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Path and Plants

From "Weekend Landscaping"
episode WKL-213

Figure A

The entryway to the house has an ill-defined path for guests to follow when approaching the house. This is a mid-20th-century house whose architecture reflects clean lines and simple geometric forms. The path should match the style of the house, so concrete pavers with clean lines are chosen to direct foot traffic to the entryway (figure A).

When choosing pavers, they need to be big enough so that stepping from one to another feels natural. They should never wobble. They need to lie flat so that water doesn't stand on them, and the ground beneath them should be graded correctly so that water is quickly flushed away.

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Steps:

Remove soil or desiccated granite to match depth of paver.
Level the ground and add a layer of sand underneath the paver area to ensure the pavers remain stable (figure B).
Place the pavers in the pathway (figure C) and let sry before grouting (figure D).

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

To soften the edges of the pavers and make the pathway inviting, groundcovers in a variety of textures and colors are added to the path (figure E). They will stay low to the ground and complement the shrubs planted along the walkway. The plants in this landscape are suited for a northwestern climate. Check your local nurseries, garden centers and DIYnetwork.com for plants compatible for your region of the country. Plants used here include the following:

Catlin's giant carpet bugle (Ajuga Reptans 'Catlin's Giant'), which will over time creep and fill in spaces. The plants can easily be divided into small clumps that can be planted between the paver spaces.
Red velvet coleus(Aurora Coleus 'Red Velvet' Balaureve PPAF) (figure F) will stay low to the ground and add color and interest at the beginning of the walkway.
Goldflame Spiraea (Spiraea X Bumalda 'Goldflame') (figure G) has soft clusters of flowers, in colors that will pick up those of the coleus.

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G
Nikko blue hydrangea (Hydrangea Macrophylla 'Nikko Blue') (figure H) will screen the path and produce beautiful blue blooms.
Chocolate chip carpet bugle (Ajuga X 'Chocolate Chip') (figure I).
Natchez mock orange (Philadelphus X Virginalis 'Natchez') (figure J), a very showy shrub with large white lightly scented blooms.

Figure H

Figure J

Figure K
Renaissance Spiraea (Spiraea X Vanhouttei 'Renaissance').
White Nancy spotted dead nettle (Lamium Maculatum 'White Nancy') (figure K), a ground cover with mottled green and silver foliage, produces white flowers.
Eastern snowball (Viburnum Opulus 'Sterile') (figure L), which produces white cluster blooms.
Bloodgood Japanese maple (Acer Palmatum 'Bloodgood') (figure M) stands in pots by the door, creating a strong presence.

Figure L

Figure M

Figure N

Figure O
Hetz blue juniper (Juniperus Chininsis 'Hetzii Glauca' ) (figure N), also in a pot, adds a sculptural element.
Concrete stools in an accent color add a permanent seating element (figure O).

The overall effect of this new design uses plants to draw nature from the outside to the entrance space, while accessories complement the simplicity of the house.