Photo courtesy Faulhaber PR
Modern Front
Landscape designer Terry Ryan’s tips for re-vamping your front yard this spring
As the weather starts to, thankfully, get warmer, now is the time to think about prepping for spring. And who better to turn to than Terry Ryan, principal and landscape designer Cubic Yard Design, a Toronto-based landscape design/build firm.
This year Ryan is once again showcasing his talents at the Interior Design Show, running from February 21st until the 24th in Toronto. For 2008’s IDS, Ryan created a spectacular front courtyard, with tropical plants, such as Budest Pine, Boston fern, Leriope grass and English Ivy, to compliment the interior designs of some of Canada’s most recognized designers, including Sarah Richardson and Allan, Matt and Anwar from *The Designer Guys*, for the IDS’s designLIVE feature exhibit. “I tried to be respectful and aware of the other design teams. We had collaborated on certain elements, but [the courtyard] has it’s own identity,” says Ryan. “Each of their spaces are very unique, so I didn’t go too far into tailoring to any one, or all four, specifically.”
Here are Ryan’s tips for creating something modern and fresh in your front yard, backyard, or even balcony, this year.
##1. Go Modern##
Use what you already have to make a more current statement. “One of the big things that I encourage people to do, especially in a small front yard, is perhaps do something more current, more contemporary with things like railings,” Ryan suggests. “You can almost transform the period of a home by doing a more contemporary integration of a few things, like horizontal cedar details, with Lucite.”
##2. Statement Makers##
Show off your love affair with certain plants and flowers by creating a focal point with one large planter full of your favourites. “The other big one for me, is going with larger planters, as opposed to combinations of smaller planters,” states Ryan. “There are benefits because typically you can have perennials, that will come back every year and it’s easier to maintain, as opposed to having eight pots. Or you can get more bang for your buck out of a large pot that you can overstuff with different annuals, combined with perennials, small trees or shrubs.”
##3. On Trend##
“If I were going to suggest a trend, I would say less is more,” Ryan suggests. “More monochromatic plantings, and if you have a monochromatic base and then you have a large planter, or a couple of planters, that’s where you can introduce your colour, your annuals, etc.”
##4. Switching It Up##
Pots and planters are “something that you can also make very personal because the selection now is broad, the colours and the finishes are almost limitless,” says Ryan. “And the nice thing about pots is that you can change it every spring. You’re not committed to the same thing every year. It gives you a little bit of freedom to reinvent yourself.”
##5. Going Potty##
Be aware if there is a large canine population in your neighbourhood, especially when planting and designing a front yard. Try to keep precious trees, shrubs and plants away from the sidewalk. “Dogs can ruin front yards. People will let dogs do their business and there are not many plants that will stand up to dog urine,” states Ryan.
##6. Be Prepared##
Make sure you burlap and twine up your evergreens in the fall, especially ones nears a front sidewalk edge, to help protect against salt spray. Also, “You want to make sure you get as much leaf litter down, and perennial leaves taken down, before the snow hits,” says Ryan. “And in the spring your set up is so minimal. You just sprinkle some compost on top of your beds and let it work its way in and you should be good for the season.”
(continued below)
Be the first to comment on "Modern Front"
Editor's note: This is a moderated forum, so your comments won't appear until approved by the moderator. Please help us foster a friendly environment by keeping your posts civil and on-point. We reserve the right to delete comments that include foul language, personal attacks on others, sales solicitations or any other inappropriate content. Posted comments reflect the opinions of the poster, not of gardeninglife.ca. Read our privacy policy for more information.