How To Create a Woodland Garden | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada helps a homeowner create some privacy with a woodland garden created from native plants.
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Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada takes us on a house call to solve a homeowner’s front yard problem. Despite living in a wooded neighborhood, their street is noisy, and they’d prefer to create some separation for the front yard for their children. Jenn surveys the surrounding plants and setting and comes up with a plan to create a woodland garden.
Where to find it?
Jenn draws inspiration from nature to help a homeowner add a woodland garden to his front yard. Jenn shows the homeowner a variety of native plants that effortlessly blend with the heavily wooded neighborhood. Together, the two decide on a combination of Winterthur Viburnum [bit.ly/3yFXN3U] (Viburnum nudum 'Winterthur'), Oakleaf Hydrangea [bit.ly/3EIgfNi] (Snow Queen) and Cardinal red-twig dogwood [bit.ly/3g7MVFA] (Cornus Sericea).
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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment-your home.
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How To Create a Woodland Garden | Ask This Old House
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[@Shkrelic]

More on native plants would be awesome. Especially zone specific would be amazing.

[@clintrobinson1706]

For more native plant information and resources look in to “Homegrown National Park”

[@camlobesvtec]

The guy seems extra stoked about his new plants lol

[@cargogh]

At 51 seconds he mentions being stoked about trees: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5i7gJWXgp6caLM

[@Mrmudbone_gaming]

Lmfao😂

[@andrewkline]

I think he was expecting young plants rather than young trees.. if they dont stay on top of pruning early on, that's all going look pretty odd in a few years

[@lusoroofing5221]

tell me about it LoL

[@Rosicrisp]

Read your comment before watching the video I thought he was going to oversell it bahaha

[@casid9929]

It would be great if the homeowner could send a photo update next year!

[@watchmenpropertyinspection3469]

yes please

[@user-ch7mn1kj4b]

I’m loving this naturalized native plant barrier. This is exactly what I’ve been looking to do on our property. This going be a beautiful barrier garden in a 5-6 yrs. Great video Jenn.

[@coffeebert6644]

Loved the look on his face when she was going over the plants

[@sofiep7861]

Love woodland garden and promoting native species! US has amazing native flora that are lovely to use in homes.

[@flat-earther]

Sofie I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.

[@xsaiN2k9]

@@flat-earther brainwashed sheep

[@flat-earther]

@@xsaiN2k9 Are ad hominem attacks your best globe proof? BTW your comment is shadow banned.

[@xsaiN2k9]

@@flat-earther No, but are those KZbin comments your best flat earth proof? I believe in a pyramid shaped earth.

[@flat-earther]

@@xsaiN2k9 Did I mention flat earth? Does denying the globe automatically mean flat earth to you?

[@andrewk-majordochomerepair6014]

I remember Rodger often also like to use viburnum. still sorry for the loss of him needing to leave the show for health issues but Jen has been great as well

[@mrusso924]

Love these relatively simple projects that make a huge difference. Would love more videos like this

[@flat-earther]

Matt I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.

[@wizzopq]

@@flat-earther might i suggest a week long stay at your local looney bin?

[@flat-earther]

@@wizzopq Are ad hominem attacks your best globe proof?

[@wizzopq]

@@flat-earther I don't have to produce proof, I'm not the one making the claim. If you want to challenge settled scientific fact, you're free to, but no one will take you seriously until you can provide rigorous, repeatable findings that can be independently verified. *Since you can't, I don't have to take your claims seriously, and therefore the only thing left for me to do is to poke fun at you.* Get serious, man. Get help.

[@alliehamilton-calhoun162]

Thank you for using all natives! You're helping the environment more than you know!

[@Farm_fab]

Non native plants are also acceptable if they are not invasive.

[@alliehamilton-calhoun162]

@@Farm_fab they don't benefit the insect population nearly as much, though.

[@flat-earther]

Allie I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.

