Garden Design for a Deck: Year-Round Beauty with Low Maintenance

Integrating Your Deck into the Landscape

Most decks settle for a few evergreens or a simple shrub line, but this mixed border design proves that year-round interest and low maintenance can beautifully enhance your outdoor living space. The free-form beds feature plants of varying heights and foliage colors, maintaining visual appeal even when flowers aren't in bloom.

Plant selections thrive across USDA zones 4-8, offering broad adaptability. Brick edging prevents grass invasion while adding clean definition.

How the Garden Was Created

West Border: Grasses Take Center Stage

Bed edges were laid out with hoses for smooth curves. Potted plants were positioned for ideal spacing before sod removal and soil amendment with organic matter. Along the west deck side, ornamental grasses—blue sedge and blue lyme grass—create movement and texture.

South Border: Color and Structure

After soil preparation and planting, brick edging was installed followed by a 3-inch shredded cedar mulch layer. Limestone pavers at the deck stairs maintain a fresh appearance in this high-traffic zone. Plantings include Russian sage, 'Goldsturm' black-eyed Susan, and variegated wintercreeper.

Plant Legends

West Border Plants

(A) Variegated eulalia grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus'); 5 ft. Zones 5-8.
(B) Blue lyme grass (Elymus glaucus); 2 ft. Zones 4-9.
(C) 'Vera Jameson' stonecrop (Sedum 'Vera Jameson'); 9 in. Zones 4-9.
(D) Wine and Roses weigela (Weigela florida 'Alexandra'); 6 ft. Zones 5-8.
(E) 'Ivory Jade' wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei 'Ivory Jade'); 3 ft. Zones 4-9.
(F) 'Monch' aster (Aster x frikartii 'Monch'); 3 ft. Zones 5-8.
(G) Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia); 4 ft. Zones 4-9.
(H) 'Goldsturm' black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'); 2 ft. Zones 3-9.
(I) Fernleaf alder buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula 'Asplenifolia'); 10 ft. Zones 3-8.
(J) Eulalia grass (Miscanthus sinensis); 3 ft. Zones 5-9.
(K) 'Prairie Sun' rudbeckia (Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun'); 3 ft. Annual.
(L) Blue sedge (Carex glauca); 1 ft. Zones 5-9.
(M) Alder buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula); 15 ft. Zones 3-8.
(N) Potted annuals on pedestals.
(O) 'Blue Chip' creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip'); 1 ft. Zones 3-9.

South Border Plants

(L) Blue sedge (Carex glauca); 1 ft. Zones 5-9.
(Q) Angel's Blush hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Ruby'); 8 ft. Zones 4-8.
(P) 'Bumalda' Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica 'Bumalda'); 4 ft. Zones 4-9.
(R) 'Eichholz' cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri); 1 ft. Zones 5-8.
(S) 'Ivory Halo' redtwig dogwood (Cornus alba 'Ivory Halo'); 5 ft. Zones 2-8.
(T) 'Ruby Spice' summersweet (Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'); 8 ft. Zones 4-9.
(V) Ravennagrass (Erianthus ravennae); 8 ft. Zones 4-10.
(U) 'Purple Dome' New England aster (Aster novae-angliae 'Purple Dome'); 18 in. Zones 3-7.
(D) Wine and Roses weigela (Weigela florida 'Alexandra'); 6 ft. Zones 5-8.
(H) 'Goldsturm' black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'); 2 ft. Zones 3-9.
(G) Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia); 4 ft. Zones 4-9.
(W) 'Emerald Fountain' Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis 'Emerald Fountain'); 8 ft. Zones 4-8.
(E) 'Ivory Jade' wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei 'Ivory Jade'); 3 ft. Zones 4-9.
(A) Variegated eulalia grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus'); 5 ft. Zones 5-8.