This Year's Project - Stone Patio, Screen Porch & New Beds!

I'm in the process of building a bluestone patio surrounded by brand new beds. I noticed over the weekend (as I slaved in the hot sun) that this section of my yard gets far more sun than I originally thought - from about 10am to 4pm. Until last year when we cut down several trees to make way for the addition on the house, the most sun I got in any one spot of my whole yard was about 3 hours so "full sun" is unchartered territory for me when it comes to landscaping. This is where I'm hoping for some help from my friends here!

First the patio....after 22 hours of my time this past weekend, I'm only about half done and my whole body aches! Only 22 hours to go (I think I can, I think I can...)

Now that is a jigsaw puzzle!

Here is the plan...the plant suggestions were penciled in before I realized how much sun it gets. I want to keep the japanese iris for sure. I don't know how the Japanese Maple will do with the hot afternoon sun though. As you get further to the right of the drawing (in front of the screen porch and right of that, there is less sun because the house casts shade on those areas earlier in the afternoon.

The bed on the left side of the arbor continues all along the house - I forgot to draw it in.

This message was edited May 27, 2008 8:24 PM

Here's a shot that includes the screen porch (also in progress - this is DH's project; the patio is mine).

Ohhhh that is going to look so nice Songs!!! I just love that type of stone.....

It is going to be stunning when you are done - thanks for sharing your plans! Looks great!

I don't want anything too tall in front of the screen porch because I don't want to block the view of my stream. I think 3 feet tall would be max. Do azaleas do well in full sun or do they prefer afternoon shade?

This message was edited May 27, 2008 8:12 PM

I received a lot of helpful advice from Patti (bbrook) a few months ago. (I hope you find me here Patti!) But the sun issue has changed some of my original plant choices. The beds directly in front of the patio will receive any rain runoff from the patio so the plants there must not mind being soaked whenever it rains. Drainage is pretty good so they won't be in a puddle for long.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have!

Christina

Yankee Cat - yes it is!! I keep consoling myself with that fact when I look back at a full days work and wonder how I managed to only get 8 stones in place!

Dawn - thanks!

Very nice! I love bluestone. My front walkway is bluestone. There are JM's that will take afternoon sun. How big are you looking for? Azaleas can take more sun than many people think. I like azaleas but unless it's a variety that has good fall color, you don't get much after the week to ten days of bloom. Clethra will do fine in wet areas and there are shorter varieties like Sixteen Candles.

Victor - thanks for the suggestions. Clethra is a good one - I have a few of those already that I need to move, but I think they are ruby spice or something like that - they get a bit taller than I want. Do you happen to know which JM's will do well in afternoon sun?

A few other thoughts I forgot to mention. This patio and the surrounding beds will be the primary focal point for two important rooms in the house - living room and master bedroom, both of which have a set of french doors with side windows looking out into this area. So I really want this area to look stunning (that's not asking for much, is it?) Winter interest will also be important. The drawing is pretty much to scale - each square is 1 foot.

I would include dwarf conifers in that case. Also - go for true multi-season interest. Fall color, winter berries, peeling bark, interesting branching or stem color, etc. Quite a few JM's will take 6 hrs of sun. Usually the redder ones take the sun better, but some green will as well. How big are you looking for?

It's gonna be beautiful Songs!!

I wouldn't mind if the JM got 8-10 feet tall or so. I also have a paperbark maple that I've considered moving here instead but I'm not sure I want something that will get 15+ feet tall in this spot. What else has peeling bark? I definitely want 4 season interest. I've considered holly or viburnum for the berries - but they both usually get pretty large. Variegated redtwig dogwood is another thought but I've always thought of them more as a background plant, not a focal point.

My hats off to you Songsofjoy.
Mydd and grandson put in a bluestone patio last spring in order to doll up the house for reasale.
She made her dh move the leftover stone to the new house in July, some of those stones weighed 300lbs.
They were huge and came on a pallet.

Love bluestone, it's going to be beautiful Songs!

Peeling bark - birch, Winter King hawthorn and heptacodium (probably not good for you - too large). Beni kawa JM had bright red stems & trunk. Harry Lauder's walking stick and other shrubs have contorted forms. There are smaller viburnums. Fothergilla and Enkianthus have great fall color, as does itea. You have to check the hardiness. Just a few to consider.

