Replacing a Deck with a Garden or Patio
A landscaped Green Area May be an Attractive Option to Aging Wood
Mar 28, 2009
Switching from a deck to a green area can be a major, expensive and time-consuming project that shouldn’t be taken lightly, but the benefits can be worthwhile and long term, depending upon the individual situation. For starters, patios and gardens are better for the environment because they increase the amount of greenery and they don’t require trees to be cut down for all those deck boards.
The success of the project may depend upon how many questions are asked and answered before the work is ever started.
First, visualize the final scene. Flip through landscape books and magazines at the library and bookstores for ideas. Visit parks, nurseries, Home Depot and Lowe's garden departments. Tour affluent neighborhoods. Talk to the county agent and a landscaper. Check the Internet. It offers numerous landscaping resources. Better Homes and Gardens offers a wide variety of free designs, from water gardens to rock and vegetable gardens.
Annual or Seasonal Plants
What should the new area include? Possibilities:
- Walkways
- Grass. What type?
- A rock garden
- A small tree or trees. What type?
- A fountain or fish pond
- A play area
- A barbecue unit.
- Annual or seasonal plants? What size and type?
- A table and chairs
- A large umbrella
- A trellis or arbor
- Bricks, concrete or pavers
- Timber, brick, plastic or metal edging
Consider how the new design will affect the traffic pattern from one area of the property to another. How will it affect drainage and water flow? Does the area receive enough sun for the planned greenery?
How will the new area be used? How much maintenance will it require? How will it react to rain, snow and/or drought? Will it need sprinklers or irrigation? How will the new design affect family pets and how will the pets affect the new area?
Landscape Mission Statement
Put the plans on paper. Include a sketch. Use a computer graphics or landscaping program if possible. One program, by HGTV, will not only import photos but will even present the design in 3D and show how the plants grow from year to year.
Write a mission statement. Seriously. Describe the purpose and benefits of the project. The statement may be needed for motivation when the project bogs down and the dollars start flowing faster than anticipated.
Budget the cost, very carefully.
- Will hired labor be needed to dismantle the deck?
- How will the boards and other deck materials be removed from the property?
- Will top soil need to be added?
- Is a landscaper needed?
- What will grass, plants, bricks and rocks and other materials cost?
- How much problem will it be to clean the area after the deck is removed?
Don’t be surprised if the area is littered with nails, screws and coins that have slipped between the boards over the years. Expect to encounter some creepy creatures. Maintain a running cost summary to help stay on budget.
Compare Deck Repair and Green Space Costs
How do the green space costs compare to replacing the deck boards? Old boards may have to be replaced. New ones may have to be treated.
Other planning questions:
- How long will the project take?
- How much family time is available for the project?
- What is the best time of the year to tackle the project? Don’t forget to factor in rain and other weather elements that might slow the project.
Garden stores and nurseries offer tons of free information on designing, building and maintaining gardens and patios.
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