After their new addition was built, these Urbandale homeowners saw it as their chance to include some new outdoor elements they wanted instead of just repairing the construction damage.
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| Patio, bench wall, garden beds and stream behind |
It included a patio with bench walls and a firepit, vegetable and herb gardens. A dry stream directs stormwater runoff to a pair of rain gardens.
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| Upper rain garden basin ready for planting |
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| Bridge set over the rain garden outlet to access the existing woodland paths |
In the production area, herb beds run along the access path at ground level and are just at the edge of the available sunshine. The raised vegetable beds benefit from being a bit farther away from the house's shadow, and being elevated helps to get more sun on them too. Trellises were also added for some vertical growing space.
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| The block used on these beds is durable, looks great and compliments the patio and bench walls! |
The garden beds were going in near an existing Hackberry tree and I was concerned about tree roots invading and stealing water and nutrients from them.
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| A Rain Barrel catches rain for use in the gardens |
The rain barrel overflows into the downspout drain that connects to the lower rain garden basin behind the raised beds. Shade loving plants were predominantly used throughout the rain garden plantings - columbine, woodland phlox, sedges and wild geranium. A few pockets got more sun, so we could try for some more color using part sun and native savannah plants - cardinal flower and bee balm.
Thanks to Beemer Landscaping on the hardscaping assist!
We also cut and removed lots of invasive honeysuckle filling several dump trailers worth.
Reusing saved materials was high on the list of customer desires. The patio stone was selected to match pavers leftover from a previous landscaping project. These existing pavers were incorporated into the access path to the side yard, gardens and rain barrel.
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| Leftover pavers and stone from a previous project we used for edging and steppers |
Several pallets of assorted limestone served as edging along the access path above, and a walking path expansion loop through the side yard along a new planting bed and retaining wall.
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| Dark trap rock contrasts well against pale limestone, but it's dusty! |
The construction access was cleared of wood chips last fall. After the temporary driveway was used for a needed tree removal, it was dormant seeded this Winter with a customized woodland sedge and wildflower mix. Timing was perfect with 4" of snow falling that night.
We love how it has turned out so far, and excited for fresh growth and blooms this season!
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