As I explained in last year's post, we have the world's narrowest deck attached to possibly the world ugliest addition. Ok, I'm sure there are worse, but ours really does look like a trailer smashed into the back of our cute brick colonial. After a few summers of very minor updates: removing a broken storm door and painting the exterior door, adding planters, and planting flowers, we were ready to see our backyard move to the next level...on a budget.
We have a new baby, so we decided to lay low this summer, not go on any major vacations, and put the extra time and money into our outdoor space. At first we thought about extending the deck, but we realized that we'd be looking directly into four neighbors' backyards from that height, so for the sake of privacy, we thought a patio would be best.
I'll be honest, when we (and by "we" I really mean my husband because I was 9+ months pregnant when we began thinking about the project) started we thought it would be a pretty straightforward weekend project. However, we quickly discovered that it would really take about 4 weekends and a lot more planning than we originally thought. Since we started late in the season, some of the planting we'd like to do will have to wait until next season, and we would love to replace the plastic Adirondack chairs with their prettier wooden counterparts. Even so, the result is fabulous, and in the 2 months since the patio has been completed we've spent more time outside enjoying our yard than we probably have in the 3 previous summers that we've lived here. It makes me wonder why it took us so long to take the plunge, and it also makes me think about what other under utilized areas of our home could revolutionize our home life if given a little TLC.
Here's the breakdown:
• Added privacy lattice under the deck. This is still somewhat of a temporary fix until we figure out what we'd like to do with our addition. I'm not a fan of lattice in general, but the privacy lattice doesn't bother me as much, especially since I stained it in Restoration Hardware's slate (my local Benjamin Moore store color matched it and mixed it in one of their siding stains).
• Reconfigured the existing blue stone path into a patio. This was way more complicated and labor intensive than we initially thought. It required my husband to regrade, put down stone crush, tamp, put down paver sand, and then lay the stones (which varied in both width an depth) into a new pattern. Next spring we'll add a ground cover such as moss or creeping time between the stones.
• Planted morning glories in a narrow bed beneath the lattice. We planted these from seeds, and I've been absolutely amazed at how they've flourished, climbing up the lattice. I have a notoriously black thumb, so I'm guessing that these are pretty hardy little vines.
• Added a curved garden bed on the side of the patio to soften the edge.
Improvements we'd still like to make:
• The deck needs to be re-stained, and since we're still not sure what we'd like to use it for, I'm stumped on what direction I want to go in terms of color. White railings to match the siding? A slate color like the lattice? Suggestions welcome.
• Moss or ground cover in between the paver stones on the patio. I love the look of moss, but have been told a ground cover like creeping thyme might take better. Thoughts?
• Switch out the plastic adirondacks for wooden ones.
(Re-edited from a post originally published 08.01.11 - NM)
• SUBMIT YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE OR PROJECT
(Images: Leah Moss )
Must-See Small Cool Homes: Week Two
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Shaw's Original Fir...
How to Bake a Potato: Three Easy Methods
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
I don't mean to be a hater, but don't plant morning glories! They are a noxious weed that spread like crazy and strangle out other species.
Your space really looks great, major impact!
We're in DC area too and have been "renovating" our tiny urban backyard for all 8 years we've lived in our house. This year we did a raised organic garden that has turned out really well: http://www.oldtownhome.com/garden/index.aspx
We know we will eventually do a major upgrade, but until then, little things each year will have to do.
It's amazing what you can do for little money and a bit of time investment to make an otherwise average back yard very enjoyable.
In previous years we installed a pond, hammock, outdoor furniture, a grill, built a back door from stock lumber, painted the walls, painted the back of the house, installed some electrical. In total we've probably spent less than $1,500 over the 8 years we've been there, but it is such an enjoyable space.
Great job, it looks lovely!
I think what you've done looks great. Congratulations on having an attractive space you can use.
I do have to second the caution on morning glories. I have spent seven years fighting the morning glories in my 20 x 40 foot vegetable garden. They are very, very difficult to control or to get rid of.
Great job and good choice on keeping the child and dog through your renovations :-)
I have also had issue with morning glories being invasive. What about Black Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata) as an alternative?
I have morning glories and love them, but they are invasive. I use them on our iron fence for adding privacy in the summer, and on the chicken coop for lending shade to the hens, and for those uses, it is so dense and fast growing and lovely that it can't be beat! I don't mind having to weed it out of the vegetable beds (and everywhere else in a 20 foot radius), and it's easy enough to mow down the sprouts that pop up in the grass.
If that sounds good to you, go for it. Otherwise, maybe something like clematis would be a lovely choice?
Hyzen, just a word of caution: I've read that morning glories can be poisonous for chickens. I had the same thought as you, to shade my chicks, but didn't want to kill them!
