dilemma: that ugly garden wall
One of the bits of ugliness that we uncovered as part of our current household projects is this wall in the garden that we’re trying to figure out what to do with. When we look out the dining room, kitchen and bedroom windows this is what we see, and it has the potential for being a cool accent wall for the garden in front of it.
You shake your head in disbelief at how some things get constructed backwards and this was one of them. Apparently there was a low retaining wall with a fence on it to begin with. Then the previous owner wanted a nice concrete bench and outdoor fireplace on the other side. Instead of taking down the wall, they just cast the concrete bench around the wood. And then they stapled chicken wire to the fence and used it as scaffolding for the fireplace.
Wood being wood rots away after a few decades. After we moved into the house we basically replaced some of the problem spots and called it good enough, but twenty years later there was no salvaging it. Time to fix it and fix it right. But you know me: Whatever we do has to look really cool. What to do?
Leaving it alone is one option. It does have a certain warehouse chic look to it, although nothing else in the house has anything else to do with that look.
This wall detail in the Topher Delaney garden that I’ve written about recently serves as one inspiration. I wouldn’t recreate it literally, but it shows how something bold and dynamic can animate the garden space. It would be easy enough to chip off the mortar and detach the chicken wire from my wall and tile something geometric and bold.
I do wonder, though if it might dominate the space a bit too much. And how well would something so bold would wear after a few decades? Would a simple background divider, a foil for plants, be a better option?
It’ll be several months before I’ll be able to take on this part of the project, so I’ll have some time to come up with a plan. What would you do with a problem wall like this?
September 14 2009 05:23 am | Categories: gardening | Tags: garden walls • hardscape
Town Mouse on 14 Sep 2009 at 7:07 pm #
You could always follow Susan’s lead and paint it purple ;->
But actually, I don’t completely understand. Do you need a wall in that spot? Or do you just want a divider?
Regardless, I wouldn’t just leave it. Its ugly. Maybe cover it with bamboo or reed fencing. Or could you build a Japanese screen (I remember an earlier post about one you have).
At a minimum, rig a trellis to cover it and let a vine cover it all. Maybe Roger’s Red, which is no longer officially native but pretty and fast growing.
Barbara E on 14 Sep 2009 at 8:08 pm #
Well I think I’ll jump in right away. This may be an opportunity, as you are suggesting, James. Before going the more ordinary route, it deserves lots of thought. All that comes to mind for me is that I am “hitting a brick wall.” Forcing myself to think further, what about using it to create a vertical garden (http://www.lowimpactliving.com/blog/2009/06/23/inspiring-vertical-gardens-for-small-spaces/)?
I’ll keep thinking.
JCharlier on 15 Sep 2009 at 6:58 am #
Oh, a challenge! I’ll think about this. Projects like these in my own yard are what keep me awake at nights!
ryan on 15 Sep 2009 at 8:18 am #
Maybe stucco over it and plant a tree to contrast, say a dark color and a Palo Blanco or lighter color and Dr. Hurd manzanita? Stucco is easy, cheap, and sort of fun. I tend to think in terms of two options, one is do the cheapest and easiest thing that will look alright and the other is to think what would make this look intentional rather than a retrofit. Making it look intentional usually means redesigning and changing other things around it, too, which usually leads to the clients arguing with each other about budget.
Country Mouse on 16 Sep 2009 at 6:33 am #
Having grown up in the UK with bricks, I was baffled when I first came to California to see badly-mortared brick walls in California shown off like a design feature. The fashion seems to have subsided thank goodness. But this is in a whole other category. Pre-existing connotations overwhelm any possible new ones and I would cover or disappear the wall. Would it take a sort of adobe covering, softening and rounding the edges? Just another thought — I like the other suggestions for Japanese style screening.
susan morrison (garden-chick) on 16 Sep 2009 at 7:01 am #
I love feature walls and the vignettes you can create with them — there is a reason they are so often featured in gardens photos from shelter magazines. The purple wall that Town Mouse mentioned from my own house is at the end of a 30′ narrow view corridor so it was comfortable choosing such a dramatic color. But one of my designs that was recently installed has a split level, L-shaped divider separating the hot tub from the neighbors on one side and an edible garden on the other. One the hot tub side is juncus and on the edible side an espaliered pear. The wall is painted a soft blue similar to Topher’s wall, so it’s very restful and appropriate to the location. BUT, a soft blue like that doesn’t create as big a contrast impact for the plants as a gold or similar wall color would. As for the natural brick look, when I use brick for a plant backdrop (usually an existing fireplace), it just isn’t as interesting as a solid color wall.
In my opinion, a garden like yours (i.e., one that’s all garden, not lawn and patio) is prettier and more interesting to be in if there are non-plant spaces and accessories to show off the plants. I know it’s a little less natural looking but a garden is about the whole experience, not just about a plant collection.
Plus, a feature wall creates wonderful lighting opportunities.
OK, I’ll shut up now.
John on 17 Sep 2009 at 9:50 am #
Ok, I’ve never posted here, as I can give Jim my comments directly, but I REALLY like the idea of trellising something on this ugly brick. I’ve advocated that (1) it should be torn down*, or (2) it’s actually ugly enough that maybe we could leave it as is. Painting it blue is not a bad idea either, though I swore I would never paint brick.
*The other side of this wall is a fireplace that we’ve never used, and that a chimney sweep recommended that we never use. If we got rid of it, we could finally see (and hear) the pond from the house.
Leslie on 22 Sep 2009 at 10:32 am #
You could transform it into a “green” wall: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CUEqARxXWnk/SFfSs8EGP-I/AAAAAAAAAK8/JR7jh0spybM/s400/green%2Bwall.jpg
Janis Hatlestad on 02 Oct 2009 at 11:37 am #
A bit late to this party, I suppose… John’s post provides some helpful context. Practical side of me believes it is wise to take stock of how your garden functions on the whole for you. What would you like to see it do better? What do you have that you don’t need or cannot use? Then, see how you can repurpose, modify or replace what you have, to meet needs/desires, and to improve aesthetics — views and other sensory experiences. Keep in mind how it fits in the context of your overall garden plan.
lostlandscape on 02 Oct 2009 at 7:44 pm #
Janis, great comments. We’re still trying to think of what to do with the wall, and your ideas could help us focus on what the solution needs to accomplish.
Greg on 08 Oct 2009 at 8:09 pm #
Heck, train a vine on the wall and turn the fireplace into a new water feature. Maybe you could get the water to run down the insides, while the outside is covered in green.