Japanese Influence

This brick rancher gets curb appeal from Japanese-inspired landscaping.

After

All About

Product Ideas

This 1960's brick ranch has very little curb appeal — the house has a low-pitched gable roof that overhangs a slab of concrete near the front door. The landscaping is non-existent except for a lawn that stretches from the road to the foundation of the house. Besides a little groundcover and few volunteer trees, the area is basically a blank slate. The homeowner is anxious to add character to her home without remodeling the exterior structure, but she doesn't know where to start. The goal is to incorporate elements found in Japanese design, including asymmetrical balance and well-placed rocks. Stones that represent unchanging stability and plants thought to offer good fortune are also included.

Plant List:

Before

Camellia sasanqua 'Setsugekka'
Pieris japonica
Japanese black pine
Azalea indica 'Formosa'
threadbranch cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera) 'Sungold'
Japanese maple 'Sango Kaku'
Cutleaf Japanese maple (Acer palmatum dissectum) 'Garnet'
Indian hawthorn 'Clara'
dwarf Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens) 'Nana'
sweet flag (Acorus)
mondo grass
dwarf nandina
dwarf cryptomeria (Cryptomeria japonica)
variegated iris
'Okame' cherry

Resources

Products
- Fountain from Stone Age Creations Limited
- Stone from Squirrel Mountain Stone
Guests
- Kelly Givens
  Landscape Architect
  Givens Associates Designs
  8 Collier Road, B-2
  Atlanta, GA 30309
  Phone: 404-367-9397
  E-mail: KellyJG@earthlink.net
- Kenji Inamori
  Japanese Garden Expert
  5552 Silver Ridge Drive
  Stone Mountain, GA 30087
  Phone: 770-724-6061
  Fax: 770-469-4088