Flagged the spammer.
- You did a really good job on that patio install. IMPRESSIVE! It's not easy when your stone is all thicknesses.
Please, I spent 10 days pulling out morning glory roots from a 5 x 20 area. Dug down 5 feet. They are awful, will choke other plants. Rest is very cool tho. Hops will cover the lattice nicely.
all of my projects have had a before during and after phase. I can never go from a 'before' to 'after' like those makeover shots. It's always an evolving process.
Looks fantastic! My backyard needs some love, and yours is inspiring.
I happen to love morning glories, but I always grow them in a container.
I don't know how much sun you get, but sweet peas might be nice, or a climbing hydrangea, if it's shadier. Or someone mentioned thubergia- I have some blossoming right now and it's a lovely cheerful little flower. Clematis is also nice and comes in a lot of varieties.
Or you could plant something edible like runner beans - some varieties have pretty flowers and kids enjoy them.
Don't knock the lattice . The alternative is much worse. We put it underneath our deck and although it wasn't my first choice, it is so much better than staring at that huge black hole underneath.
this looks great! Morning glories being a nuisance really depends on where you live. I live in Michigan and I've never had a problem with them coming back or even reseeding, and i've planted all types.
Funny that no one commented on the vinca as invasive. Morning glories will die over the winter in most temperate locations, but can reseed. Vinca will survive subzero temperatures and 6 feet of snow - in a pot! Then quickly take over the surrounding groundcover, even if it started as a hanging plant. Plus, it's invasive to many forests on the east coast. Pretty easily fixed on a small scale though, just rip up the nasty little buggers if they look like they're heading for the hills.
Scarlet runner beans make a nice climbing addition and the plus side is (if you want) you can harvest them and eat them (even just harvest seed for next year).
In my climate (zone 5 Upper midwest) there is morning glory plant and morning glory the weed. The weedy one is white and invasive. The annual is blue or magenta and is very well behaved as an annual.
Thanks for all the compliments and words of caution about the morning glories, although my planter-ego is a little hurt...I suppose success with a weed doesn't really count as having a green thumb, bummer.
However, I just consulted my local nursery about morning glories and was told that the "heavenly blue" variety that I planted doesn't tend to reseed in the DC area, and doesn't grow tubular roots. Apparently their root system is pretty shallow, so they can be ripped out without having to dig up the entire area. They will strangle other plants though, so I was told that they need to be kept in check if they share a container with other plants.
Still I will probably consider planting some other type of vine next year. Thanks for the suggestions.
Re: invasive weeds: I just moved into a new home with a nice goutweed colony. I was holding out hope I might get rid of it until I noticed a flourishing, flowering giant bed of it in my neighbour's yard. Round Up is banned in my area so it looks like this will be a pitched battle for the next 20 years...
Congratulations on making your garden very pretty. I lived in the DC area only a year, so can't recommend plants. DC winters make gardening there completely different from gardening here. I'd never plant any vine where I live now. Initially removing them was hard work and took years. Any of them would quickly take over completely again if allowed to do so. I immediately do my best to kill every vine as soon as I see it on my property.
If you want an option for lattice, consider cedar fence boards on the horizontal, with 2" spaces between. We did this on our very tall deck out back and it looked much more modern, and nicer, than lattice. Plus, the cedar weathers nicely! :)
Morning glories can be poisonous to children. As an alternative, you might consider honey suckle or jasmine. Both smell WONDERFUL, look beautiful, and grow quickly.
Great job on dealing with less than ideal circumstances!!
Don't feel bad about the MG! Gardening is a lifelong learning process, and stores sell all of these plants (even English ivy, which is the worst!), so it is pretty difficult to know. Good for you for checking with the nursery--you'll be glad you did, and now you get to pick out something else, the most fun part of gardening!
Looks great, Leah!
Fantastic transformation. It really looks great! Gardening definitely is a learning process and one with a lot of trial-and-error. You actually may not need any more vine or climbing plants beyond what you've got. It may spread faster than you think! My biggest weakness in gardening is not being patient with what I plant. It takes time for plants to fill a space, and you don't want to overcrowd.
awww, what a nice job you've done. I also have a black thumb and wouldn't have any idea of what to plant. I have a small deck and I'm going to have to work on it myself (husband has no handy skills) so keeping track with the "during" pictures is so helpful for me to keep up the faith that things will be nice in the end! I have a really greyed old porch. Will have to replace some of the planks, power wash, and stain. I believe there is one particular brand of stain that is widely recommended and I've seen lots of other home improvement blogs mention it by name, but it escapes me at the moment. Colorwise, I think you should keep with the warm tones if the other accents in your yard are warm tones. Congrats on making a yucky space into a livable and enjoyable one!
