A deck is a distinct hardscape element that often feels disconnected from the natural surroundings of a yard. Thoughtful planting integrates this architectural feature into the existing landscape. This transforms the deck from a detached platform into a cohesive outdoor room that extends the home’s living space. Successful deck landscaping creates a smooth, visual transition while balancing the functional needs of the structure and the people using it.
Essential Design Goals for Deck Landscaping
The fundamental goal of deck landscaping is to enhance the user experience by defining the space and providing visual relief. Strategic placement of plants creates a living screen, which is highly effective for establishing visual privacy from neighbors or street traffic. This screening functions as a natural wall, providing enclosure without the harshness of solid fencing. The density and mature height of the selected plants are the primary considerations for achieving seclusion.
Plants are also instrumental in softening the rigid, straight lines of the deck’s edges. Low-growing perennials and small shrubs placed at the perimeter help blur the boundary between the constructed space and the garden. This blending effect integrates the deck into the yard, making it feel like an organic part of the environment. Careful selection can also address common outdoor annoyances; certain plants, such as lavender, can help deter flying insects like mosquitoes. Positioning these functional plants near seating areas maximizes their benefit for comfortable outdoor use.
Protecting the Deck Structure and Foundation
Any planting near a permanent structure must prioritize the integrity and longevity of the deck and its foundation. The most significant threat is moisture, which organic materials can trap, leading to accelerated wood rot and attracting wood-destroying insects like termites. Maintain a buffer zone and avoid placing organic mulch, leaf litter, or dense planting directly against the deck’s footings or skirting.
Proper drainage away from the structure is essential for protecting the foundation. Underneath the deck, the soil should be graded to slope away from the main support beams and house foundation to prevent water pooling. Professionals recommend covering the ground beneath the deck with a weed barrier fabric topped by an inorganic material, such as crushed stone or gravel. This hardscaping layer promotes rapid water runoff, discourages weed growth, and eliminates nesting areas for pests that thrive in damp, organic environments.
Selecting plants with non-aggressive root systems is important to prevent damage to footings, buried pipes, or retaining walls. Species known for expansive or water-seeking roots, such as willows, certain maples, and running bamboo varieties, should be planted at a significant distance. Plants must also be placed far enough away to allow for adequate air circulation, which helps rapidly dry the deck surface. The mature size of any plant must be factored in to ensure branches do not rub against or hang over the deck, shedding debris that encourages moisture retention.
Plant Selections for Aesthetics and Function
Choosing the right plant species requires matching functional needs with the light and space constraints of the deck area. For immediate privacy screening, fast-growing, vertical elements are highly effective. Columnar shrubs or trees like ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae or non-invasive, clump-forming bamboo species, such as Fargesia, provide dense, year-round coverage. These screening plants should be positioned strategically to block specific sightlines, often requiring only a few well-placed specimens rather than a continuous hedge.
Low-growing perennials and groundcovers are ideal for planting beds directly adjacent to the deck to soften edges and protect the underlying structure. Shade-tolerant options like hostas or ferns are excellent for the shadier area under the deck’s overhang, providing texture without impeding airflow. Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra) or low-mounding junipers can provide a fine-textured transition from the deck to the lawn.
Container gardening offers the greatest flexibility, allowing for movable privacy screens and immediate decorative accents. Large planters can hold small trees, such as Japanese maples or dwarf conifers, or dense shrubs like boxwood or hydrangeas, which can be moved to accommodate shifting sun patterns or social gatherings. For smaller containers on the deck itself, fragrant options like gardenias, coleus, or lavender provide color and scent and can be easily swapped out seasonally. To protect roots from winter temperature extremes, select a plant hardiness rating two zones colder than the local climate, as above-ground containers lack the insulation of the surrounding earth.