At Creative Concepts & Design, we believe that a deck is more than just a structure—it’s the centerpiece of your outdoor living space. And one of the best ways to bring it to life is with thoughtful deck landscaping. Whether your deck is big or small, landscaping enhances both the beauty and function of your backyard. As a leading deck builder in Overland Park, we’ve seen how the right combination of plants, pathways, lighting, and features can transform a standard deck into a backyard oasis.
Here’s how to start planning your perfect landscape around your deck.
Deck Landscaping Is Practical and Beautiful
Deck landscaping isn’t just about aesthetics—it serves a practical purpose too. Well-placed shrubs or trellises can offer privacy. Ground cover can reduce erosion. Trees can provide shade and improve energy efficiency by keeping your deck cooler in the summer.
And of course, flowers, plants, and greenery soften the hard edges of decking and help your deck blend into the landscape. Whether you want a low-maintenance garden or a lush escape, landscaping creates a welcoming environment that invites you to relax, entertain, and enjoy. It’s really the finishing touch to a beautiful deck.
Deck Landscaping Basics
If you’re just getting started with deck landscaping, keep these basic design principles in mind
- Layering: Place taller plants and shrubs toward the back (or outer edge of the deck) and shorter plants in the front. This creates depth and allows every plant to shine.
- Balance and symmetry: You don’t need a mirror image on each side of your deck, but having some visual balance makes the space feel harmonious.
- Color and texture: Mix leaf shapes, flower colors, and plant heights for a rich, layered look. Too much of the same texture or color can feel flat.
- Seasonal interest: Choose plants that bloom or change color at different times of the year so your deck looks great from spring to fall.
- Pathways and flow: Guide guests through your backyard with stone or gravel paths that connect different areas and encourage exploration.
Landscaping for Privacy
Decks are outdoor gathering spaces—but sometimes you want a little seclusion. Fortunately, deck landscaping is one of the best ways to add privacy without sacrificing beauty.
- Trellises and privacy walls: Install a wood or metal trellis and grow climbing vines like clematis, honeysuckle, or climbing roses. Privacy walls with built-in planters offer structure and style. At Creative Concepts & Design, privacy walls are one of the most popular features we install.
- Tall grasses and shrubs: Ornamental grasses like switchgrass or feather reed grass grow quickly adding not only a privacy screen, but movement when they sway in the breeze. Evergreen shrubs like arborvitae or boxwood provide year-round privacy.
- Small trees: Japanese maple, serviceberry, or redbud trees add height and natural screening while fitting well in smaller yards. Their beautiful colors are a big bonus.
These landscaping elements offer a natural contrast to the hard edges of a deck and enhance any deck design.
Annuals vs. Perennials
When choosing flowers and plants for your deck landscaping, consider whether you want annuals, perennials—or a mix of both.
- Annuals: These plants bloom for one season and die off after frost. Think petunias, impatiens, and marigolds. They’re perfect for vibrant color and quick impact but require replanting each year.
- Perennials: These return year after year and grow stronger with time. Examples include black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, and daylilies. They’re lower-maintenance long-term, though they bloom for shorter periods.
For continuous color, use annuals in containers or hanging baskets, and let perennials fill your garden beds for lasting beauty.
Landscaping Ideas – Shrubs, Flowers, Vines, and Trees
Here are a few specific plant ideas to enhance your deck landscaping:
- Shrubs: Hydrangeas, dwarf hollies, spireas
- Flowers: Lavender, salvia, geraniums, zinnias
- Trees: Dogwood, redbud, crabapple, serviceberry
- Climbing vines: Clematis, wisteria, trumpet vine
Place shrubs near the base of your deck, use flowers in border beds or pots, and let vines climb up trellises or pergola columns for a lush, layered look.
Add Structure – Pergolas, Patios, and Water Features
The best deck landscaping includes more than just plants. Structural elements add function and style:
- Pergolas: These are perfect for partial shade and provide support for vines like wisteria or jasmine. They also help define your deck space visually. Pergolas are one of the most affordable ways to provide shade for your Overland Park deck and they are beautiful to boot!
- Patios: Extend your living space by adding a patio next to or under your deck. Patios are a very affordable way to create more living area. Cost per square foot for a brushed concrete patio is much less expensive than a deck, so it’s a great way to add usable space without breaking the bank.
- Water features: A small fountain or pond creates soothing background noise and attracts birds and butterflies.
Adding these elements can elevate your overall backyard design and make your deck feel like part of a larger outdoor experience.
Edible Landscaping Near Your Outdoor Kitchen
If your deck includes an outdoor kitchen, consider adding an edible garden nearby. There’s nothing better than harvesting fresh ingredients while you cook!
- Herbs: Basil, thyme, rosemary, mint, and oregano thrive in pots or raised beds.
- Vegetables: Tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and green beans are easy to grow and taste better fresh from the garden.
- Fruits: Strawberries, blueberries, or dwarf fruit trees like figs or lemons add sweetness to your yard.
Keep edible plants close to the kitchen for easy access, and use raised beds, vertical planters, or even hanging baskets for space-saving options.
Vertical Gardens and Hanging Baskets
Vertical gardening is perfect for smaller yards or to add more greenery without taking up ground space. Use wall planters, vertical pallets, or hanging baskets on a privacy wall or pergola to:
- Add height and texture to your deck
- Keep herbs or flowers within arm’s reach
- Create living walls for privacy and visual impact
Mix trailing vines like ivy or sweet potato vine with upright plants like coleus or ferns for a lush, dimensional display.
Smaller Decorative Features Add Personality
It’s the little things that make your deck and landscaping feel truly yours. Consider adding:
- Benches: Functional and inviting, benches offer seating and help define garden spaces.
- Birdbaths and feeders: Attract wildlife and bring your yard to life with birdsong and motion.
- Gazing balls or statues: These offer focal points and reflect your personal style. Use them sparingly to create intrigue without clutter.
These features add charm and interest, encouraging guests to linger and explore your garden.
Pathways and the Art of Discovery
A well-designed pathway creates flow and invites curiosity. Use stone, brick, or gravel paths to guide visitors from your deck to a garden nook, firepit, or water feature. Add low-growing plants like creeping thyme or sedum between stones for a soft, natural look.
Pathways also make your landscape feel like a journey—encouraging discovery at every turn.
Don’t Forget the Outdoor Lighting
The right lighting can take your deck from day to night and highlight your landscaping. Consider:
- Pathway lights to guide visitors
- Uplights to showcase trees or statues
- String lights or lanterns on pergolas for ambiance
- Deck step lights for safety
Lighting not only extends the time you can enjoy your backyard—it also adds drama, warmth, and a welcoming atmosphere after dark.
Ready to Landscape Your Deck?
We hope we’ve inspired you to add some colorful plants to your deck and create a backyard oasis. If you are planning to add a deck to your home soon, please give us a call. We’d love to hear your deck ideas – the more creative, the better! At Creative Concepts and Design, if you can imagine it, we can help you design it and build it. We’ve been building custom decks in Overland Park and we have plenty of satisfied customers you can talk to.
Call us at (816) 301-0275 or contact us online. Schedule a deck design meeting and get a free quote. We’d love to bring your backyard dreams to life!
