I need flower bed design help! I failed miserably (pics)!
aggierose
12 years ago
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melvalena
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Need HELP with bed design + planting tree? w/ pics
Comments (7)Given the two choices, I'd leave it where it is. In addition to the need to be "pleasing to the eye", you need to allow sufficient space for the tree to mature. The planned bed is too small and the tree would be located too close to both the walk and the drive. While coral bark maples are not considered big trees, they do attain a decent size and faster than many other cultivars of Japanese maples. My own, just over 12 y.o., is about 18' tall and with an equal spread and will get larger. It would dwarf the proposed bed and its branches would interfer with both the walkway and the drive. Pruning to keep smaller is not an ideal solution, especially with JM's. I am not a fan of trees plunked down in the middle of an expanse of lawn. They look unplanned and awkward and have no context. And as they attain size, the canopy shades out the underlying lawn, making a larger planting bed (or mulch bed) pretty much a necessity anyway. Although your photos don't reveal that aspect, I'd consider relocating the tree to the front of the property, most likely offcenter to the left, and creating a large planting bed there with smaller shrubs/perennials to provide some context and grounding to the tree. The winter bark color feature also reads best from a distance and viewing from both inside the home as well as from the approach would be enhanced. And this planting bed would balance off the proposed enlarged entry bed (which I do think is a good idea, just not for the maple)....See MoreHelp designing the flower beds
Comments (3)Nice house! The yard looks a little empty though. You could try posting in the landscape design forum, the recommendations are usually kind of cookie cutter but you should be able to get a couple ideas from there too. I would consider a butterfly bush (best planted in spring, not fall) for some quick height, maybe another rose like a knockout which should grow as well as the Julia Childs (as long as there's a color you like). You could probably divide up the daylilies to give more clumps, otherwise tall sedums, phlox, coneflowers, lambs ears.... many perennials should do well in a morning sun bed even with the clay soil. I have a post over on the design forum, you may want to check it out and then take my advice with a grain of salt. It's not the prettiest front bed. Oh and have you considered a boxwood on either side of the walk where it meets the sidewalk or street? It might frame the walk nice and kind of bring your garden out to the street, making it look bigger. Just not too close to the street due to salt etc....See MoreFlower Bed/Water Problem...please help! (pics)
Comments (2)you definitely want to seal the holes in the wall. i would also put in a french drain under the bed, with perf pipe directing the water down to at least the lower sidewalk, but at an angle so as to not flow back into the garage. BTW, teh cost for this would be probably less than 100.00 if you did it yourself. cheaper to try it first than to do concrete. EVEN if you do concrete, you will have to seal those holes. water will still get under there. at least by directing it away you lessen the amount against the house....See MoreNeed help with selecting flowers for flower bed
Comments (64)You'll need to remove the mulch in order to direct sow seeds (annual or perennial) or the mulch will prevent germination or growth and you'll need to keep the mulch off until stuff is big enough. I had to do this last year...such a pain and things were looking patchy for a while. You can also sow one type of seed in an area so you'll know what they are but keep in mind rain will wash things to other places and then transplant elsewhere...which is pretty easy to do and the little plants bounce back really quick. I would not mix annuals and perennials just because perennials are really slow to grow and really won't look like much for year 1. Annuals grow like crazy and you can sow them in a tray (even now) and transplant out in a few weeks so you don't have to remove the mulch and they will get big by late june and flower for the rest of the summer. I like salvia victoria blue, cosmos, alyssum, california poppies, and bachelor buttons. Post a pic when you can, would love to see the result....See Moreaggierose
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agodesignoline6
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agomelvalena
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agowhitecap2
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoaggierose
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoaggierose
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agomelvalena
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agokarinl
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agowhitecap2
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoaggierose
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agokarinl
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agokarinl
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agowhitecap2
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoaggierose
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agowhitecap2
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoaggierose
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agowhitecap2
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agokarinl
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoBrad Edwards
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoBrad Edwards
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoBrad Edwards
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoaggierose
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoaggierose
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoBrad Edwards
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoBrad Edwards
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoBrad Edwards
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoBrad Edwards
12 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
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