How to Landscape the Side of a Garage
Landscaping along an exterior garage wall can be a special challenge to gardeners. Typically a stark, solid wall of straight lines and angular corners, the garage wall environs is often an isolated area that languishes out of the public eye. Soften the hard angles and create a pleasant ambiance along your garage wall by using your imagination and a few simple design ideas. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Planting spade
- Stepping stones or pavers
- Wall-mounting trellises
- Masonry screws
- S-hooks
- Hanging plants
- Bedding plants
- Hardy shrubs
- Fruiting vines
- Hummingbird feeder
- Bird bath
- Cedar mulch
Instructions
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Create a pathway of stepping stones or brick pavers leading from the driveway to the backdoor or backyard on a route along the garage wall. Inter-plant the area around the stones with lemon thyme to send up a soft, sweet fragrance with each step.
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Select a family of low-growing evergreen shrubs, such as the hardy and drought-tolerant juniper, to create a soothing green backdrop year-round. Keep the shrubs trimmed low and round to soften the hard angles of the garage wall and roof.
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3
Mount a trellis or two along the garage wall. Plant colorful and wildlife-attracting climbing perennial vines such as the trumpet flower and clematis, which will attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Add a hanging hummingbird feeder to encourage these tiny visitors all season long. Install a small, inexpensive bird bath to encourage other birds.
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4
Plant climbing and spreading plants such as roses and rhododendrons. Fill in the open ground spaces with a contrasting and fragrant cedar mulch.
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Install hooked masonry screws and S-hooks along the soffit about 18 inches apart to allow a display of various hanging plants. On the ground below, dig a narrow flower bed for long-blooming annuals such as impatiens and rudbekia. Design the border edge in a flowing, wavy pattern to take the eye away from the garage wall's straight lines.
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6
Plant some dwarf, shade-tolerant fruiting vines such as blackberries or raspberries. These may be trellised or espaliered along the garage wall and trimmed annually to ensure they maintain their places.
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