Landscaping ideas - Need help with suggestions of plants please
We would like to seek help in filling our concrete planter boxes (they are open in the bottom of the box - not cemented, so free for the plants to grow). We are looking for a lush yet modern look. We live in a very hot climate in the Middle East, where is becomes extreamly hot during Summer month, therefore plants should be easy to maintain as well last ón a year long basis due to the hot weather. Thank you for any suggestions and ideas.
Comments (13)
stinerantsen
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Need some suggestions/ideas for landscaping this small waterfall
Comments (7)It looks and sounds so nice in action! I think you have to do a little more rock placing to cover the most obvious parts of the liner along the edge of the stream. Then, can you add more dirt to the sides so you can actually plant something? Fake plants won't look very good. I'm thinking of plants like hosta and hakonechloa grass that will soften and cover the edges, and can drape over any pipes or liner that you can't get with rock. Hosta are very tough. Or if you can add at least an inch or two of dirt, you could plant a groundcover that doesn't need much depth to its roots like vinca. If you really don't think you can add enough dirt perhaps some low, natural-colored containers placed around the area would work. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GJEJCSW/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3?pf_rd_p=1944687642&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B005CK4OSM&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1YNN1HFJXSAWCQE5MZ9V http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-TerraBowl-Planter-Chocolate-20-54318/dp/B004J1F05Q/ref=pd_sim_86_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=00FB8F2X9R3MZ5K9Y8V0 http://www.amazon.com/Bloem-MB1517-60-Planter-17-Inch-Peppercorn/dp/B00GJEIHQ0/ref=pd_sim_86_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=163Y0P6JD7BZZKRGPP5X Also, I did a quick search and found this product, rock-textured liner cover, that might help for the trickier parts of the liner. http://rockonaroll.corecommerce.com/ good luck!...See MoreNeed help with planting/landscaping ideas! Zone 7A
Comments (7)I disagree on the pic being nice. The over saturated picture above makes the plants look like plastic. The post is not relevant to the question as as far as I'm concerned it's nothing more than an advertisement, and a poor one at that. I doubt sun and drought tolerant plants are a primary concern in this case. It's the north side of a house in New Hampshire. The placement of the plants shows me a case of 'even space-itis', more common with rock positioning than plants. Why are all the rocks in the 'stream bed' the same size? Why are plants placed in front of the boulders? Do they need to be hidden?! Pros should be able to do much better, even in Poway. Kaitlin, The first thing I would do is enlarge the bed, it's too small proportionally to the house and limits your choices as to what can be used. I would also pretty much stick with evergreens next to the house and deck. Deciduous plants used in a foundation situation don't do the job in winter. The gaps, when used with evergreens looks like missing teeth to me, snow or otherwise. I used to design and install a lot of yard makeovers as well as new garden construction. As a landscaper, I would kill the lawn, till it in, throw the edges in toward the back of the middle and cover the whole area with trucked in topsoil, leaving it low around the edges to make room for the mulch. Now you can plant, and the digging is fast and easy! I would have evergreen plants about waist high around most of the deck with something taller where it meets the sidewalk. Those plants can act as a railing for the deck on the deck side. On the side facing the driveway I would plant those 'railing plants' several deep so as to appear as a drift instead of a hedge. That gives the bed some visual flow and can be enhanced from there by adding different plants to enlarge the drift and conform to the shape of the bed. In front of the glassed in area I would take a different approach and design the area looking at it from the inside. Lower evergreen shrubs next to the glass in the middle and a little taller on the edges. There's room for a small deciduous tree out in front of the glass a ways and another on either side, one being on the other side of the walk. Those trees should have an interesting branching form for Winter interest and good Fall color too. Japanese maples come to mind. :-) You don't want something that looks like a brush pile when the leaves are gone. (Lilac, Quince, etc. An evergreen groundcover that can handle shade is a must in my book. It ties it together. The small leaved deciduous trees gives it shade further out in the sun in the summertime and the groundcover swallows the leaves in the Fall. I'm not too familiar with what you can grow in your Zone, but I'm sure the people that are can help with plant selection. It's the concept is what I'm communicating. Mike...See MoreNeed suggestions for simple contemporary landscaping please
