We love large landscaping projects, however many times what our clients envision is not always feasible to complete all at once. A prime example is this extensive water feature, patio, landscaping and walkway design. Our client’s grand plan needed to be broken up into two phases to allow them time to replenish their budget! So, we created a master plan designed to be completed over 5-10 years, strategizing with them on the most efficient way to use their resources while ensuring their landscape always looked great.

Phase one consisted of a large water feature and a substantial patio in their backyard, which you can read more about here. We completed the second phase a few years later by adding bed space around the patio and installing boulders and some plantings to make the water feature and patio look more complete. We also built a walkway with big stone slabs from the driveway to the exciting stuff happening in the backyard.

While Phase 1 was focused on creating the big show, Phase 2 was more focused on the details. The idea was to make those large projects look more complete by adding pathways and plantings. Our client also did a little work around their pond, planting and mulching, which we are totally supportive of! We often help our clients plan the work they are going to do themselves, which helps ensure everything leads to a cohesive look.

A major goal of Phase 2 was to provide a path from the driveway to the backyard features. We built a 50+ foot long walkway to reflect the natural look of the water feature. We found irregularly shaped sandstone slabs to serve as stepping stones and surrounded them with river pebbles to limit tripping opportunities. The key to these designs is to balance the look of professional installation with “nature got lucky”, meaning they could have been dropped into the landscape in this lovely pattern by nature.

The pathway has the added benefit of acting like a dry creek, capturing the runoff from the driveway during heavy rains. We also wanted to provide visitors with an experience, so we directed the pathway over a bog on the way to the patio and porch. It is a lovely way to experience the backyard, especially for kids – they think it is so cool to walk over water!

To spread the look of the large water feature throughout the landscape, we added many large borders to the planting beds, using the same sandstone. The waterfall, pond and bog had such a visual impact that it actually looked out of place until we added these rock elements to the rest of the landscape.

Another benefit to working in phases is that it allows for the design to evolve as our clients live with each step, seeing how they experience their outdoor space and discover new styles. We also come across new plants or materials that could enhance the final design. For this client, if there is to be a Phase 3 for this project, we can see adding even more plantings to the borders to fully complete the design.

If you are considering any large landscaping projects, talk to us about how we can help you phase in your plans. Send us an email or give us a call at (317) 997-4803.