// Ashley Coon
Crevice Garden & Misc.
// Ashley Coon
Crevice Garden & Misc.
PROJECT
This project had a unique condition of a pre-existing element (an open patio with pavers) that was built by a subcontractor in which the clients were unsatisfied with the execution. Rather than incur the cost of demolishing the patio and rebuilding, the concept became one of masking or hiding the imperfections. A BBQ/gathering area with a built-in minimal bench seating element and surrounding planter details served as a cost-effective solution.
Additionally, this recently constructed single family residence in a new development near Knoxville, TN suffered from storm erosion due to the surrounding steep slope and dense clay Appalachian subsoil, along with a general lack of privacy.
I installed a French drain to help mitigate the water issues from the slope that lead to severe soil erosion in some areas and standing water in others.
The result is an illusion of terracing where pathways made of woodchips and a boardwalk meander around the back yard, allowing for ease of access to new vegetable garden zones. Over time, the exposed property line will be filled in by mature evergreens and native large shrubs that will serve as a "green wall" for privacy. On the side nearest to the busy street, narrow evergreens will grow in to help dampen the daytime traffic noise.
Pollinator friendly native flowering species are dotted throughout all of the planting zones.
The clients also wanted a small area that replaced the lawn grass but mimicked the function of a lawn, so the existing turf was removed and seeded with Dichondra repens which is a low growing maintenance-free groundcover that does well in the East Tennessee area and is non-invasive in that region.
I've used this in various projects and it has survived the winters in USDA Zone 7a.
Construction Process