Help--Circular Driveway planting bed is ugly
bichonfriz
15 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (28)
pls8xx
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agobullthistle
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Ugly house, horrible landscape & worst climate -(Pics) Help Plea
Comments (39)Hello stompoutbermuda, This is really quite a coincidence as I rarely visit the landscaping forum, but just happened upon it a couple of days ago. From what I can see of the mountain range in your pics, and I could be wrong, but it appears as though we are practically neighbors. :-) If so, I live in the neighboring town maybe 7 or so miles east of your location. I agree with the poster who said you've got a 'diamond in the rough' there. I'm in my 50's and have lived in this area for nearly 40 years, and have seen many a beautiful desert oasis built in the area where it appears you are. :-) Not being a fan of snakes either, lol, I feel safe to say that in the many years I've spent in the high desert, and many hikes out in the desert, I have seen rattlesnakes as many times, or less, than I can count on one hand. They are shy creatures, not aggressive, and while dangerous, they are an important part of the desert community. We would be overrun with rodents otherwise. And I also agree with the poster who said king snakes, roadrunners and hawks are natural predators who help to keep the rattlers at bay. I'm afraid it's a waste of money, effort and time to try to create a snake proof fence. Your best bet is to accept that they are a part of the community - walk with loud but cautionary steps around hiding areas where they may be, and carry a long stick with you if you need to poke around in an area which may be a hiding place for them. If I may offer a few suggestions, for what they are worth...? :-) Line your fence line with oleanders and cypress. Both are drought and wind resistant, are green all year round, and the oleanders offer beautiful and colorful blooms this time of year. Yes, oleanders are poisonous, but one would have to actually consume many leaves, or breathe the fumes of burning plants to be in danger. Many, many homeowners in this area have oleanders on their fence line for a windbreak, and I have yet to hear of anyone becoming sick as a result of them. I've raised two children here in the high desert and now have several grandchildren enjoying the slow pace and beautiful sunsets over the Sierras. :-) As far as gardening, there is no reason why you can't realize your dream of having a productive garden. I say this as I just went outside and picked several ripe and juicy tomatoes from my plants. I visit gardenweb often and lurk, but I believe this is my first post as it pertains to something I actually know a little something about. LOL. Enjoy your new home, you really do have a diamond in the rough. It sounds like you have some great ideas to create your little oasis. Please pardon me if I have sounded presumptuous. Sincerely, satura...See MorePlant / design ideas for ugly boring exterior
Comments (16)If you are looking to add some visual interest, I'd seek out unusual plant combinations for along the front of the porch. Look into shrubs with foliage or other features that stand out. Weigelea My Monet, Deutzia Chardonnay Pearls, contorted filbert (Henry Lauder's Walking stick), witch hazels, come to mind. If you like boxwoods, a row of them could give a tidy look to your front as well as provide a pleasant evergreen backdrop for some other plants. Or, you could have one boxwood on the far side of the porch with other shrubs and perennials filling in the area. I wouldn't mess with that conifer unless you want to put in a large garden in the front (of course, I think that coudl be lovely as well, but it seems beyond the scope of what you are looking for). How about a few shade perennials slong the curved walk way. Perhaps lady's mantle, variegated soloman's seal, bleeding hearts, toad lily. These coudl be underplanted with some smaller bulbs (crocus o& small narcissus). I would avoid blulbs with large leaves since this is such a high visibility area. The dying leaves just aren't pretty. Also, I would get rid of the shutters. They look out of place to me. Plus, a different set of pots and bench could compliment the front of the house better. Instead of the urn style, I'd look for some more upright planters with simple lines. I love the look of the bench, but it seems too ornate for the porch. Is there anythign wrong with the existing walkway? Uneven surface, poor drainage, etc? I'd focus on a few plants with features YOU find interesting instead of tearing out hardscape features unless they have issues that need to be addressed....See Moreoops, duhs, huhs, ughs, good, bad and ugly
Comments (30)I was on vacation, returned yesterday, happy to get so many responses to my post, and wonderful feedback. Coolplantsguy - yes, I do love peonies and heirloom plants for that matter, I just don't have the room though I admire them in my neighbors yard. The one we had toppled from the weight of the blooms, I don't know the variety, they were here when we purchased. Thanks for the suggestion, I will consider if I ever find the space again...my lawn gets smaller with each passing year. LOL. Pat, you make me chuckle. I'm like you. I spend so much time planning and thinking things through over the winter, only to find later that I don't like the combos or placement, so I plan again for next year. Some of my plant combos happened by accident & some I've followed suggestions when researching companion plants. I'm still learning how textures compliment eachother, and other things I didn't know to think about a few years back, but it's fun to learn. Summer is too short though. Prairiemoon, I also have Astilbe planted next to my