[@justinandout]

OMG this is basically a xenophobia but towards plants! I'm losing hope for humanity :(

[@alliehamilton-calhoun162]

@@justinandout ummmmm.... there won't _be_ any people around if the insects die out. Stop looking for things to be offended about and maybe become educated before you make such comments....

[@frescazzz7536]

Love this. Especially the use of native plants!

[@PlantNative]

Planting native plants to your area will help save the planet! Enjoyed this.

[@jaimemorgan5323]

I love all these plant selections, but I'm surprised everything is deciduous! With young children to keep inside the property, and a bustling street view to screen year-round, a perimeter of evergreens (or a fence) seems like an obvious choice.

[@TootlesTart]

I’m gonna become a This Old House junkie. Been absorbing your show since I was a kid.

[@RugbyNick6]

Great to see the natives!

[@Thoughmuchistaken]

Nice group of plants. As it's meant for a bit of a road screen I would've thrown in some evergreens too, maybe some juniper or mountain laurel. Or punched up density and variety of the deciduous group.

[@user-travelbug79]

The deer in my neighborhood consider our Red Twig Dogwood plants 'breakfast, lunch and dinner'.

[@nancywells5626]

This is a really nice layout of plantings. It would be cool to see what the plantings will look like as they grow to maturity.

[@Kevscancave]

Another great video! Thanks!

[@tugweltp]

Native plants for the win!

[@staleyexplores]

would love to see these when they grow in so we can really understand the vision

[@mdhafiz7152]

really enjoy thanks your video

[@jonfranklin9361]

Really enjoy these videos. Very informative. 😊

[@johnfithian-franks8276]

I cannot help but to worry about bushes with berries on them and young children. The temptation to try berries is very high with children I know because my own son had seen his mother cutting mushrooms and then played in the woods, I was summoned form my work to get to the hospital as my son have eaten some toadstool and was unconscious, luckily my son came through the ordeal without any problems but it scared me as a farther and I made sure he did not eat anything that was not on our table from then on.

[@flat-earther]

John I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.

[@Thoughmuchistaken]

The viburnums and dogwood are both edible, and neither the witch hazel or hydrangea produce eye catching fruit. It's a fair point though, an example being yew where the red 'fruit' is edible but the large seed inside is extremely poisonous.

[@Melissa-gn3dv]

I love this, but I would have liked to see a good shot of the end results. I also wish there were some shows on landscaping in a more rural setting.

[@richies6420]

That Oak leaf Hydrangea will really take over and look beautiful.

[@staleyexplores]

wish this was native in the pacific nw, it could be I guess and I just don't know it. but this video seems like east coast somewhere.

[@jamesonstalanthasyu]

It takes more time, but I would have soaked the root ball and teased it all out. then mixed mostly existing soil and some pot soil as I planted it back so that the roots will actually spread out more and establish better. The way they did it, which I know is typical and fast, you won't know if it really takes properly long term. Some do not get out of the encircled roots stage and could topple/die sooner.

[@sherriianiro747]

I have been planting trees and shrubs for quite awhile and that used to be the way they said to do it but now it's native soil and compost only. If you use potting soil as soon as those roots hit native soil they will girdle and eventually kill the tree or shrub because they grow the path of least resistance. I find it harder to mix our clay soil with compost but it does work, no fatalities in decades so Jen (like Roger) knows her stuff.

[@hillhouserehab]

As usual good info

[@xetomg]

great video, thanks!

[@flat-earther]

xetomg I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.

[@haroldmorick2965]

Smile man!

[@awildapproach]

yay! I love that plant combination a lot. Is there an update of this landscape? Or maybe one for this coming fall planned? I'd love to see it in full autumn colors.

[@williamgoring7605]

Yeah for a woodland house I went out and found wild blueberry bushes they're growing good now you can find a lot of beautiful wild plants to do a nice yard and barrier I hope you guys aren't buying your plants in the woods

[@peninsulahomerenovations9680]

Making this old house new again.

[@flat-earther]

peninsula I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.

