Need backbone plant advise for front yard! (garden photos)

12 years ago

Hey folks! My garden is in it's 3rd year now and I'm kindof reevaluating things and would like some advice on what I could do to improve.

Mainly I'm considering adding some boxwoods or some other type of evergreen shrub to get a bit more structure in, but am not sure the best places for these in my current yard.

I have a fair amount of roses that are about 2-3 years old, they aren't super big yet, but they WILL BE.

I'm in inland southern california, relatively mild winters and hot dry summers. Alkaline clay soil. This front yard area, part of it (closer to the porch) gets shaded by the house periodically through the day, but mostly it's a full-sun or very bright-shade area.

shots here:

http://aimeesroses.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/full-front-yard-shots/

Here is a link that might be useful: Aimee's Blog (garden shots)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

ogrose_tx
12 years ago
Hi Aimee, I'm sure no expert, but from looking at your pictures, I wouldn't do anything this year but let it grow and fill in, then take another look next year. It's amazing to me how much everything (especially the roses!) grow over a year's time. Then take a look and see what needs to be done...

I love what you've done, it looks great!
Calamity_J
12 years ago
Looks lovely!!! Good job so far! LOVE the clematis!!!!
Related Discussions
I need help with my front yard ! (with photos)
Q
Comments (16)
IÂm usually a lurker and am a plantaholic type so feel free to ignore my comments. I love your view! And the house looks pretty interesting tooÂ.:-) mad gallicaÂs comments on side shrub border are the ones that resonate most with me. To that list of shrubs IÂd add the old-fashioned favorites of Bridalwreath Spirea and Beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis) for a great old-fashioned mixed flowering shrub hedge in combination with the shrubs mad gallacia suggested. Since all the shrubs on that combined list are spring or early summer bloomers, IÂd plant group 3 clematis to climb over them for some later flowers. Then IÂd line the path from the gate and along the fence with a nice wide perennial border heavy on later flowering perennials and interesting annuals. IÂd add a Downy Serviceberry tree or two for spring bloom, berries for the birds (and people if you can get to them before the birds do!) and great fall color. I'm not a big fan of most evergreens but others are so I'm sure there'll be suggestions of what to add for 'winter interest'.... Deciduous trees and shrubs are effective wind screens by slowing down and filtering the wind to reduce its force.
...See More
ideas for front yard garden
Q
Comments (8)
I think you are right to want to avoid having basically three rows or "walls" of plants. Your foundation plantings are pleasant and should be seen. I think staying low to the ground is a good idea on the "upper" bed. The armeria (seathrift) should stay nice and low. How about adding in some creeping phlox (phlox subulata) and perhaps lambs ear (stachys) or silver mound artemisia which are both gray to play off the gray of the house. Another low grower I've become particularly fond of is callirhoe (poppy mallow). It has a great red color that will pop, but it has rather a looser growth habit. The dwarf daylily (I'm assuming Happy Returns or Stellas) and the veronica will be a bit taller so I would put those in the bottom bed. although I'd stay with fairly low growers there as well. Use the spirea to anchor one end of the bottom bed. You can also echo some of the low growers from the top bed in the bottom bed. You can add some sedums and perhaps some RED (not pink) dianthus which can be nice companions for the daylilies. Also, I think you will be happier with the overall look with a crisper edge. A spade will work fine. Have fun!
...See More
Need backbone plant advise for front yard! (garden photos)
Q
Comments (32)
Your MACs do look demure at the moment. I have 3 MACs in different settings (yes, I am nuts), all about 7 to 9 years old, and just went out and measured them. With pruning (and in the case of the one growing in decent soil on the west side of the house, "muscular" pruning that takes one day each twice a year; the other in crummy conditions, just one day a year), MAC on a pergola or trellis can be kept about 12 to 15' tall, 14' wide, and 9-10' deep. The third MAC, in partial shade and lousy soil under a huge old pepper tree that sucks up most of the water and nutrients, is about 20' tall and 16' wide and 12' (at least, wanders over to my neighbors trees at that point -- new neighbors whose screams I expect to hear any day now when they realize how far Madame Al is over in their trees...). This one is allowed to run amok (obviously) and is all mixed up with what I think is Fellemberg (was supposed to be Parson's Pink, long story) and is lovely, but is obviously motivated by the extra shade of the pepper tree to stretch. MAC actually tolerates pruning rather well, but intelligent pruning (don't create witches' brooms). Like you, I originally planted two MACs at my entryway and ended up removing one: one is enough here. Conditions in your yard may well differ. I have all the ones on your "new candidates" list. Jaune Desprez is just as rampant as MAC but worse because of vicious thorns (I dearly love it, but it costs in blood). Marechal Niel is so far modest-sized at roughly 10' x 4' after three years, but that's not long enough to know; some I have seen are definitely big. On the other hand, MN has a reputation as something of a fussy-buttons and is not looking like a house-eater here yet, though parked in prime real estate, so maybe not as rampant. Buff Beauty is definitely the "mannerly climber" it is often descrbed as. I have kept one at 7' tall and 4' wide and 16' long along a fence for about 9 years. Debbie
...See More
Zone 8 north facing shady front yard garden - where to start?
Q
Comments (5)
Given that that I don't know your area, my only suggestion is to do next to nothing for a full season other than get everything identified and do basic maintenance i.e. Weeding and trimming off anything which attacks you on the way to the gate. Only after a year of living with the garden will you know how it fits with your life. 'Vinca' (actually Catharanthus roseus, not true Vinca) and ice plant need full sun and they won't get that under your magnificent magnolia. You need to be looking at shade tolerant plants and spring bulbs. You can tell by the moss that the bed is shady. Ferns would love it. There's little point hankering after the types of plants from your hot dry garden. Embrace the lush woodsy spirit of the space and don't try to make it into a prissy suburban flower bed of bought in annuals. Yawn. The selection possible in this new type of environment is enormous and beautiful. Personally I'd choose it over a bunch of rubbery succulents any day. That bed could be full of colour right now if there were small bulbs in there. Snowdrops, narcissi, corydalus, hyacinth, Scilla, cyclamen.... all gorgeous. I have enlarged the photo and I confess I can't clearly see any hellebores. But they would be ideal candidates. You can get any plants you don't recognise identified over on the Name that Plant Forum. There are experienced PNW gardeners there and also on the Perennials, Shrubs and Trees forums. Japanese maple would certainly enjoy that space but I'd be patient about placing it. Autumn would be fine. The bamboo in a trough would also work in all likelihood.
...See More
ianna
12 years ago
beautiful. Your garden is getting along. I would suggest one or 2 large evergreen shrubs set by the porch area to provide a backdrop for your yard. These plants would balance everything out and you can add more flowery blooms as you wish thereafter.
mnkitty
12 years ago
Hi Aimee,