Can you plant morning glory in a planter or will it attempt to spread like normal and eventually die or break the planter?
Love the patio and your red planters with the red door. I wouldn't feel bad about planting the morning glories since you didn't do anything wrong. You did the right think by talking to your local nursery first - they know better than us bystanders on AT. Since most of us don't live in your area, what works or doesn't work for us doesn't really matter to you.
Given the right conditions, a climbing hydrangea might overwhelm the space, as will honeysuckle or jasmine. Since your patio is close to the deck and you don't have a superstrong support structure for a big perennial vine, I would stick with annuals - but again, your local nursery will know better than I do :-)
If you don't like the lattice, how about creating a brick wall in its place? It's a lot more labour intensive, but if you pick brick that is the same as (or similar to) the ones that are used in your house it might create a more cohesive feel between the house, the extension and the yard area.
Good gardening information is available from the University of Maryland at www.hgic.umd.edu. Since all gardening advice is local, this is a good place for Maryland homeowners to start. Yes, morning glories are highly weedy here (reseed like crazy), whether grown in pots or the ground. If you can provide the proper support, stronger than lattice, native coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is lovely and attracts hummingbirds. Annual Cardinal vine (Ipomoea mutifida sloteri) or Cypress vine (Ipomoea quamoclit) will also attract butterflies. They reseed from year-to-year but not noxiously so like Morning glories. Climbing hydrangea is also gorgeous but requires stronger support than lattice.
What a terrific job you(r husband) did! You both deserve the kudos, you know. This is going in my inspiration file--mostly because you made such an impressive change, but it still seems doable to someone like me, with lofty ideas but little actual motivation to get it done, ahem...
And if you're looking for a lovely climbing vine that won't make anyone upset, I vote Cardinal Climber. It's very polite annual, with gorgeous red trumpet-shaped flowers that drive the hummingbirds even battier than they already are. The foliage is beautiful too, while you wait for the flowers. Grows like crazy, non-invasive, and just about every seed company I've seen sells the seeds. I get that going along our (similar to yours) deck lattice, with nasturtiums to fill in around the bottom. just gorgeous, and you can eat the nasturtiums-- awesome in salads. And the deer seem to ignore them-- a real issue here, I don't know if it is for you? Anyhow...Wow!
I don't mind the lattice or the morning glory (I'm in zone 5 where they are a tender annual). If you can work with the lattice, why not put mirror behind it to brighten up the space? It wouldn't seem quite so "black hole-like," and would reflect the colors of your garden back at you.
keep up the great work. it does take a while though. thoughts on your lattice area: cut in a door and use for out door storage. use lattice itself for fining plants. aside from flowers, cucumber, squash, beans, cantaloupe come to mind. if you are worried about rats, put herbs and hot peppers nearby. if you are going for a more modern asthetic, there was a great article on AT about making verticle green walls out of pallets. both cheap and easy. for the spaces between your pavers there is a great groundcovers section on the bluestone perennials website.
as far as deck stain goes, i'd pick whatever best matches your dirt, much lower maintenance :)
The Heavenly Blue variety of morning glory (and -- really! -- why would you plant anything else? ) is lovely and, at least in Massachusetts, does not present any problem at all. I WISH it were invasive! As it is, I have to replant it each year to climb up my front porch columns. It is well worth the effort.
Terrific makover, BTW!
ooh, I like Seattlemom's suggestion of cedar fence planks on the horizontal to replace the lattice.
Very nice!
Looks great! I'm in the process of redoing my whole backyard. I added a deck, but didn't do any lattice, but I am starting to hate the unkempt underneath looks so might add some on. I don't know how confederate jasmine does in DC, but it works great in Atlanta and it smells wonderful! I'm thinking about planting that in front of the lattice and hoping that it grows quick:)
I think the redo looks nice. I don't mind the lattice either, although it's a more traditional look. I know flagstone entails a lot of physical work too, because my husband created a path from the driveway along the side of the house. He is mostly finished with it, except in a few areas. We stayed with flagstone, because when he started digging he found some large pieces that had been covered by the grass. As far as climbers go, I don't really know your area, but I do like clematis and there are several varieties. My neighbor planted a trumpet vine and it spills across the fence and into our yard. It is so lovely with orange flowers, although I actually know little about the plant. I also love creeping thyme and that would be my choice over moss, but then again that depends on your area too. I've planted all kinds of thyme since I find them lovely to look at. As far as the chairs go have you considered dressing them up with cushions and pillows? It may be more accomodating to the budget and make them more appealing as well as comfortable.I have similar chairs and I found some botanical pillows, but I need to find cushions and I think something that looks like linen would be lovely. Very nice redo of the backyard.
Your improved space looks so much better.