We turned a parking lot into a garden!
Our clients have a very large backyard in the heart of Avondale that was converted into a parking area under previous ownership as a lawyer’s office. This large open space was a clean slate for a beautiful space but was covered in a layer of asphalt shingle mulch and hardpack dirt. Our clients wanted to reclaim this space and develop it into a useful outdoor living area for their family. They also wanted to be able to use it for their upcoming wedding!
This area would be best described as a “park style garden.” We shrunk the expansive space by creating a deep border garden around the perimeter. We planted a line of podocarpus along their long vinyl fence to soften the stark white color. In front of this line we planted groupings of highbush blueberries that framed areas for fruit trees planted in Corten steel raised beds. Anchoring this side of the yard are two colorful pollinator gardens (one on each side). On the other side of the yard we mirrored the line podocarpus to help soften the wall of the existing garage structure. In front of this line we planted a colorful garden around two heirloom roses and two matching raised boxes with fruit trees. In the remaining garden space directly adjacent to the clients house we created a beautiful rose garden surrounding a specimen Japanese maple. The remaining open space in the middle of the yard was filled with lush perennial peanut mulch.
The soil in this yard required heavy amending and will require more initial irrigation to properly establish the wild life friendly, and edible, peanut sod and new plantings. As this area establishes and roots fill the newly amended soil, fertility will increase and less maintenance will be required. The use of perennial peanut greatly reduces the maintenance requirements compared to conventional turf and nitrogen fixing qualities of this species will continue to improve soil conditions.
We were really excited to install a full yard of perennial peanut turf. We used the eco-turf variety which grows on subterranean rhizomes. This hardy variety can be rolled out from large rolls so the space was filled with lush turf in a matter of hours. Considering the initial soil quality this tough plant was a perfect option for this space.
