DIY Network

The Woodruffs: Their Plan, Costs and Products From "Garden Sense" episode DGAR-202

Meet Jenni and Bill. They run the Wallace House Bed & Breakfast. It's a 5,000-square-foot 1905 Queen Anne home in an historic neighborhood.

advertisement

A brick and iron fence surrounds the gorgeous home, but there's little landscaping. There's tremendous potential in a side yard, but there's little or no time to garden because of all the duties of the business. They would like to create a small outdoor room. They envision a garden oasis at the side of the house, for not only themselves but for their guests to sit and enjoy the shade. It is a peaceful, quiet place. They know that this area has potential, but they don't know what to do. They've put all their energy into the house and not the landscape. They would like plants that match the era of their home - early 20th century.

Gardening Challenge

Before

After

Respect the architecture and existing plantings

• Select plants that thrive in shade
  
• Add new soil for finicky plants
  
• Fill in existing beds and create a new one

Project Details

• Before the crew arrived, Jenni and Bill completed several hardscaping projects, including the completion of a wall and patio floor.
  
• The plants were chosen to complement the Victorian-era home and to provide privacy from the neighbors.
  
• The area is also shady and plants were chosen that do well in low to moderate light including azaleas, wintercreeper, drooping leucothoe and oakleaf hydrangeas.
  
• Speaking of oakleaf hydrangeas, the couple removed several existing shrubs during the work on the patios and walls, and we replanted them during the day.
  
• The couple love rhododendrons and azaleas and the shrubs would be perfect for the space because they love shade and would add color - but in zone 6, they are often difficult to grow. However, the cultivars that were chosen are hardier than other varieties and will thrive in this area.
  
• Rapidly growing bayberry will not only provide a screen but will add fragrance and fruit for the birds.
  
• The Diablo Ninebark is a beautiful plant that will add a rich plum to the landscape.
  
• Even though English Ivy would be a good choice for a groundcover for a Victorian home, pachysandra was chosen because it is easier to maintain and not as invasive.

Required Project Time
The B & B project took Walter and the Woodruff's about six hours.

Dollars and Sense
We used 17 plants in Hardiness Zone 6 and spent close to $1,270 on the plants.

• The nine bayberries accounted for $360-dollars. Azaleas, rhododendrons and the new hydrangeas were also costly.
  
• The snapdragons were the cheapest plants at $3 a pot.
  
• We used garden mix instead of topsoil, which costs $10 more per cubic yard.

Gardening by Zip Code If you're looking to start a gardening projectbut don't know your gardening zone—visit the National Gardening Associations's USDA Hardiness Zone Finder. Enter your Zip Code to identify the proper zone.

Page  1 | 2