skip to main content

Southwestern Gardening

Please help me with your ideas!

9 years ago

Hello,
I came across Gardenweb couple of days ago and am very happy to find a place where I can learn and get help with my soon to start gardening experiences. We bought a house recently and are moving into it in about 2 weeks. After years of living in apartments we are so excited to start gardening in our front and backyard. I attach 2 pictures from a part of the front yard next to entrance. To start with, I need your ideas on what to put there to make the wall look so appealing to the eye. A tree that fits into a small space or may be a climbing rose? FYI we are in Bakersfield, CA. zone 9. Front yard is towards north so this part gets afternoon Sun. This space has sprinkler system but I am also going to take a very good care of watering each and every plant.
I appreciate your help.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

Kate-May
Original Author
9 years ago
Here is another picture in which you can see the corner I am talking about better.
mingtea
9 years ago
One thing I did when we move into our home was take special notice of how houses with similar exposure were landscaped. I don't know Bakersfield well but I know two things that you might consider are how damaging the roots are of the plants you're thinking of (since you will be planting close to the home) and how waterwise they'll be.
Maybe a boulder or two for vertical interest and some of the larger ornamental grasses? They can be quite dramatic and are found in a number of heights, textures and colors... Although not sure how shady that spot is most of the day. Grasses like quite a bit of sun.

-Ming
Related Discussions
Please give me your opinions about this idea
Q
Comments (14)
dapper, You sure can use Mushroom compost in March and I'm not sure why Cowgirl says that it will heat up if you pile it up. I watched an episode of Dirty Jobs a couple years ago where they were at a Mushroom Farm. The way they made they're compost was simple. It was Horse manure, lots of Straw, Urea and water. The Urea and water was used to get the process started then they turned it everyday until the pile became that nice dark stuff we call compost. Here's the thing... If the stuff Mushroom farms were using wasn't finished, I'd say it could get hot if piled up, but I don't see how any compost will get hot if it's finished. And if it's not finished and you want to stop the heating process, you could add some Lime. I've seen Mushroom compost (I've got a few mushroom farms around me) and the stuff looks like super rich and dark dirt. There's also a place that resells spent Mushroom compost and I've never seen any of their piles steaming.
...See More
Need your design ideas! Help me make this house a home? PICS
Q
Comments (2)
I would love to help but I can't see any pictures. Check your settings.
...See More
Foyer/ office hlep
Q
Comments (12)
personally I would go with some fabric vs the greenery (but I hate fake greenery--unless you used lots of silk plants to make more of a hedge effect--- maybe these ideas interest you better 1) fabric shirred on some drapery rope--tie one end to the knob on the bannister and maybe tack one end to the wall--have it stretched very tightly--you want it to look taut--not loopy...run that on the outside of the wood so that it is not visible from below--run it around the other side as well 2) maybe get a taller screen with solid panels than you can cover with fabric-- you can use liguid starch to "wallpaper" fabric to anything that can be wetted down and not melt... so some heavy cardboard would work or 3) a screen that has rods between the sections that you can put fabric on like a curtain rod--top and bottom like this frame from an on-line source (there are several styles on that site--some more translucent than others) there is one on Amazon that has different colors frame you can get it with more panels--maybe enough to go around the corner of the desk/balcony instead of material--if the section material was solid you could back it with cork drawer liner and use it for cork board-- depends on how much light that area has--how much you would appreciate having more privacy working up there-- how the different height of the screen (and they come in different heights) would look from the area below or walking up the stairs... personally I think the right fabrics/colors could really make it look more "designed" vs "found"...but the most finished look would probably be one that could actually cover the outside of the banister vs being place inside it Here is a link that might be useful: screen w/removeable fabric
...See More
Give me your ideas please! counters backsplash
Q
Comments (1)
I think butcherblock would look nice on the counters. A white backsplash might be too much white. You might consider a pastel-colored tile in one of the soft blues or greens from the rest of the house. (This may mean you need to change wall color to go with the tile, are you OK with that?) Have you considered updating the knobs on the cabinets?
...See More
Kate-May
Original Author
9 years ago
I like the idea of boulders, But I am going to use them in other areas of the front yard. This spot gets afternoon sun only. When I google image the ornamental grass I see they can get very large. I don't want them to cover the window view, because it is a window in the sitting area. Can we control their width without damaging their look?
Looking at the corner again, I see 2 adjacent trellis fit very well in that space. So I think I should look more at climbing plants. But which plant can I use to cover the wall perfectly, go up and reach the roof?! (considering that it should tolerate the heat in Bakersfield and also survive with no sun in the morning)
violetwest
9 years ago
Congratulations on your new home. I have gone through a similar experience. I think you really need to:

1) research native and adapted plants in your area. I wouldn't consider Bakersfield exactly "Southwest." You might try the California gardening forum, as it seems to be far more active than here. There are lots of good resources for this -- local nurseries, your library, your county extension, your master gardeners, Pinterest.

2) consider your watering needs -- will you have drip irrigation there, for instance?

3) Trellis and climbing plants would work, but you will probably want additional plants in front of them to fill in the place.

4) Look in your homeowner info to see if there's a prohibition against planting to close to the house. Mine has one.

This post was edited by Violet.West on Mon, Jul 14, 14 at 15:36
jfield73
9 years ago
This is a website that has helped me with desert type landscaping if your interested in that and even has a vegetable planting guide.

Here is a link that might be useful: Desert Landscaping tips and idea

Related Stories

Help Me Design My Wine Cellar - Please!

Ideabook 911: Help Me Finish My Foyer

By Becky Harris

HOME OFFICES Quiet, Please! How to Cut Noise Pollution at Home

By Christine Ciarmello

Leaf blowers, trucks or noisy neighbors driving you berserk? These sound-reduction strategies can help you hush things up

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Silphium Perfoliatum Pleases Wildlife

By Pollination Press LLC

Cup plant provides structure, cover, food and water to help attract and sustain wildlife in the eastern North American garden

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Ceanothus Pleases With Nectar and Fragrant Blooms

West Coast natives: The blue flowers of drought-tolerant ceanothus draw the eye and help support local wildlife too

LIFE You Said It: ‘Put It Back’ If It Won’t Help Your House, and More Wisdom

By Becky Harris

Highlights from the week include stopping clutter from getting past the door, fall planting ideas and a grandfather’s gift of love

Yes, Please: Parisian Hotel Flair

By Love Your Room LLC

Bring on the Bling to Recreate the City of Romance at Home

HOUSEPLANTS Mother-in-Law's Tongue: Surprisingly Easy to Please

By creative jewish mom.com

This low-maintenance, high-impact houseplant fits in with any design and can clear the air, too

DECORATING GUIDES 10 Bedroom Design Ideas to Please Him and Her

By Judith Taylor Designs

Blend colors and styles to create a harmonious sanctuary for two, using these examples and tips

GARDENING GUIDES Pathway Plantings That Please the Senses

By LuAnn Brandsen

Add some color, life and intrigue beside your sidewalk with these 7 suggestions

Sponsored