Comments (24)Took a little longer than expected, but I managed to snap a few more pictures as Yardvaark had suggested. From left to right... A few bonus pictures... this is the left hand side of the house... pretty bare right now: Right side walkway that I despise and can't stand to look at any longer.... Rear side of deck where I would like to put a small lawn mower storage shed along the back wall and a simple walkway from the narrow gate to the backyard. Rear of house from left to right Thanks again to all so far! Hopefully these new pictures are more helpful to those who wish to do some more editing!...See MoreHELP please!! Needing Landscaping Ideas for Huge Yard w/ Hollow Pool
Comments (3)Hi Karina, It looks like your garden area has lots of potential. I'd look through images of gardens online so that you start to get clarity about your own sense of style, what you like and dislike. Also, make a list of goals for the garden (eg : play space for the kids, grilling area, dining / entertaining area, herb/vegetable garden. or whatever makes sense for you). Knowing what you want to be able to do in the garden, as well as what is beautiful to you, is a good start. Then measure the garden and make a basic plan of its shape, and include the house and the placement of windows and doors (measure their location). See if you have an outdoor GFI electrical outlet, and a hose bib or faucet---if you use low voltage landscape lighting and an irrigation system, you will need these. (You will want the irrigation outlet to be continuous, that is, you won't want it on a switch because you don't want anyone to turn the irrigation off). I can't tell what part of the country you are in? But from the photos, a few thoughts: - it looks like you may get a lot of sun, and so if you're in the right zone, a fragrant garden would do well: lavender, rosemary, butterfly bush, monarda. rose, perhaps lilac, plants like that. Or are you in California? I can't tell, but plants that make sense in your area; you can discuss with your local plants nursery. You'll want to choose either an angular, geometric garden or organic, curvy shapes for the layout. From what I can see of the photos, one design I would try out would be : formal vegetable and herb and fruit garden in the sunny area near the house (if it gets full sun), with gravel walks. Also, flower beds. A terrace with shade of some kind (sail cloth, or umbrella, or pergola). Then I'd make a small woodland where there are tall fences, this may be along the side of the house where the pool is, it's hard to tell in the photos. There could be seating in a few areas: a bench in the herb garden or a chair & ottoman there (eg adirondack chair, nothing fancy); dining table or deeper seating with a dining-coffee table on the terrace, for say 6-10 people if that makes sense for your lifestyle; and then a bench or a couple of chairs in the "woods" area. You could also incorporate a small oval or rectangle of grass for play space. Good luck with your design process. I think you might find helpful hints on how to approach designing your own garden on gardenista.com...See Morestinerantsen
9 years ago
posierosie_zone7a
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoI found the name of the palm I was thinking of - pygmy date palm. Often planted in groups, it reaches a maximum of 10 ft and would look great in the planters on either side of the bench. Also, would provide a bit of welcome shade.
In my mind, I am replacing the tall background grasses in the inspiration photo with the palm trees.
Whatever you decide to do, I would suggest picking one tall, one structured and one sprawling plant and using those throughout the planting. The repetition gives coherence and Simplicity.
stinerantsen thanked posierosie_zone7aposierosie_zone7a
9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
For height and color, possibly bougainvillea. This would need to be trained up the wall or on a trellis. I would not put everywhere, maybe 3-4 interspersed so that the eye moves.
I have chosen plants that are relatively low water / high sun. But, in planters, they might need to be watered quite often, especially as they get established. Ask your nursery professional for advice on it.
Ok, I will stop posting, but I think you will have a lot of fun! Whatever you decide to do, give us a picture when you are done!
stinerantsen thanked posierosie_zone7a
PRODerviss Design
9 years agoNice raised planters to work with. Considering your climate and proximity next to the pool I would depend on big bold foliage plants to make a strong statement and limit flower debris that could be a maintenance concern for the pool skimmer/ filter.
A few well placed palms at strategic sight lines ( Syagrus romanzoffiana queen palm) and some giant Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia ) would provide some height.
Infill could be Cyperus ( papyrus) Alocasia or Colocasia ( elephant ears) with some annual foliage color of cascading sweet potato vine or coleus.
stinerantsen thanked Derviss Designstinerantsen
9 years ago- PRO
Derviss Design
9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
Your challenge with integrating cactus will be matching the watering requirements. A good drip irrigation system with attention to watering times and size and placement of emitters will be helpful when planting a mixed border.
Another thought is based on maintenance around a cactus that has spines and its placement next to a flowering plant that may need a fair amount of deadheading. A succulent may be a better choice. Perhaps something like an Aeonium or an Aloe that does not have spines.
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Kim in PL (SoCal zone 10/Sunset 24)
9 years agostinerantsen thanked Kim in PL (SoCal zone 10/Sunset 24)
posierosie_zone7a