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Townhouse Landscaping Ideas

12K views 8 replies 6 participants last post by  concretemasonry 
#1 ·
Hi All,

With the nice weather coming here in Northern VA, I'm looking for ideas to spruce up my front yard. Anything goes. I just want it to look nice instead of having some grass and mostly weeds.

Dig and plant grass?
Add 1-2 feet of rock or mulch with some shrubs AND dig and plant grass?

Looking for some ideas.

Thanks
 

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#5 ·
I'm pretty low tech. I like river rock (pebbles) over landscaping fabric I like to have a sidewalk as an edge, otherwise I'll put in some brick.

As for plants, I'm basic. I like Sedums and Russian Sage where it is sunny and hostas where it is not. You can clip the sedums after they have bloomed, or just leave them alone. The Russian Sage can be trimmed back, I believe. Haven't ever done it.

I can usually get sedums and hostas from a friend. I guess I could split my own now. So the only thing I have to buy is the Russian Sage.

I prefer a larger, 1 1/2 or so river rock. The stuff is getting expensive, however.
 
#6 ·
Thanks Cleveman. Yea, I'm looking for something subtle, but really nice looking. Something with really nice, sharp lines / edges. My townhouse is the biggest in the lot and without sounding like an ass, the nicest (inside and out). I'd like to keep with that theme for the lawn out front.
 
#8 ·
It is hardly worth dragging the mower out of the garage for a yard that size and I don't think you gain anything with a postage stamp size lawn.

I would anchor the design with some nice, ornamental flowering trees. They will add to curb appeal and give you something nice to look at from your windows.

I would think about a flowering dogwood for in front of the double windows and maybe a Japanese flowering cherry for the other side. A Japanese maple could be nice there also. These will grow to a nice height and are easy to maintain. The catch is they are rather slow growing so you may have to invest in larger plants to start. Prune them immediately when planted for shape and to encourage root growth.

Fill in underneath with perennials (azaleas perhaps) and some evergreens for texture. Fill in with nice groundcover.

Don't line plants up against the house like some revolutionary war battle line. Use the perspective you have available to make the space look bigger.

Think about installing drip irrigation too. It waters in gallons per hour not gallons per minute like your garden hose or traditional sprinklers. Put it on a timer and you don't have to worry about the plants drying out.
 
#9 ·
Trucon01 -

I suggest you drive around the area and look at other townhouse developments to see what you may like and could use. Your area is probably full of many townhouses developments and people that have solved the problem. I lived in several locations in VA and understand the problems.

I can totally understand the ban on front decks, but apparently, since there are different brick on adjacent units, the HOA will not object to some unique features between units. A landscape supplier could also give you some suggestions of vegetation that holds up in your climate and also ground coverings (hardscape and softscape) that are appropriate.

Dick
 
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