What a gorgeous project for both you and your DH, Christina. My hat's off to you as well. I'd love to do more landscaping, but my DD and her hubby usually have much different ideas than do I.

Keep us updated with photos, OK? I can live vicariously through your photos for months!!

Last night I finished cutting and laying out all the stones...whew!! This was a MUCH bigger project than I anticipated. I will be glad when it's done. I still have to level / set them all and then fill in the cracks! I probably should have done the leveling as I went, but I tend to do things a little backwards sometimes, LOL!

Just had to share my "almost there" shot!

I had a couple little helpers on one day (tossing stone chips into the truck). My niece was more interested in smelling the flowers though...

Christina ~
You've done a remarkable job ... with or without helpers!
It's an amazing transformation. I love the look of it.

Nice job! That is too much work for me - would kill my back and knee. Will look great when done. You should be proud!

Thanks Candyce and Victor. It's too much work for me too! I'm really hurting today. I only do the work myself because I'd rather spend my money on plants than labor, LOL!!

I hear ya!
That's what we do, too. And we pray that we are still healthy enough to enjoy the plants when we are finally done with the project. So far, we have remained healthy, and I sure hope you do, too!!

Does anyone know of a local garden center (within 2 hours drive of NH/MA border) that carries a variety of japanese maples? I've been everywhere in my immediate area and all I find are the common ones. I would like something more interesting - suggestions for specific trees also welcome!

Thanks!

This message was edited Jun 2, 2008 7:47 PM

How big and what type - more palmate or dissected? There is much more variety online. I like Wildwood Maples. There is also Forest Farm and Mountain Maples.

I could go for either upright or weeping. Either way, I'd prefer to keep it 10 feet or less - tall and wide. I don't have a specific preference for leaf type - I like them all and have both palmatum and dissectum already. I'm more interested in something that will do ok with sun from 10am - 4pm and perhaps something that has a nice form both when leafed and in winter.

I'll check out those websites too. Do they sell anything decent sized online? I'm too impatient to start with a baby...

Wildwood definitely has larger sizes. Talk to Sara - she is wonderful. Tell her you're a friend of mine.She can help you with your selection and answer any other questions. I am very happy with Orangeola - a weeping dissectum. Beni kawa has great bright red bark in winter, but will reach ten feet in ten years unless pruned. Lots to choose from. Many will develop a nice structure over time. Aratama is a great dwarf one I have.

Thanks again. I will contact her.

So how many do you have?

Between 10 and 20 cultivars and a number of seedlings.

looking great.... i could never be as organized as you are... the plans look wonderful can't wait to see your progress

Beautiful! After all that work, are the new beds for sleeping or planting?

I am sure that it will be lovely, infact all ready looks great. Good idea - put the bed out by the garden, that way I will get something done.

Funny!

What a wonderful improvement you are making. The stream area looks so inviting now. You have such vision. Beautiful!

Songs, Your stream is gorgeous! Can't wait to see the finished product on your patio.

Our bluestone had to go up over 30 feet of terrace and then down into the patio terrace. We can sure relate to your fitting them in first and set one or a few at at time after the pattern is complete. Here is how we got up into the terrace and back down into the patio level. We only used them as accents. Antique 1850 -1875 brick was our main carpet going to and from the bluestone 2 1/2" slate. We did it all but the backhoe work and related drainage.

Your finish will be beautiful with all that blue stone slate playing into your whole landscape. Our work is about 90% finished. We need some spit and polish.

Love the pieces of blue stone throughout the brick.

Wow! What a terrific project! I'm impressed! (love the bluestone, too)

That looks great docgipe! Can I ask what you did for drainage? I have one 4 inch pvc to draw water away from the back left corner (where the roof forms a V). The pipe runs under the patio out into the middle of the yard where I dug a deep pit and filled it with gravel. I am hoping this will be enough...?? The patio does also slope away from the house so the beds that surround the patio (garden beds for those who asked, not sleeping beds ;o) will receive most of that runoff.

my back hurts just looking at that stone going up the rollers