Annabelle, and I enjoy the contrast of the red plumes and darker foliage with the brighter green backdrop of Annabelle. I've learned it's best to NOT fertilize it once it's established, it makes the blooms too heavy and they'll topple. Still, the rain does make them flop, but mine usually bounce back, I have one staked with a support, but it was just planted this year. I also cut my dianthus blooms back before I left for vacation, and returned to a new flush of blooms, the foliage tends to yellow on me though, I need to stop watering, I didn't realize they're drought tolerant. I forget the variety, it's got blue spiky foliage and red flowers. I will have to do more research on hellebores...we added a raised planting bed/retaining wall with a row of purple leaf sandcherries on top, and I'm looking for an underplanting in full sun; the sandcherries will be trimmed into a tree form once established. For now, I planted yellowish hostas at the base for contrast, but I know they won't do well in full sun. I'm glad to hear about Sedum Angelina, mine will be delivered some time this week, now I'm really looking forward to growing them, I just worry about our new dog, she's so rambunctious - she's a chihuahua boston terrier mix, the cutest thing, she likes to grab my plants and tug on them..I'll have to get her some more toys. I was thinking of amending my soil for the iris, adding more grit for drainage, we'll see if that works. I had one aster that bloomed for me, but it was spindly, a combo of dry soil in this area and minimal sun, but my campanula that I moved not too long ago is doing much better, must be the sun. I have to move the asters, just trying to find a location. It's funny about the Autumn Joy Sedum, my husband keeps telling me to pot them up since I can't find the 'right' place for them, I'll have to try that. I do like the blooms, very pretty, and they grow amazingly large after transplanting a single stalk, very impressive. I will try to post a pic of William Baffin rose when I have a chance..the pic is not mine as mine is only a few months new and I'm still learning how to prune them to shape, but my friend has one along their property and it's a stunner, grows upright almost like a tree canopy, and does well in our zone without protection and is disease resistant, with prolific blooms, but I know they have to trim it back regularly, it's a monster. Give me a couple of days and I'll try to post here if I can figure out photobucket. Of the climbers, I have Don Juan and Sombreuil. They died back almost to the ground, but new growth emerged in the spring, so they're still puny and it's the end of July, though I also transplanted them in early spring. We'll see next year if they do better. I purchased Smokebush 'Grace' and 'Golden Spirit' - I've read there's some potential winter die back, mine is only a month new, but I've also heard that they grow like weeds once established, so even with winter die back they'll grow like crazy. 'Golden Spirit' has new growth in a pretty lime green color and grows more upright in form whereas 'Grace' fans out. 'Grace' grows at a house up the street from us and it's just beautiful, especially with the smokey plumes. I ask my husband to slow down every time we drive by. :) Phyl in Chicagoland, I'm embarrassed to post pics. I still consider my landscaping in the beginning stages, most plants aren't mature or established yet, I've moved a lot around, still a work in progress. I had problems with photobucket last time I tried, but I'll see what I can do. I'll tell you though, do an internet search on 'Nancy J. Ondra', I came across her website when researching plants (that's where I got my iris and lemonbalm combo inspiration from) - her garden is to die for, absolutely STUNNING!!! I peruse her garden pics whenever I get the winter blues. Mxk, I was also looking at the Iris pallida but wasn't sure if it would look odd to mix these with the non variegated type. If you like the look of Jacobs Ladder, it reminds me of a shrub, Carol Mackie Daphne. Same variegated foliage, with pretty spring flowers. Connie, this is also my first year with wave petunias and I love them, I have them in hanging baskets. I've read they are self-cleaning, unlike the regular petunias, but I still deadhead here and there. I'd do them again, definitely. The foliage is also very pretty. Gabby, I used to throw tags away, but as the gardening world became more intriguing to me, I've learned to write down the names of my plants on a 'map' of my yard...LOL. Mostly in an attempt to overcome winter blahs, I also compiled a list of plants that need deadheading, cutting back, dividing, etc. so I know what to do come spring. Daylilyluvr, ok, like I said I'm an 'advanced' beginner in the gardening world, still in my learning curve. LOL. I had no idea Sweet William was a biennial. I've had it for two years now, the blooms are stunning, but this year it got all brown and ratty after blooms were spent, I chalked that up to too much watering. I cut it back and it looks like a few blooms are starting to come in again, but I had to remove old dried stems. Web says if you don't let it self seed it will shoot up more stems and act as a perennial...looks like that's what's happening for me as I likely cut back the spent blooms last year too. Crunchpa, my favorite person from the container gardening forum. LOL. I have a TON of containers this year, maybe too many. It takes me over an hour just to water everything, and that's just the containers, but I think I got overzealous and overstuffed them this time around...still, I wouldn't go without my containers, I'm hooked. I love that moss sedum, I'll have to try it. You always have the best pics. I still have dirt to cover until everything is established, I'm waiting patiently though my transplanting doesn't help either. I was looking into that red hot poker at one point, if I remember correctly I think it goes dormant mid season and then comes back again later?? Or am I thinking of something else? Pretty. I'll have to research more of the suggestions here, though I'll probably be losing more lawn in the process. :)...See MoreUgly, ugly sideyard. Lots of advice needed
