skip to main content

Tennessee Gardening

Some Ideas on planting around mail boxes

19 years ago

My mail box is in full sun and need some real help. Could you please give me some Ideas....borders, plants???

thanks

Featured Answer

sissyz

19 years ago

I love some dianthus as an edger, followed by some guara, Raspberry Wine Bee Balm, and one of the new bronze foliage hibiscus. All very low maint. and sun lovers. The dianthus has a habit of petering out in the summer, so I put two or three annual vincas in...!! Sissy

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

kim31kim
19 years ago
I had real good luck this past year with portulaca (moss rose) planted around my mailbox garden. They didn't need any water and bloomed profusely all summer.
stacy_tn_z7
19 years ago
I have Clematis around mine. It needs a little bit of extra support, some of those wire supports with the round part at the top. I have three, all different sizes like steps. Stacy
Related Discussions
Have 1 lg box sutffed and ready to mail
Q
Comments (2)
I have succlent cutting although not a whole lot, I have a little christmas and thanksgiving cactus, hens and chicks, jelly bean scclent, kalanchoe mother of millions and mother of thousands, and a few other things. Since I don't have a whole lot I cold also send seeds and I have some hardy chrysanthem rooted cuttings. Let me know Sharon cash Zone 7
...See More
To plant around trees or not to plant around trees; that is the ?
Q
Comments (8)
I'm not sure where you read that planting under a tree would kill it - it is simply not true! Trees growing in the natural environment routinely have other, smaller plants growing under them. Even in heavy forests, there is always undergrowth! As Ken stated, raising the soil level under existing trees can be harmful but in virtually all cases, underplanting them at the same soil level is not an issue. Some trees dislike much disruption in their root zone (Japanese maples for example) so it is best to plant things that will grow happily without the need for division or replanting. And other trees have such aggressive root systems that it is a challenge to get things to thrive within the spread of their canopy or even further. But most trees are very happy with accompanying shrubs or perennials and groundcovers in close proximity. In a small urban or suburban lot, I dislike trees planted plunk in the middle of the lawn. They have no sense of place and look like after thoughts. Plus lawn up to the base of a tree can be a hindrance to successful establishment, not to mention the potential for string trimmer or mower disasters. A good sized bed with complimentary underplantings give trees context and anchor them into the landscape.
...See More
Fall Window Box Plantings..Ideas ???
Q
Comments (4)
where are you gemini??? here in z5 MI ... but for cheap 2 dollar mums.. it isnt worth investing much money for the month or so left before it get too cold for many other options ... ken
...See More
Need some help with some plant ideas to fill space.
Q
Comments (5)
It looks like you don't have enough corn for good pollination. My understanding is that you need at least 4' x 4' of corn for decent pollination. Do you have a plan on how you will get to the plantings in the back for care & harvesting? I think you might want to consider some stepping stones at least. Consider also that your plants will bush out - when we grew cukes & beans on a trellis in a bed 2 feet from the fence they bushed out so much there wasn't much room to get behind them. Also, I have never grown okra, but I've heard the plant can be irritating to the skin. I think it gets pretty big, too. You might think about putting it together & somewhere you won't have to come into contact with it until you want to. Why are you mixing things up? Are you trying to avoid cross pollinating varieties, or going for aesthetics? Or is it for another reason? I would consider putting same plants together because they will have the same needs & you can more easily deal with them as a group. Beans are great & can be very productive. You could substitute them for the corn along the back. Perhaps you could do a block of a short variety of corn (so it doesn't shade other things too much) if you move things around a bit. I am not familiar with your growing area, so I'm not sure what else to add. I see you have cukes growing on the fence, but you have a line of them down into the bed. Will those get a trellis, or are you putting bush varieties in front? Definitely (IMO) put as much organic matter into your soil as you can. We have terrible soil here (sand), but my small gardens are looking lush. We found a local coffee shop that gives us bags of their compostable material regularly. We add that straight to the garden beds (coffee grounds, veggie scraps, egg shells) with some manure (we use quail because it is inexpensive & convenient). Also, we added in some peat moss & vermiculite the first couple of times we were turning over the beds. Hopefully someone with more expertise will give you some good tips. Best of luck!
...See More
bluetruck99
19 years ago
bronze leaf begonias. ~Ryan
kim31kim
19 years ago
Also think about daylilies interplanted with irises!
glorybee
19 years ago
We are going to tackle the mailbox this summer as well.I am considering placing an arched trellis over it.If so we'll also hang an urn shaped basket from the middle top inside and roses on the outside.I have heard red salvia and dusty miller are a pretty combination.I can't think of the name of the grass but its burgundy with brown plumes and it looks really nice against red brick if your box is brick.
I have seen zebra grass also really tall that looks nice at the base of a box.Also dark almost black looking iris catch the eye.Purple Hyacinth Bean Vine looks amazing.So does the white version.I bought some seeds this year of blushing susan vine and am thinking about that also.I have seen all these ideas.I always make a mental note when I see a mailbox that catches my eye :).One of the most memorable was Nora Barlow Columbine.It was unexpected and REALLY stately looking! Lowes has all kinds of columbines and clematis.Went yesterday.They had some really nice peony bushes with blooms on them too.Hope this helps.
rizzir
19 years ago
I have a thing for planting scented items near the mailbox so that we, the mailman, anyone who comes by to drop off the neighborhood newsletter, or anyone just out on a walk gets to smell the wonderful smells. I have had great luck with all sorts of herbs (majoram, rosemary, thyme, sage) and mints (purple basil, bee balm.) I also planted tulips there with great success - they bloom when it's still cool, and seem to like the dry heat of being near the pavement during the summer hibernation. Irises like the dryness, too, as do daises. I try not to plant anything near the mailbox that is fragile, as it is prone to being abused (mailman gets too close, etc.) I plant the tall things in the middle, then grow shorter things in the back so I have a nice view from the house, too!

