Case Studies

Project: Metro West Terraced Garden

Background

The clients had just finished building a home into a steep outcropping of granite. On the slope in front of the house, the builder had left them with a utilitarian wall made of manufactured blocks surrounded by compacted soil. The clients were excited to win a gift certificate for a design consultation that I had donated for a fundraiser at the local elementary school. After our initial meeting, the clients asked for a proposal to create terraces and plantings that would soften the concrete block wall and add curb appeal to their new home.

They were looking for a low-maintenance landscape that could be installed in phases over the next few years. From a more practical view, they had an immediate need for a new walkway to the front door, as well as a paver driveway built into a difficult slope and a new mailbox post.

Outcome

Through the careful selection of trees and shrubs that would fit the narrow terraces, I managed to soften the tall front façade of the house and the concrete wall in front of it, creating a gradual visual transition to the level of the street.

Aultz Front from Across Street BeforeAultz Front from Across Street After
BeforeAfter

With its very narrow terraces and exposed south-facing slope, the site was an incredibly difficult one, in terms of both installation and future development of the plants. The planting was completed in a day, with minimal disturbance to the neighbors along the steep, narrow street. Three large trees were unloaded from a tractor- trailer and maneuvered carefully up onto the terraces with small-scale equipment.

Aultz Front Planting Tree
 
 

Using plants that could withstand full sun all day, as well as salt spray in the winter, I designed a landscape with four-season texture and color in order to create visual interest year-round. As the terraces and slope make walking through the landscape difficult, I chose plants that were as low-maintenance as possible.

Aultz 2 Tier Wall Before StoneworkAultz 2 Tier Wall After
BeforeAfter

Along the side of the house, the installer and I selected stone to create a narrow planting bed along the length of the neighbor’s sagging retaining wall. We planted a mix of colorful perennials to cover the wall and attract butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators, to the delight of the clients’ young daughter.

Aultz Perennial Wall Right After PlantingAultz Perennial Wall Fall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The end result is a lively terraced garden, rich with native plants, that connects the front and side yards with the wild landscape of the rock outcropping behind the house. At the same time, it provides a welcoming view from the street.

 

 

 

Aultz Driveway Corner Before Stonework 4Aultz Driveway Corner Before
Before StoneworkBefore Planting
Aultz Driveway Corner After 2Aultz Driveway Corner After
AfterAfter

Project coordination

During the course of the project, I coordinated the following details:

  • Worked with the installer, Bob Grignaffini of Grinaffini Earthscapes, to come up with a plan to create terraces for planting beds using natural stone that we selected to complement the stone outcroppings that surround the site
  • Selected a rustic granite mailbox post with the installer
IMG 2396EDITED

 

  • Ensured that the compacted post-construction soil was replaced with high quality-loam, and that the plantings were dressed with a locally sourced enriching mulch
  • Directed the client to meet with the town building inspector to make sure that new hardscaping close to the street would not interfere with the town right-of-way
  • Confirmed that adequate conduit was placed under the walls and walkways to allow for the future addition of irrigation lines and electric lines for landscape lighting
  • Met with the irrigation company to establish irrigation zones that would water the site most efficiently, determine the most convenient locations to place the control box and outdoor spigots, and decide on the least disruptive routes to run underground lines
  • Selected plants at the nursery and made substitutions as necessary, laid out plants on site for the installer, and verified that plants were being planted according to best practices
Aultz Front 1 During PlantingAultz Front 1 Right After Planting
During PlantingRight After Planting

 

  • Ensured the survival of the new plantings during the first growing season, despite a drought, by carefully tweaking the irrigation system a few times a week
  • Sourced not-toxic hoses and easy-to-use watering equipment and arranged them so that the clients would have a convenient way to tend their new gardens in between our maintenance visits

Garden care

My company returned every other week throughout the growing season to weed the beds, groom the perennials, and water by hand as necessary. In late fall, we tidied up the terraces and prepared the new trees and shrubs for their first winter.

08 18 16 1378 RESIZE300CP5109 09 16 3160RESIZE300CP50
AugustEarly September
09 30 16 2867RESIZE30010 14 16 2417 copyRESIZE300
Late SeptemberOctober

Client response

"Catherine took what was a challenging lot and made it into something simply beautiful. She also went out of her way to create a plan that works for us and our lifestyle. She was great working with people like us who had no idea what would be best for our lot. She is the utmost professional and was highly organized and efficient throughout the entire process. We continue to get frequent compliments and we never could have accomplished this without her expertise!"
Steve and Kate, Natick, MA

 

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Area of Service

Sweetgum Horticulture is serving clients in the Metro West communities of Boston, MA, including Wellesley, Weston, Newton, Needham, Natick, Wayland, Lincoln, Dover, Sherborn, Sudbury, and Framingham.

Gift Certificates

Gift certificates are available for all of Sweetgum Horticulture's services. These make great birthday, thank-you or Mother’s Day gifts.

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