Comments (5)Molly, I popped over here by mistake, I live near Seattle. I can't comment on what to plant in your zone but I wanted to say that I don't see an ugly ugly side yard. What I see is a whole lot of potential. If there were great beds there before that means there is probably some pretty good stuff to work with under those weeds. Smothering the little buggers with newspaper is the cheapest most effective way to go. It will save you all the work of pulling and save the soil from chemical weed killers. The real question you should be looking at is what would you most enjoy in that space? Maybe right now your feeling overwhelmed by a new house and all the inherited problems but try to think ahead a year or two when you are more settled in. Would you like a tropical hideaway, a cottage garden, a watery oaisis or maybe hose and go concrete all the way? There are a million and more ways to deal with that space and every gardener here will have a million more ideas. You are the one who will have to live there and do the work so what would be your fantasy space? If you could post a question such as "here is my space and the issues, what I would love to have is a tropical hideaway with a koi pond... or something desert looking. Can you help me with ideas for how to make that happen?" I think I understand. I also inherited a mess. Our house is on the side of a mountain and all the dirt had been scraped away to use as the house foundation. There was zero dirt anywhere. Instead I had 15 years of weeds and compacted driveway gravel serving as the front yard! Now I have an 18,000 gal. pond, a 200 gal pond and a cottage garden. Took me three years with no money and no help but in the morning a sit by the pond with my coffee watching the fish and the birds and I absolutely love the space I once hated with all my being. So what do you really want?...See Morebonsai_audge
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agobichonfriz
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agokarinl
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agobonsai_audge
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agolaag
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agokarinl
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agolaag
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agobichonfriz
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agowoodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agobarefootinct
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agolaag
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agobichonfriz
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agobichonfriz
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agodeanne2008
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agolaag
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agopls8xx
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agolaag
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agowoodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agomad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agomisslucinda
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agolaag
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agolaag
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agobichonfriz
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agobichonfriz
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agomisslucinda
15 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
Related Stories
GARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Silphium Perfoliatum Pleases Wildlife
Cup plant provides structure, cover, food and water to help attract and sustain wildlife in the eastern North American garden
Full StoryPETSHow to Help Your Dog Be a Good Neighbor
Good fences certainly help, but be sure to introduce your pup to the neighbors and check in from time to time
Full StorySTANDARD MEASUREMENTSThe Right Dimensions for Your Porch
Depth, width, proportion and detailing all contribute to the comfort and functionality of this transitional space
Full StorySELLING YOUR HOUSE10 Low-Cost Tweaks to Help Your Home Sell
Put these inexpensive but invaluable fixes on your to-do list before you put your home on the market
Full StoryDECLUTTERINGDownsizing Help: Choosing What Furniture to Leave Behind
What to take, what to buy, how to make your favorite furniture fit ... get some answers from a homeowner who scaled way down
Full StoryDECLUTTERINGDownsizing Help: How to Get Rid of Your Extra Stuff
Sell, consign, donate? We walk you through the options so you can sail through scaling down
Full StorySELLING YOUR HOUSEHelp for Selling Your Home Faster — and Maybe for More
Prep your home properly before you put it on the market. Learn what tasks are worth the money and the best pros for the jobs
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARDHow to Build a Raised Bed for Your Veggies and Plants
Whether you’re farming your parking strip or beautifying your backyard, a planting box you make yourself can come in mighty handy
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHow to Plant a New Lawn From Sod
Take the quick-start route to turf with sod; these installation guidelines will help ensure a healthy and long-lasting lawn
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN6 Driveway Looks Take Landscapes Along for the Ride
See how to design a front yard that makes your driveway its own destination
Full Story
misslucinda