Garden of the Day: Bearing Fruit in Bed Stuy
[nggallery id=”26320″ template=galleryview] Got a garden space you want to share? Send us a note. And now, your very own DIBS presents his deck and garden project. I purchased the brownstone in Bed Stuy in May of 2007 and began work on the deck and yard in the fall. I used recommendations found here on…
[nggallery id=”26320″ template=galleryview]
Got a garden space you want to share? Send us a note. And now, your very own DIBS presents his deck and garden project. I purchased the brownstone in Bed Stuy in May of 2007 and began work on the deck and yard in the fall. I used recommendations found here on brownstoner and Susan from Sketch and Hammer did a wonderful job on the deck along with her iron man Manny. Chuck Dorr from Dig and his crew did the yard. I was suspect of Chuck and his crew as they were the first group of contractors I’ve ever hired who listened to NPR while they were working! Both the deck and the yard turned out fine and although both were on the expensive side I’d heartily recommend both of them.
The yard was your standard 40′ X 20′ overgrown mess with a concrete slab off the back of the house. They removed all the debris and, as per my design, installed the pebble walk, the fountain and, in the spring, finished the plantings. There was a beautiful fruit-bearing golden delicious apple tree in the middle of the yard and I had that moved to the side. because of the move it did not bear fruit this year but I’m hopeful for next year. There was a 40′ catalpa tree in the back left corner which stayed but I susequently had it taken down as the mess from the pods was just too much to deal with. Although I hated to take down a perfectly fine tree you can’t understand the extent of the pod problem unless you have one.
The plantings are: a few hydrangeas, an original rose, rhododendrons, rose of sharon across the back, a few winterberrys (both male and female required) and my tomato/onion/lettuce raised bed to the side. The only regret I have that I developed in seeing other posters’ gardens was that I did not actually employ more usable hardscape areas. However, I primarily use the deck and really enjoy the view and the fountain.
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Really beautiful, Dave.
Nice job. Very formal. Miniture Versailles… all you need now are some tiny boxwood spheres. Might consider adding some kind of salvaged architectural element to the rear brick wall to continue the line of sight.
You can always add more hardscape into the mix as you find the need. I prefer more green myself. Didn’t mention whether you planted any bulbs. Spring, May and June, are the best flowering times for Brooklyn gardens. Oh yea, I also like the mix of the wood and iron deck. What type of wood is it?
Good time now to get a nice bird feeder. You will be surprised at how many birds stick around for the winter.
FLH…I get a lot of sun…as you face the garden from the house, the right side is the southern exposure. I moved the apple tree next to the fence and it doesn’t get as much but I think the fruit bearing problem was because of the “shock” of the move. Hopefully in 2009 because they were such incredible apples. My tomatoes on the north wall grew to 6′ high because of the sun and in reality I had to take some of the bushes out as the season progressed because they got quite large and were planted too close together.
It looks great, too bad about the catalpa, DIBS. They’re beautiful trees, I had one at my previous place. What’s the light exposure for your garden? I’ve got two apple trees that I put in last year, one of which bore and one which didn’t.
DIBS, great job. Thanks for being courageous enough to share! I can’t help but laugh at Mr. B’s title to this one. At least it doesn’t say “Baring Fruit in Bed Stuy”!
I would park my Caddy on your hydrangeas, original rose, rhododendrons, rose of sharon across the back, a few winterberrys.
Seriously, looks great. You’ll enjoy meandering on the path to the bench when the greenery fully grows in.
I agree about the hardscape. I’d like more in my yard also (when I get one).
Love your deck furniture – elegant.
One should always get a permit for any work done on a property 😉
The code basically limits you to 8’deep and the structure cannot be made out of any combustible material within three feet of the side property lines. Can’t remember what the rail height and rail spacing requirements are. So basically its a steel structure with wood decking but with metal grate decking to points that are 3′ from the property line. You can see a small section of the metal grate decking in front of the planter box. The fencing on the side is steel support with “removeable” latticework and wood framing. The “removable” aspect meets code and it is not a structural element. Cost was $17k last Fall. I’m assuming that if you wanted to stay within three feet of each side property then the entire structure could be wood.
Somehow messed up and posted my comment to the re-fi thread==oh well!–but, as I said there, I think this garden is beautiful and I would spend every spare minute on that deck, weather permitting.
The garden looks like a great retreat. I love the deck….