Deckscaping: Gardening and Landscaping On and Around Your Deck [Paperback]

Barbara W. Ellis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2002

Decks are popular in North American landscapes because they serve as outdoor sanctuaries. They are in the back yard, where life is quiet and less hectic. The deck is the perfect place to read the Sunday paper, listen to a ballgame, or entertain when the weather's nice. But a large, flat expanse of deck isn't all that exciting. Often, decks look bare and uninviting and can take up valuable gardening space.

With DECKSCAPING, learn to landscape on and around your deck. Landscaping and planting techniques help create the feeling that the deck is surrounded by the garden while hiding the deck's unsightly undercarriage. Add structure and privacy to the deck by building a lattice-covered pergola and growing climbing vines on it for shade. Containers planted with flowers, herbs, or vegetables bring the garden, with its fragrances, butterflies, birds, and wildlife, right up onto the deck. Running low on space? Attach hanging baskets and planter boxes to the railing. What you plant around your deck is just as important as what you plant around your house.

In addition to teaching landscaping and planting techniques, DECKSCAPING provides decorating tips on furniture, ornaments, and water features that strengthen the link between indoor and outdoor rooms. Homeowners will also learn how to evaluate a deck, analyze its usefulness and effectiveness, and identify options to improve it so that it is comfortable, safe, and appealing.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The Great American Deck, that no-man's land between house and garden, is often a barren vista or neglected way station on the path to the backyard, but with Ellis' expert guidance, even the most lowly deck can be elevated into a lush garden room worthy of its inside partners. Using basic interior design principles, Ellis embarks on an exterior "deck-oration" process that begins by critically assessing views and recommending ways to adapt interior schemes for exterior enjoyment. Through Ellis' creative pointers, homeowners can easily develop a tempting transition from the backdoor to the backyard that will reflect their lifestyles and personalities. Inspirational color photographs and detailed project checklists help develop design needs; and to further enhance deck landscaping possibilities, Ellis thoughtfully recommends plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies, incorporate fragrance, provide screening, or furnish kitchen herbs. From choosing containers to selecting furniture, every aspect of deck design and usage is thoroughly addressed, making this an excellent resource for new deck construction or old deck revitalization projects. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“If you want how-to planting and design ideas for you deck, patio or even your balcony, this book is a must. And it would make a great gift.” – Washington Post

 

“Handsome photographs and easy-to-understand drawings are a bonus.” – Portland Oregonian

 

" In Deckscaping, Barbara Ellis…goes into great detail, with color photos and drawings, to show how {the deck} can be used and enjoyed year round, even in cold climates. From simple to elaborate, she suggests surfaces, materials, plantings, furniture and gives tips on maintenance as well."- Publishers Weekly

 

"Deckscaping is a thoughtful and well-illustrated guide to making a deck more inviting and comfortable..."―Chicago Tribune

 

"Barbara Ellis shows how even the smallest pressure-treated "plot" can be transformed into an oasis of color and fragrance." ―Country Living Gardener

 

"...with Ellis' expert guidance, even the most lowly deck can be elevated into a lush garden room worthy of its inside partners.  Through Ellis' creative pointers, homeowners can easily develop a tempting transition from the backdoor to the backyard that will reflect their lifestyles and personalities.  ...an excellent resource for new deck construction or old deck revitalization projects." ―Booklist

 

“If you’re willing to be inspired, read on.  Author Ellis…offers suggestions and practical advice for anyone with a deck on the drawing board or underfoot.” —Portland Oregonian

 

“Say bye-bye to that boring deck…Pick up a copy Deckscaping.” —Nashville Tennessean

 

“The decks included in the lavish illustrations are anything but the barren, flat, house extensions we too often see...those in the book are an integral part of the garden and anything but boring." —Asbury Park Press

 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580174086
• ISBN-13: 978-1580174084
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,103,167 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works for ALL budgets and here's why, October 25, 2004

By 

K. Corn "reviewer" (midwest, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Deckscaping: Gardening and Landscaping On and Around Your Deck (Hardcover)

I love to garden but I don't have a huge budget so I was delighted to discover this book, which covers topics I hadn't seen in similar books. Among other things, it includes:

Full color photos of all sorts of deck gardens, from evening gardens to container gardens, trellis gardens and more

Detailed tips on how to camouflage ugly (but usually inexpensive) containers, allowing readers to spend more on plants and less on containers. She provides instructions for numerous and easy "cover-ups" for those awful plastic pots. I love this!

Tips on planning deckside flower beds, choosing furniture and buying or making trellises and other supports are invaluable. This author knows her stuff and even includes plans for all sorts of items (I love the very easy copper trellis she includes)

She lists the plants by their common and horticultural names and includes photos of nearly every plant - in color.

Plans for the deck gardens are incorporated into the larger landscape theme (assuming you have one) so that your deck fits into your total garden design scheme, a very nice touch.

If you aren't a natural decorator, her chapter on "Decorating with Style" will save you time and frustration. Her examples are never tacky, always tasteful and accomplished with a minimum of time, effort and fuss. Again, something to love!

Finally, this book allows readers to simplify their deck gardening time, which means there should be more time to savor the results of your efforts. Who wouldn't love that?

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Video Review, March 9, 2010

By 

BeachBrights "beachbrights blogspot" (TX) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Deckscaping: Gardening and Landscaping On and Around Your Deck (Paperback)

Length:: 2:15 Mins

I hope that by doing a video review, I am giving others a better glimpse inside the book. This is an excellent book for anyone looking to create an outdoor space.

Enjoy-

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THOROUGHLY INTRIGUING, February 27, 2002

By 

Sandra D. Peters "Seagull Books" (Prince Edward Island, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deckscaping: Gardening and Landscaping On and Around Your Deck (Paperback)

This book thoroughly intriqued me because often when we think of decks, we think of some elaborate, expensive project. In this case building a deck can mean little more than building a simple platform and from there, expanding on your idea to whatever extent one chooses. How far one goes with design will likely depend to a certain degree on space, lifestyle and financial resources. There are some great ideas here for furniture, planters, etc. and the photography is quite appealing. Wondering what to plant around your deck and where? This book offers some really great suggestions. Now, if I could just find my existing deck under all this snow....