I love seeing your pics. I agree with planting evergreens along your front porch. I would pick ones that are high enough to give you the feeling of privacy when you're on your porch, but low enough to allow you to view your lovely garden. I'm definitely not a professional; that's just what I think I might do.

Love the pics. of La Reine. I got one last year (can't wait to see it bloom). How is it's rebloom?

I Look forward to seeing backyard pics.
Kitty
natal
12 years ago
Great change in a short time. It looks like the trees have been staked the whole time. Typically a year is the recommended max for staking unless it's a very large tree. They need to be able to move.

Here is a link that might be useful: staking trees
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
12 years ago
Agree with waiting a bit. Which direction does the house face? What trees are there (and what did they do to deserve being bound and gagged? lol). Also agree with natal on letting the trees go free range unless you're in a very windy location. Where exactly are the roses and any other sun lovers? You wouldn't want to shade them with the evergreens but I do agree you need a little something to anchor the bed visually.

tj
Sandi_W
12 years ago
Everything is really coming together and looks very nice. I'll leave suggestions to those more in the know.
aimeekitty
Original Author
12 years ago
thanks guys! much appreciated!

I was thinking maybe a medium to low shrub inbetween the Madame Alfred Carriere climbing roses on the pillars,... like perhaps Myrtus Communis?? (in a line bordering the porch there)

I'd like to add more lavender and nepeta in various spots.

I didn't know anything about the trees, honestly, so I don't know whether I'm supposed to set them free or not.
Are they strong enough now? The development put those trees in 3 years ago. We ARE in a pretty windy location. I had to set concrete for my arbor to keep it from blowing over! D: It's not as windy as places that get their windows broken, but a couple times of year we have the wind howling around the house for sure.

I was thinking more evergreen shrubs, not trees, as like you said, I don't want to add too much shade.

If you read the page, I say exactly what most of the roses are in various spots, but:
La Reine
Baronne Prevost
Heavenly Pink
Sophie's Perpetual
Queen of Sweden
Gruss an Aachen
Lyda Rose
Felicia
Penelope
Madame Alfred Carriere
The Prince
Archduke Charles
The Doctor
Gruss an Coburg
ah, and probably one or two I'm forgetting right this minute.

The sun rises behind the house, roughly. So the house is mostly facing west, a bit on the south side of west, but west.

Both La Reine and Baronne Prevost, they're about 2-3 years old now, I haven't gotten really good rebloom on them yet. I get a really gorgeous spring flush and a few flowers later. But I'm hoping as they mature I'll get better rebloom. (both are my only Hybrid Perpetuals) It seems like they eventually should get good rebloom though as Rogue Valley Roses lists Baronne a 4 out of 4 on rebloom, so thats a pretty good rating.
happyintexas
12 years ago
In addition to a few evergreens near the porch, you might add a few low growing evergreen groundcovers to the front of your beds. In my area that would be a dwarf yaupon or lirope maybe...a clump of three or four plants in a couple of places to give definition, especially in the winter.

If your trees have been staked for three years, they are ready to be free.
ianna
12 years ago
Use Japanese box or a bay laurel as a backdrop. They will be perfect canvas to display your flowering garden. For front and low growing evergreen kinds of hedges, you could try something different. How about a cluster of parsley. Not only are they herbal they are drought resistant as they have long taproots. I spotted these being used in Quebec. It took my breath away when I saw pretty they looked.

Need backbone plant advise for front yard! (garden photos)

Comments (10)

ogrose_tx

Calamity_J

Related Discussions

ianna

mnkitty

natal

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱

Sandi_W

aimeekitty
Original Author

happyintexas

ianna

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Need backbone plant advise for front yard! (garden photos)

Comments (10)

Related Discussions

aimeekittyOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

aimeekitty
Original Author