A while back, we were resurfacing a deck in Deer Park, and the landscaping around it had gotten out of hand, too. Ever since, I’ve been wanting to write a post on deck landscaping.
I’m always impressed by homeowners who take their outdoor space to the next level with well-placed borders, edging, and plant selection. Even though we’re here to help with decks and porches, I truly enjoy helping you transform your outdoor space into what you want it to be. Here are some ideas I jotted down and have finally written out so you can start arranging your landscaping around your deck in a more effective way.
Planning Your Deck and Landscape Design (The Right Way)
When you’re building a deck, you want to get a full plan together before you start. Most homeowners build the deck first, then try to figure out what to do with the area around it. That’s like hanging pictures before you paint the walls — it can work, but it’s not the easiest approach.
Here’s how we do it with our clients: we look at the whole picture from the very beginning. Your deck, your yard, your home’s architecture, even your neighbor’s fence line. That’s why we create a free 3D model for you so you can see how it all works together before we break ground.
In many situations, it’s good to have your deck landscaping in place before building your deck. You also have to account for the Long Island weather. It’s unpredictable. Whether it’s a nor’easter or the summer’s humidity, you need deck landscaping that can stand up to the wind and rain.
The soil composition in our area drains quickly in certain areas but retains moisture in others. The salt in the air also affects the types of plants you can choose for your garden. And you’ll want to make sure what you design follows all local codes, including HOA regulations.
Setting Yourself Up For Success
Before you can start thinking about hydrangeas and hostas, you need to think through a lot of things. Whether you are about to build a deck or already have one in place, there’s a checklist of things to tend to before you start.
(This is where a lot of DIY projects go sideways, by the way. People who don’t set themselves up for success have to do a lot of work to fix issues that come up later).
Here are the main items to take care of:
Planning Where You Plant
If you’ve got a raised deck — and many of our clients do — you’re dealing with that awkward space underneath. Nobody wants to look at deck posts and joists. You can solve this by planting strategically.
Tall shrubs, such as rhododendrons or mountain laurels, work great for this.
Drainage Considerations
Long Island has clay pockets and flat terrain. Water has a way of sitting where you don’t want it. We always grade away from the deck and house, but your landscape design needs to work with that flow, not against it.
Rain gardens aren’t just trendy — they’re practical here. A well-designed depression planted with native grasses and perennials can handle runoff well. It looks great, too.
Creating Borders That Make Sense
Your landscape borders should feel natural, not like someone took a ruler to your yard. We use gentle curves that echo your deck’s lines and work with your property’s natural features.
An example of a deck that matches a property’s landscape is this one that we did for a family in Centereach:
The lines of the deck blend with the yard. It’s attached to the home and allows for excellent drainage while highlighting the colors of the house and trees. It’s one of my favorites.
Steel or aluminum edging works better than plastic for our climate. It holds up to freeze-thaw cycles and keeps that clean line between your landscaping and lawn.
Selecting Plants That Thrive
Go to a local nursery and get their knowledge on plants that thrive here. I’m not going to claim to be an expert, but I’ve learned a bit from our local nurseries. I like Kunz Greenhouses. One, it’s close to me in Port Jefferson Station. Two, they’ve been around for more than 50 years. And they know their stuff. There are tons of other nurseries like them.
They can share plants that can easily handle our climate because they are specifically ready for our weather conditions and soil types.
Decker’s Nursery listed these flowers as great native species:
- Black-eyed Susan
- Blue flag iris
- Butterfly milkweed
- Evergreen wood fern
- Lady fern
- New York aster
- Purple coneflower
They also list native trees and vines. Here are some shrubs you might want to look into as well, according to their team:
- Common buttonbush
- Highbush blueberry
- Northern spicebush
- Prairie rose
- Virginia sweetspire
- Winterberry
Now that you know some native species, let’s talk layering.
Layering Strategy
The process resembles construction because you need three distinct plant layers. Evergreen plants and large shrubs serve as foundation elements that establish structural elements in your landscape. The mid-level section contains flowering shrubs together with ornamental grasses. Your perennials, together with seasonal color elements, serve as accent plants.
Layering in this way can provide a nice-looking border and hide any exposed parts of your deck.
Follow A Simple Process
Before I wrap up this article, I wanted to share a quick process you can follow to get your deck landscaping where you want it.
Step 1: Examine your deck structure and your yard. Where would putting shrubs and plants help improve the visual appeal of your deck?
Step 2: Define your goals. Is it privacy? Low maintenance? Whatever it is, know that your deck landscaping should accommodate your goals.
Step 3: Create zones. Your deck perimeter requires different approaches for each section. The areas that face your house interior require different landscaping approaches than the side yards do.
Step 4: Select your anchor plants. Start with larger shrubs and trees that define your space. Everything else builds around these.
Step 5: Fill in with layers. Add mid-level plants, then groundcovers and perennials.
Step 6: Connect everything together with some hardscaping. Pathways, edging, and lighting add a nice finishing touch.
Time to Get Started on Your Deck Landscaping
Long Island homeowners face unique challenges when it comes to deck landscaping. We’ve got flat terrain and clay to deal with. Thankfully, there are a handful of native shrubs and flowers you can plant to compliment your deck.
Talk to an expert at a local nursery. Layer your plants. Your yard and deck will look much better.