Deck & Landscape Design: A Complete Guide to a Cohesive Yard

How Landscaping and Decking Work Together

A backyard's value isn't just measured in square footage; it's measured in its ability to extend your space outdoors. The most successful projects are those where the deck and the surrounding landscape are treated as a single, unified design. Marrying professional landscaping with a well-constructed deck is the key to creating a complete, visually cohesive space that truly enhances how you use your property.

Why Your Deck and Landscape Design Should Go Hand-in-Hand

Think of your deck as the main stage and your landscaping as the theater that surrounds it. A common misconception is that you must choose between having a spacious deck or a lush yard. The reality is, you don't have to sacrifice one for the other. With professional planning from teams like Q&A Landscaping and SelectDecks, even compact yards can accommodate both. When designed in concert, the transition from your home to your deck, from your deck down into your yard, becomes seamless.

Landscaping Around Your Deck: Ideas and Inspiration

A great landscape design doesn't just add greenery; it thoughtfully frames your deck and enhances its usability. Here are some popular deck landscaping ideas to get you started.

Low-Maintenance Landscaping Around a Raised Deck

For many homeowners, the goal is beauty without the burden of constant upkeep.

• Use rock gardens and mulch: These can suppress weeds and add texture.
• Choose native plants & climbers: Plants adapted to the local climate require less water and care once established. Climbing flowers can look amazing if trained up a pillar or stair fence.
• Incorporate perennials: These plants return year after year, reducing the need for annual planting.

Creating Privacy and Beauty with Strategic Planting

Your backyard should be your private retreat.

• Soften the Edges: Use flower beds, container gardens, and ornamental grasses to soften the hard lines of a deck, adding color, texture, and fragrance that changes with the seasons. Try to keep the hierarchy between the deck & stairs (tall), then a tree or taller bush, even large grasses (medium), followed by ground flowers, smaller grasses surrounded by stone or mulch. You can add concrete borders to the bed to finish it all off.
• Build a Living Privacy Wall: Strategically placed trees, evergreen shrubs, or even a trellis with climbing vines can create a natural privacy screen. These are fantastic backyard deck landscaping ideas that add vertical interest.

Under-Deck Landscaping to Maximize Your Space

The often-overlooked area beneath a raised deck holds great potential.

• Embrace the Shade: Use shade-loving plants like hostas and hanging ferns to create a lush, whimsical area.
• Create a Dry Space: With proper under-deck drainage systems, this area can be used for storage or as a sheltered patio.
• Add Pathways: Well-designed pathways can guide guests to and from the deck and other patio features, while landscape lighting can ensure your space is safe and inviting after sunset.

A Professional's Perspective: Deck Building and Maintenance Tips

A deck is the foundation of your outdoor living area. To provide an expert's view, we've collaborated with Henry Mooney from SelectDecks.

Selecting a Deck Builder

When you make the choice to transform your outdoor living area, working with the right deck builder is everything.

If you’re planning on building a deck in the Pittsburgh area, seek out a deck builder that you know, like, and trust. A deck builder that will guide you to the decisions that are truly best for you.

Material Choices

At SelectDecks, we choose only composite decking because of its quality, durability and the benefits it offers. Composite decking comes in myriad colors, has increased traction, lasts for decades and has a luxurious look and feel that you deserve.

These days, composite deck board manufacturers offer lengthy product warranties in excess of 25 years. This means your deck will look and feel as good on year ten as it did on day one.

The Importance of a Solid Foundation

Ensuring the foundation and framing your deck is built upon is safe is absolutely crucial. There are many factors that impact the safety and quality of a deck’s foundation. Over time, things like ledger boards (the board that connects your deck to your home) can rot away.

The posts holding up your deck may not be dug deep enough to pass inspections. Making sure that your deck builder is qualified to assess whether your existing deck frame is safe is critical. You should focus on enjoying your deck, not worrying about it.

Design Choices Impacting Feel

With your deck built, it’s time to decorate it. Your design choices can have a massive impact on how your deck feels. For example, you could go for more of a rustic feel with woven cushions and wooden furniture, or a contemporary style with solid dark colors and metal furniture.

Whichever way you decide to go, the design choices you make have a huge effect on the appearance and feel of your deck. I suggest creating a vision board full of ideas you like. After a while, your favorite types of furniture and decorations start to reveal themselves. After that, it’s then just a matter of implementing them.

Maintenance Tips

We only build decks using composite deck boards and composite deck boards have a far lower amount of maintenance required than your typical wooden deck boards. Regularly sweeping your deck can get it clear of debris, and cleaning it once or twice a year with a mild soap and water can keep your deck looking new.

Tying It All Together

By partnering with professionals for both your decking and landscaping needs, you ensure that every element is working together. From the initial landscaping around the deck to the final touches, a cohesive plan is the key to creating the backyard of your dreams.

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