<p>We’re about halfway done with a backyard redo, and I thought I’d pose a question to get some good ideas from helpful CCers, specifically regarding
an outdoor deck staircase. </p>
<p>Background: our back lot has a big slope down into the woods. We are having a two-level flagstone patio installed, along a waterfall, stream, and pond. It’s looking great and I’m so excited.</p>
<p>Because of the slope of the lot, our deck is up a full flight of stairs from the patios. We’re changing the staircase from being one straight flight to a turned staircase with a landing. </p>
<p>The big question now is what to do with the area under the staircase. I don’t like how it looks, but the area is so tall for the upper stairs, there’s no way that landscaping will cover it enough. One of the levels of the new patio is under the deck, and we’re putting a nice sitting area under there, and I just don’t want to look over at the area under the stairs. Seeing the posts going down into the ground is just ugly. It’s an area that never gets any sun—not even weeds grow under there, so I don’t think trying to offset it with plantings will work.</p>
<p>Lattice was my first thought, but I don’t want to do something that will look dated, and I want it to look good (but not be incredibly expensive–this project has already gone over budget, so I don’t want to go crazy with it).
Anyone got any good ideas??</p>
<p>I don’t think lattice will look dated. But then, I’m in Maine and we tend to be a little behind in the trends, lol. It was certainly my first thought based on what you describe.</p>
<p>I don’t think lattice wlil look dated either; if you look through Better Homes and Gardens publications, for exampkle, you see it–traditional perhaps, and not cutting edge, but classic. Note, too, that you can use the area for storage if you use lattice as a concealer–make a door with very simple and unobtrusive hinge on one side and latch on the other.</p>
<p>I have this same configuration with my stairs and we have pea gravel under there, also in surrounding areas outside the perimeter of the deck. It looks fine–sort of neutral. We have dogs who run in the area while chasing balls. </p>
<p>I like the idea of the latticework and the door for storage, though.</p>
<p>What about closing the area off with something a little more sturdy than lattice…like cedar siding or something with a natural texture to compliment your flagstone and wood decking? The footings, with a few little additional modifications, would be good framing for something like this.</p>
<p>(I’m thinking something like board and batten vertical siding.)</p>
<p>marite, 2 ideas come to mind. The first is similar to the others above. Put in lattice work but leave about a foot of open ground at the bottom of the lattice. Then plant a vine - even English ivy - in the ground. If the planting space is surrounded by stone, the ivy won’t get out and attack everything else. If the lattice would get any sun at all it opens up other ideas for planting. </p>
<p>Secondly, I’m not sure how big the space is. But you could put a nice decorative door to the space and use it for storage. </p>
<p>Thirdly you could put up some brickwork and have decorative, colorful tiles installed to turn an area into a pretty wall.</p>
<p>4giggles: the stairs are pressure treated wood</p>
<p>UCgradmary: I’m in hot, humid Charlotte, NC.</p>
<p>I spent 2 hours online this morning searching all kinds of things—the solution that would look the best would be a stone wall. But, that’s out right now because of the price. I’m thinking lattice or a trellis cut to size with fast-growing ivy or jasmine might be a good plan. I’d like to be able to use the area under the top stairs (including under the landing) as storage.</p>
<p>If we did it right, it wouldn’t preclude putting a stone or faux-stone wall up later. Hmmmm. More stuff to think about.</p>
<p>Please don’t use faux-stone, I’ve yet to see it done successfully.</p>
<p>Your best bet would probably be a lattice, use a fast growing evergreen vine to cover it. As for the lattice, I’ve always found a more open weave made out of a nicer wood (perhaps some cedar) is the best option.</p>
<p>I think a trellis with something fast growing is a beautiful, economic solution and you have lots of options for flowers year round where you are most probably. I have grate vines growing up a trellis at my new home, and these things grow about a foot a week in CA and are beautiful. Looks like I’m about to get a hundred pound of Merlot!</p>
<p>We had a similar situation and covered the area beneath the stairs and landing with river rock after planting lots of hostas. The hostas thrived in the shade. However, since you want to use some or all of the area for storage, one solution is string trellis on which to train your vines. Just secure heavy green twine (the polypropylene kind that won’t rot) in a tight crisscross pattern and weave your vines on that. I used a combination of morning glories and moonflowers on a similar trellis at a previous house.</p>
<p>apmom - well of course you have to use “Carolina” jasmine…lol! Actually one of my faves, along with Star jasmine.</p>
<p>Btw…Star grows on anything and the blooms smell HEAVENLY. All my fences are covered with it, and have survived hard freezes with not even the slightest burn.</p>
<p>The lattice sounds good. How about a focus object (statue? interesting rock? self-contained fountain thing?) with a couple of low-voltage lights?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t ever plant climbing stuff on a wooden structure. It’s going to trap moisture against the posts of your nice new deck, and cut a bunch of years off its life. Ivy and other climbers are the death of wooden structures.</p>
<p>I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with the space under a new deck, too. In our case, the deck is going to be built over slope, so there is no practical use for it.</p>
<p>We have a deck with a large “empty” area underneath and the yard sloping away. We just used lattice ot cover it up and it looks great (outdated? old-fashioned? I don’t know) but to my aged eyes it looks much better than before and my H is storing all sorts of goodies in te space</p>
<p>ldmom, that’s funny—at dinner tonight, a friend suggested Carolina Jasmine, too. The site you gave me was awesome…thanks. I think a road trip to one of my local nurseries is in order.</p>
<p>Before our backyard extravaganza began, the area under the deck was really crummy. There was probably a 4-ft slope (across 12 feet) and it was just the cruddy red clay dirt, mixed with various builder remnants. We had it graded to even it out (mostly)…we have a sitting wall of stone around the perimeter for the area right next to the house (not to mess with the foundation and footings for the house), and now a really nice (cooler) area down in the shade…then, there are 2 steps down to the main patio. </p>
<p>I was out there this afternoon trying to imagine all the different options. I’m pretty sure now that we’ll go for the dark green vinyl wide lattice, unless I find a metal material that would work well as a trellis. I’ll remember to keep the growing stuff in the middle, away from the deck posts (thanks Washdad). I don’t want to put a focus item there, though—my attempt is to keep attention away from that area. </p>
<p>It’s getting tough, because I’m full of ideas of what I’d like to plant…I have to hold myself back, as the middle of sweltering summer isn’t a great time to plant new stuff. But, I’ll definitely get my around-the-stairs stuff started and reuse the water from the de-humidifiers in the house to keep the stuff happy.</p>
<p>I think my original hesitancy about the lattice is from seeing all the times when people have used the cheapest wood lattice. One of our past houses had lots of lattice around part of the structure, and when we moved in, it was rotting and breaking down. Ugh. But, after checking out some of the options at my local Lowe’s, the vinyl stuff looks like it will hold up much better. Since dear H is going to be installing it, I’m sure he’ll do an awesome job. (just as long as I can keep him working on it!!!) Thanks to all…</p>