Peaceful Shade Garden

Landscape Smart : Episode LDS-413 -- More Projects »
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Large redwoods form the core element of the design--a focal backdrop for the shade garden.
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The completed project features a simple bamboo fountain with water flowing into a concave granite slab and disappearing into a bed of pebbles. A rustic flagstone path winds around the redwood, and shade-loving plants in assorted colors and textures complete the look.
Underneath a canopy of trees lies an ideal spot for a natural-looking water feature and peaceful woodland garden, and California's majestic redwoods provide the perfect canopy. Homeowner Kathryn Tsushima wants to add a welcoming shade garden beneath two giant redwoods in her front yard, including a water feature with a Japanese theme. Landscape Smart and landscape designer Johan Kahlstrom plan a shady retreat underneath the redwoods.

Kahlstrom says that a professional would charge about $3,000 for the fountain and garden, but do-it-yourselfers can complete the project in only one weekend at a cost of about $1,200 for materials. He rates the project a 2 on a scale of 1 (easy) to 5 (difficult) because the project requires basic carpentry skills and minor lifting.

Step One: Building the Basin

Position the fountain underneath a tree where it can be viewed from several angles. Clear the site of leaves and branches, make it level, and mark the specific location. Be sure to take into account the root structure of the tree. Rake out the area with a shovel to prepare for the frame of the basin.

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figure A

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figure B

Build the frame out of a rot-resistant wood like cedar, using four planks precut to 2 feet long. Start by attaching a small block of scrap wood to one end of four 1/2" x 5-1/2" planks to provide support for the basin's covering (figure A), and nail the planks together to complete the frame (figure B). Place the frame securely in the prepared spot under the tree and make sure that it's level.
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figure C

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figure D

Place a 2-foot-diameter shallow plastic tub (deep enough to hold 4 inches of water) into the frame to make a basin (figure C). Add some bricks in the bottom of the tub (figure D), and make sure that the tub is level so water won't spill out.

Kahlstrom chose a submersible pump with 200-gallon/hour capacity. Make sure you have a heavy-duty extension cord and outlet nearby. Set the pump in the basin and run the tubing underneath the frame. Also run a drip irrigation line into the tub to keep it filled with water.

Step Two: Constructing the Spigot

Kahlstrom chose bamboo because it's very affordable (only $30 for this project), and it can hide the tubing from the pump. Start by marking the bamboo where you want to cut it. For the spout, use a 1-1/2-inch-diameter piece of bamboo, cut on the diagonal, about 20 inches long. Since bamboo can crack easily, use a fine-toothed hack saw. Be sure to wear rubber gloves to get a good grip on the slippery bamboo.

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figure E
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figure F
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figure G
Also cut a piece of 2-1/2 inch-diameter bamboo, 40 inches long, for the post. Drill several holes in the bamboo for the pump tubing--one large enough to hold the spout piece and two holes on either side for a bamboo pin to hold everything in place (figure E). The spout should also have holes for the pin and a small notch for the tubing (figure F).

Feed the tubing up through the bamboo post and run it into the spout. Insert the spout into the post, and hold it in place with a narrow bamboo pin (figure G).

Dig a hole about 1 foot deep next to the basin. Set the bamboo post into the hole and attach the tubing to the pump. Next, fill in the hole so that the post won't wobble, and make sure it's plumb.

Step Three: Placing the Granite Bowl

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figure H

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figure I

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figure J

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In keeping with the Japanese theme, Kahlstrom chooses a big chunk of granite cut smooth on top with a small bowl carved out (figure H). It should be at least 2 feet tall because surrounding plants will grow to about 1 foot tall. The water will pour from the spigot into the bowl and dribble over the edges, creating soothing water sounds.

Cover the basin in the frame with a piece of plastic grating, the kind used in fluorescent lighting (figure I). Set it in the frame so that it rests on the bricks and wooden supports in the corners of the frame. With the help of a friend, place the granite on top of the grate, underneath the spigot (figure J). Then, fill the basin with water and test the fountain. Make any adjustments needed to allow the water to flow properly.

Cover the grate around the granite with pebbles so that water overflowing the granite bowl will disappear into the pebbles. Add some accents by using different colored pebbled in the basin and around the bowl (figure K). You can place smaller pieces of granite in the garden on both sides of the fountain to balance the look.

Step Four: Laying the Flagstone Path

Kahlstrom chose Arizona flagstone (about $280/ton) in neutral and slightly richer earth tones for a mosaic-type stepping stone path.

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Set the flagstone in place and mark its location by scoring the ground by hand or trowel (figure L). Move the flagstone and dig a shallow 2-inch-deep hole, matching the shape of the flagstone. Fill the hole with a couple inches of sand to provide a flat bed for the stepping stone. Then, set the flagstone back in place and sprinkle a little sand around the edges to help secure the flagstone (figure M). Repeat this process until the path is complete.

Planting in Shady Spaces

Kahlstrom designed the planting plan with a mixture of long-blooming, brightly colored flowers and interesting, geometric-structured plants (such as rosettes, upright plants, and ferns) in several levels of terraced planting surrounding the tree. He chose:

  • Carpet geranium (Geranium incanum), Zones 5-8
  • Autumn fern, (Dryopteris erythrosoro), Zones 6-9
  • Campanula poscharskyana, Zones 4-7
  • 'Starry Eyes' navelwort (Omphalodes cappadocica), Zones 6-8

Guests
Johan Kahlstrom
Landscape Architect
The Avant Gardener
3871 20th St.
San Francisco, CA 94114
Phone: 415-824-0936
E-mail: avantgardener@aol.com
Website: www.avantgardener.org
Also in this Episode
Landscape Smart : Episode LDS-413
•Peaceful Shade Garden