. Thundercloud grows to a height of about 20 feet, with a rounded habit, deep purple leaves and delicately fragrant pink blossoms. which would grow quickly to screen the dilapidated house. Within a very short time the house would soon disappear.
The fence made a great backdrop for Pink drift roses and other quick growing small shrubs, of which we chose “anthony waterer” spirea with flat-topped heads of rosy-pink flowers covering this low spreading shrub. Attractive new growth in spring is reddish purple. This more compact form requires little pruning to maintain a neat size, making it ideal in the foreground of shrub borders.
Boxwood and gold cypress provide both color and texture year round and are spaced symetrically throughout the beds. We finished up with a selection of various hostas, which can actually tolerate a fair amount of sun and some can withstand hours of direct sunlight. You just have to plant the right variety of hosta to succeed. Their lush leaf growth and spires of blooms in the mid-summer are complemented with the bright colored annuals which add the finishing touch to this small but interesting yard.
By mid-June new plant growth; which will flourish within the soil that was amended with both fertilizer and organic compost, will begin to fill in both height wise and width wise creating gorgeous full sun beds full of a diverse selection of blossoms and the seasonal color of annuals, making the rear deck more enjoyable, relaxing, and inviting to guests and family.