Related Stories

HOUZZ TV Houzz TV: How to Make and Plant a Veggie Box

By Annie Thornton

See how to start edibles from seed, then transfer the seedlings to a box on stilts to make harvesting more fun

PATIO OF THE WEEK Koi Glide Around a Tranquil Garden's Moat

By Becky Harris

This idyllic retreat combines lush plantings, statues and moving water for a serene backyard scene

FUN HOUZZ Do You Dare Bring Home Some Liberace Razzle-Dazzle?

By Becky Harris

A new HBO movie highlights the ultimate showman's over-the-top bling all around the house

HOUSEPLANTS Play Up Some Fiddleleaf Figs for a Lively Indoor Tune

By creative jewish mom.com

Strike a dramatic chord in a minimalist scene or a country note in a rustic setting — fiddleleaf fig plants harmonize with any style

GREEN BUILDING Let’s Clear Up Some Confusion About Solar Panels

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

Different panel types do different things. If you want solar energy for your home, get the basics here first

Design Dilemma: Planting Around the Pool

By Annie Thornton

How Would You Add More Greenery Here?

DECORATING GUIDES 10 Tree-Hugging Interiors That Work Around Nature

By Jenn Hannotte / Hannotte Interiors

Bursting up through the floor, planted in an indoor patio or potted in any room you choose, trees bring an elegance that's organic

DECORATING GUIDES Ditch the Rules but Keep Some Tools

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Be fearless, but follow some basic decorating strategies to achieve the best results

URBAN GARDENS Garbage to Garden: A Vacant Philly Lot Gets Some Green-Thumb Love

By Becky Harris

Transformed by an artist, this once-derelict urban property is now a tranquil garden with living walls

BUDGET DECORATING 21 Free Ways to Give Your Home Some Love

By Laura Gaskill

Change a room’s look or set a new mood without spending anything but a little time

Sponsored

Snider & Metcalf Interior Design, LTD

23 Reviews

Leading Interior Designers in Columbus, Ohio & Ponte Vedra, Florida