Blend Your Deck into the Landscape

Outdoor decks connect the interior of a home to the natural world. “Decks are the first transition from the inside of the home to the landscape,” notes Rob Tilson, vice president of information and practice for the American Society of Landscape Architects. An effective landscape plan should utilize layout, color, natural materials, and hardscape features to create continuity and transition.

Landscaping Decks of All Levels

An on-grade deck, or one that is built at ground level, offers the greatest possibilities. Begin by bringing the same softscape amenities onto the deck bed that you’ve used to accessorize the rest of your property. Michael Lawrence, a Vermont-based landscape architect, likes using lots of oversized containers for planting everything from perennials to small trees. Consider the unusual: A potted Japanese maple makes a dramatic statement, but will need special care in harsh environments. “Investigate whether a local greenhouse can store it over the winter,” Lawrence suggests.

Work with a single color palette or flowers from the same family as you build your garden out from the deck perimeter. Lawrence suggests focusing first on what you love, keeping in mind that more meticulous maintenance is required the closer the garden is to the deck. If insects are a concern, avoid shrubs and flowers that attract bees. On the other hand, some of these varieties attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Vary the heights of plantings so that they make a smooth transition from deck base to the soil below by planting taller perennials close to the deck and gradually decreasing the height as the garden merges with the grass. This same philosophy works well with a near-grade deck — one that sits just several steps above the adjoining property. Use latticework as a backdrop to close the gap between the deck base and the soil, and plant taller perennials or annuals closest to the lattice. Stagger plantings by blossom time to encourage multi-season color if your climate will allow for it. Creating pockets of color and differing leaf textures distracts the eye from straight lines and vast forms.