My front planting plan...opinions?
nadine33
16 years ago
Featured Answer
Comments (29)
bullthistle
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agosedum37
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Question about planting my brug in front of my house
Comments (11)I know what you mean about being hard to cut these babies back. Today, I filled two large buckets with blooms that I cut off of my plants....pink, white, yellow, peach... I must admit, I left several white brug bushes still standing completely covered with flowers and buds, as they just don't have the scent that I want, and are fairly "ordinary". I dug up 4 others brugs today, and took cuttings of several others. These cuttings I placed into an old aquarium with a bubbler placed in the garage. Within 3 or 4 days, the white nubbies will be showing, and then I will pot the cuttings up. I believe there is a photo of some of the cuttings already potted up at: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/brug/msg100814116102.html?12 You will note that the cuttings are as large as I can get if I want to make a tree format for next year. As I mentioned, I also dug up several plants today. Some of these were 6 feet tall, and when potted are taller than I am. I put them into new soil, gave them a thorough watering, and set them in a shady spot for the already existing roots to establish themselves. I believe we are in for another few weeks of fair weather, so they will stay outside until it becomes too cold, and then I'll bring them in to the garage for the cold nights. Later, I'll take the already established plants to the basement where I'll let them go dormant ( in a room that is cool but will not freeze). The cuttings I will take inside and place in a bright area until the roots have formed, and then I will place them in a sunny location or under lights. I should have mentioned, make sure you spray with a soapy solution all the leaves (top and bottom) for bugs, and then hose that solution off before bringing them in to the house. You do NOT want an infection of spider mites or mealy bug this coming winter. Do this with your cuttings as well as your potted plants. With respect to yours, it all depends on the structure you like to see. I have some bushes, and some tree forms. Personally I like the tree forms, so I keep my eyes open for a long straight stem that I can use. Sometimes it is in the middle of a plant, and in that case, I trim off the outer branches and use them for cuttings. Sometimes ( most often ) it is an offshoot from the root that springs forth as straight as an arrow. In this case, I will make a cutting of it. When cutting back, if you wish to retain the parent plant for next year, be certain that you do not cut beneath the "Y", or you will have to wait much longer to get a bloom. When making cuttings, try to maintain some "Y"'s at the top end, and take the cutting from above the "Y". When you read the links, you will see what we mean by the "Y". Since you have blooms now, you already will know what the "Y" is all about. Good luck....See MoreI need help with deciding what to plant in front of my house!
Comments (12)Are you worried about the trunk blocking the door, or the tree canopy blocking the door? If it's the latter, the goal would be to raise the canopy such that it doesn't. This is entirely within the control of the owner. While the tree is young, it must have foliage in it's canopy, and more is desirable as it is the tree's energy producing system. As the tree grows higher, lower limbs are removed and eventually, enough of the trunk is clear of them that the view below and beyond the foliage canopy is open. The process of foliage blocking the door is temporary so I see it as a non-issue. The trunk isn't so much of a door-blocker, especially if it is a single trunk, so I see that as a non-issue to, when the tree would be 15' or 20' from the door. If it was 5' or 6' away it would be another matter. I think you need a tree to balance the Japanese maple. Also, I think you should be turning the maple into a tree form instead of a huge bush form when it's that close to the house and another driveway. It's starting to become oppressive....See MoreCan't make up my mind - which tree should I plant in my front yard ?
Comments (11)Do consider that you are going to be waiting a long time for a 6' tree planted even as close as the center of one of your lawns to provide any significant amount of screening or shading of the house. But which particular window are you thinking about? A tree lined up just right with one of them and planted close enough could provide an adequate level of screening pretty quickly - maybe even immediately if of the right size and shape. With it also casting a moving shadow over part of the house some day. Otherwise you could block the street with solid fencing and/or hedging/screening plantings consisting of or including dense shrubby kinds. Usually river birch is not affected by bronze birch borer, with up here anyway it being the European, Himalayan and paper birches that are being hit now that the pest has come this far west. For instance the next door neighbors to a friend that lived near Seattle had two cut leaf weeping European birches and one river birch in their back yard. When the borer came to their neighborhood the European birches were being drilling out and dropping branches on his side of the fence in no time. Luckily the neighbors were quick to have these cut down. Providing in addition a much better view of the river birch, which as of the last time I was on the friend's property was still standing there looking intact....See MorePlants for in front of my house, hardiness zone 7/8
Comments (4)A good strongly purple flowered lavender variety would go well with the yellowness of the juniper, all the more so if it also had particularly silvery foliage. However with lavender it is critical that you pounce on it and shear it back every year right after bloom or it fairly soon goes to pot. So you would have to be around for that and make sure you got it done each year, from the first year on. Lavender is of course a flowering shrub, however its need for consistent spent flower (and shoot growth immediately below the flower spikes) removal kind of puts it into the same level of bother category as is typical with herbaceous perennials. With tidying up after bloom being one of the main work making characteristics of these latter. But lavender is evergreen at any rate, unlike many herbaceous perennials....See Moresedum37
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agonadine33
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agonadine33
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agonadine33
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agobarefootinct
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agomolie
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agonadine33
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agoevonnestoryteller
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agogfult
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agodiggingthedirt
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agomolie
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agonadine33
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agobarefootinct
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agodiggingthedirt
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agoprairiemoon2 z6b MA
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agohostasz6a
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agomolie
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agodiggingthedirt
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agonadine33
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agospunky_MA_z6
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agomolie
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agopaigect
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agodiggingthedirt
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agonadine33
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agopaigect
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agonadine33
15 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
Related Stories
DECORATING GUIDESNo Neutral Ground? Why the Color Camps Are So Opinionated
Can't we all just get along when it comes to color versus neutrals?
Full StoryINSPIRING GARDENSNative Plants Bring 10 Southern California Front-Yard Gardens to Life
Rare plants, rain gardens and wildlife habitats are just a few of the features showcased on the 2016 Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour
Full StoryFRONT YARD IDEASBefore and After: Front Lawn to Prairie Garden
How they did it: Homeowners create a plan, stick to it and keep the neighbors (and wildlife) in mind
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDES6 Steps to Planning a Successful Building Project
Put in time on the front end to ensure that your home will match your vision in the end
Full StoryNATIVE PLANTS5 Ways to Keep Your Native Plant Garden Looking Good All Year
It’s all about planning ahead, using sustainable practices and accepting plants as living organisms
Full StoryFRONT YARD IDEAS10 Ideas for a Front-Yard Edible Garden Your Neighbors Will Love
Choosing attractive, well-mannered plants and sharing the bounty will go a long way toward keeping the peace
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNGreat Design Plant: Sun-Loving Ninebark Puts on a Color Show
This tall, dark and handsome native shrub is equally at home in jeans and boots or in a suit and tie
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESWhat Are Your Spring Gardening Plans?
Tearing out the lawn? Planting edibles? Starting from scratch? Tell us what you plan to change in your garden this year
Full StorySPRING GARDENINGTop 10 Scented Plants for Your Garden
A palette of perfumed plants can transform even the smallest of gardens into a sensory delight
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHow to Plan Your Edible Garden
Get organized before you plant to ensure that your fruits and vegetables have a chance to thrive
Full Story
mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)