[@cetyl2626]

Any suggestions for evergreen varieties?

[@XzTS-Roostro]

His house has a really nice number to it

[@flat-earther]

XzTS I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.

[@mitchwood6609]

do you eat asz

[@TootlesTart]

Plants list: 1. Cornus sercia (red twig dogwood) is deer-resistant and twigs turn bright red in winter 2. Viburnum nudum (Winterthur viburnum) flowering with berries for wildlife, excellent fall color 3. Cranberry bush viburnum - flowering, unique leaf shape, berries for birds, brilliant red color in fall 4. Oakleaf hydrangea - white flowering pannacles in June, reds/purples fall colors 5. Vernal witch hazel - one of the first to bloom in spring

[@jupitermarx]

What region of the US are you guys doing this? I live in Wake Forest NC I, too, have a wooded lot and would love to do this very thing in my yard? Any suggestions?

[@RugbyNick6]

All of these would work in NC. To check though you can Google the plant and "native zone" for a map.

[@erinlee7216]

Does anyone know what state this was filmed in?

[@cargogh]

If they grow fast, those red-twigged dogwoods need pruning back to the ground every 2 or 3 years. Otherwise they look ragged and lose the winter red color--or at least mine do.

[@flat-earther]

cargogh I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.

[@jsfranks840]

Where is this property?

[@solobiker18]

A fence would be better, but what do I know...

[@Thoughmuchistaken]

You know you like fences. But what sort of fence?

[@jonboy8181]

This guy had somewhere else to be! 🤣

[@Lou_Mansfield]

How do we know which plants to choose in our front yard?

[@solobiker18]

Ask ur mum

[@jaimemorgan5323]

A variety of factors to consider: budget, hardiness zone, the conditions of your location (sloped? boggy? exposed to strong or salty winds?), soil type, amount of sun/shade, the functions you want the plants to perform (replace lawn/create privacy/screen an unsightly view/provide wind-breaking, complement the house, flowers for cutting, edibles for human consumption or to feed the wildlife....); and of course, your own personal tastes. It's worthwhile making a site plan and writing a garden brief - to guide your own design and plant selections, or to take to a garden designer. Your plan should identify areas of sun and shade, existing trees and shrubs that will remain, views or objects you want to frame or screen from view, the location of underground pipes/electricity points and taps/access to the street, buildings, letterbox; and any other specifics that will influence your design. Once you have an idea of what you NEED to fulfil the brief, you can more easily select plants that meet your criteria.

[@clintrobinson1706]

Audubon and National Wildlife Federation have website that list native plants by zip code. Also consider looking into Homegrown National Park

[@wyominghome4857]

This didn't sound like a plan for a "woodland" garden; it just sounded like randomly planted similar-sized shrubs, most of which were not deer resistant. I wish there had been more about planning for a certain look.

[@philipkim6812]

did this old house pay for all the new plants?

[@Farm_fab]

In my area, utility marking services are used by contractors. Residents may have to pay a fee to use this.

[@flat-earther]

Bryant I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.

[@Yorkie285]

She is really cute

[@susanpharr6809]

Ah…so not really a garden. Just a landscaped barrier from the road.

[@d3fc0n545]

I don't intend on sounding mean but shouldn't the dude smile one time in the video or display some kind of emotion?

[@Gordon_2000]

He kinda smile once, that counts

[@allentoyokawa9068]

he nervous

[@flat-earther]

Cons I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.

[@zubairahmed9905]

Greetings sir my name is zubair ahmed and i want to work in your company my name is mine who belong to pakistan and i am electrician

[@flat-earther]

4:24 _it's a free service_ So you don't pay taxes?

[@Star_Dust___]

This new generation SUCKS, you have big shoes to fill. Try harder or quit 😢

[@SometimeAgo65]

ANYBODY CAN DO THIS 🥱 Why dont you do a big old country yard, that has some trees, some foundational landscaping, and a lot of grass to mow? I mean show people HOW to start an actual Woodland Garden, or landscaping.