Transform your outdoor dining or lounging area into a vibrant oasis with thoughtful deck planting. By integrating beds, planters, or living walls into your design, you can create a harmonious blend between hardscaping and softscaping.
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"Incorporating plants into deck design is essential," shares Karl Harrison, a landscape designer. "Combine your decking and plants to achieve a cohesive garden aesthetic."
Deck Planting Concepts
To spark your imagination for deck design or to rejuvenate an existing space, check out these inspiring deck planting concepts.
1. Choose Architectural Plants
Tree ferns, with their impressive fronds and sturdy trunks, make a striking addition to any deck. When planting, ensure there's enough vertical space for their fronds, which can reach up to 6 feet (2m) in length.
Because tree ferns grow slowly, consider purchasing taller specimens to enjoy immediate impact rather than waiting for years for them to flourish.
2. Integrate Planters
Incorporating planters into your deck layout adds a lively touch without sacrificing lounging or dining space. Opt for evergreen plants to maintain year-round appeal.
This example leaves an open area for seating, which can be enhanced with a cushion for comfort. Regular pruning will be necessary to keep plants from encroaching on the seating area.
3. Embrace Contemporary Styles
For a sleek, modern look, design beds with geometric shapes to complement the deck. Stylish evergreen shrubs work beautifully in such designs, and topping the beds with slate chippings can minimize maintenance while preventing weeds.
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4. Create a Living Wall
If space is tight, consider a living wall as a brilliant deck planting solution. This feature adds visual interest without taking up valuable deck space.
You can use a combination of annuals, perennials, herbs, and even vegetables, ensuring you select compact varieties that are easy to maintain.
5. Follow Curved Lines
Enhance a curved deck by creating adjacent beds that mirror the shape, making the planting feel like an integral part of the design. Curved edges can soften the overall appearance of your outdoor area.
Consider incorporating circular fire pits within the composite decking, surrounded by bay trees and ornamental topiary to avoid harsh lines. Alternatively, you might create a circular deck around a water feature, enhanced by circular plantings.
6. Work with the Existing Landscape
In some situations, adding a deck to the landscape is more effective than adding plants to the deck. For instance, a deck positioned over a river can immerse you in natural greenery while integrating existing trees into the design.
7. Mimic Indoor Spaces
A covered deck can serve as an inviting outdoor room. Choosing deck plants that reflect indoor styles can enhance the atmosphere. In this cozy seating area, palms in wicker planters contribute to a relaxed vibe.
Use tall plants for a dramatic effect, placing them strategically to align with the furniture for a well-balanced look.
8. Design a Green Canyon
To soften a deck surrounded by tall walls, plantings that extend from the deck upwards can create a lush environment. Layer plants to maximize the feeling of enclosure, using narrow borders, climbing plants, and container trees to enhance the experience.
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9. Infuse Color
Containers filled with flowers can beautifully brighten up a deck while also complementing other garden areas. Gardener Sarah Raven emphasizes the importance of incorporating pots and containers, noting they add vital color and visual interest to any garden.
"I particularly enjoy my array of pots and containers, which create dynamic color patterns and highlight various features of the garden," she shares.
For smaller containers, pelargoniums are excellent choices, flourishing with minimal water and care. For vibrant colors, opt for varieties like Pink Capitatum, P. Clorinda, or Lara Starshine.
Find the featured products at Sarah Raven.
10. Scale Planting to Backyard Size
When planning your deck planting, consider the overall proportions of your backyard. In a compact space, the planting should remain minimal, as suggested by designer Laara Copley-Smith, who integrated bamboo into the design while ensuring it remains contained.
Two multi-stem Acer palmatum were positioned beside the deck for their shape and foliage, complemented by Trachelospermum jasminoides on a trellis for added scent and flowers.
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11. Incorporate Blooms
Creating a flower bed right at the edge of the deck allows you to enjoy blooming plants while overlooking the garden. Incorporating scented flowers enhances both the visual appeal and fragrance of the area.
Be mindful of the eventual height of your plants to ensure they remain visible without obstructing your view.
12. Edge with Plantings
Building beds into the deck structure can create vibrant living borders. A single flower type can form a colorful ribbon, while mixing colors provides a charming alternative.
These narrow beds work wonderfully alongside steps, offering a delightful view as you ascend.
13. Match Planters to the Deck
Utilize planters that complement the deck's color for a cohesive look. Arranging groups in odd numbers, such as three gray planters, contributes to a casual aesthetic, while symmetrical arrangements work well for formal spaces.
For formal settings, ensure the selected planters are proportionate to the deck's size.
Discover more deck color ideas in our gallery of inspiring images.
14. Grow Climbers between Deck and House
Planting between the deck and house can soften the boundary, with evergreen climbers providing greenery without occupying floor space, making them ideal for smaller gardens.
15. Elevate the Deck Above Plantings
This deck design in a Californian backyard stands out, suspended high in the tree canopy. The concept integrates the deck seamlessly into the surrounding greenery while featuring a slim railing to enhance the views.
Check out more deck railing ideas in our guide.
What Should I Plant Next to My Deck?
Your choice of plants next to the deck should harmonize with the overall garden design. If you have a contemporary garden, consider sculptural foliage plants, while a cottage garden theme would call for similarly styled flowers.
Begin by selecting larger plants, such as shrubs or small trees, especially if the deck is elevated, ensuring they grow at eye level. Ornamental grasses also pair well with raised decks.
For vibrant blooms, consider perennials like cannas or day lilies for summer color. If fragrance and colorful displays are desired, a lavender bed is an excellent choice.
If a wall or fence is nearby, introduce climbers like star jasmine or Clematis montana to enhance the space.
What to Place Under Pots on a Deck?
Utilize pot pads or risers beneath pots to elevate them slightly off the deck. This prevents water from pooling underneath, which can lead to staining or rot, creating conditions for mold and mildew.
For lightweight planters, you can shift them around, but avoid placing them in the same spots repeatedly. Smaller pots can be stored away during winter if they previously housed summer plants.
How Can I Enhance the Look of My Deck with Planting?
To enhance your deck's appearance, consider contrasting the plantings with the deck color. "Decking materials like Trex come in various colors, making plant selection exciting," advises landscape designer Karl Harrison.
Living walls are trendy; you might incorporate stainless steel trellis cables into your deck design for a similar effect.
If you prefer a natural look, consider wildflowers. Many suppliers offer wildflower mixes, or you can use wildflower turf to attract pollinators.
For container planting, design the deck frame to accommodate planters. Once the frame is built, slide the container into the designated slot for a seamless fit.
For added ambiance, consider installing lighting within the planters, such as uplighters or LED strips, for a warm evening glow. Opt for warm white lighting for the best effect.
How Can I Make My Deck More Inviting with Planting?
To create an inviting atmosphere on your deck through planting, there are numerous options. "Aim for impact," suggests landscape designer Tracey Parker. "Feature planters with evergreen foliage, like fatsia, complemented by trailing plants, will create a year-round focal point."
Evoking a vacation vibe with planting also enhances the deck's appeal. Just a few planters filled with vibrant flowers and tropical leaves can make a difference.
Creating shelter around the deck can provide a cozy space. "Deep trough planters filled with tall grasses can filter wind and create a sense of enclosure while seated," says Tracey.
For a touch of luxury, she suggests cutting a hole in the deck to allow a specimen tree with interesting trunks to grow through, adding a high-end feel to your outdoor space.
