Marianne's Response

How can I hide a ramp to the front door?

Sorry I can’t send a picture. I have a disabled son who lives with me, and now needs a ramp into the house. He currently uses a walker and he might, in the future, need to use a scooter or wheelchair. There’s one step up onto the porch and then one step into the house. We’ve been advised that we’ll need two 4 foot ramps. We live in a housing development and I know they’ll want us to hide the ramp from passersby. I just wondered if you knew someone who might have some ideas of how to landscape to hide the ramp?
I enjoy your column in the Sunday paper, and I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks in advance.
Mary Anderson

Posted by Mary Anderson on August 22, 2017

Marianne's Response

There are several evergreen shrub that would work to hide the ramp and the height of the ramp will determine what plant would be the best choice. You can purchase boxwood shrubs and arrange them as a green wall alongside the ramp or if the porch is taller you can use arborvitae as a taller screen. A more casual screen of plants could be made from Heavenly Bamboo Nandina - this is not a true bamboo that spreads and it is evergreen but with more delicate foliage. Another idea is to use large pots alongside the ramp and fill the containers with a mix of evergreens, perennials and annuals. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti

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