skip to main content

Plants for Difficult Places

Need something vertical close to house

7 years ago

We are zone 8A. Have a bed that extends 2.5' from house, it is rich, well drained soil. We lost a Loropetalum chinense that was growing there a few weeks ago to Hurricane Matthew. Currently in the bed are 3 Yucca Filamentosa with some Ruellia caroliniensis in between.

Would like to plant something in the middle between the windows with some height to break up the wall of grey 9 (see pics). We liked the way the Loropetalum chinense overhung the walkway but would prefer something native. We do need to be careful about the foundation being so close (crawlspace with cinder block walls). Evergreen is a bonus.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

laceyvail 6A, WV
7 years ago
The bed is really much too narrow to plant anything other than a low groundcover, though you might set up a trellis and plant a twining vine that won't get overgrown. Even then, in order to get the trellis off the house itself, it will be difficult to get enough distance from the house and still have room for the vine.
dwatson507 thanked laceyvail 6A, WV
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years ago
I agree that the space is very tight. Unless you are looking at something that has a very narrow, columnar habit, a characteristic that is going to eliminate most natives.

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' will fit the space - plant only gets about 18" in diameter, max. and can grow 6-8' tall (perhaps taller under good conditions). Also quite shade tolerant (appears to be a fair amount of shade here) and is evergreen.
dwatson507 thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
Related Discussions
This house just won't close
Q
Comments (11)
Yes. The lender intends to sell the mortgage. I phoned the seller yesterday. Highly inappropriate. She needs money. She is willing to pay half if it is put In escrow but she doesn't want to wait three or four weeks for a permit. That is crazy because the City has been alerted to the situation by four different people. We are a small town and it will bite us if we do it anyway. The house is zoned historical. I would not ask a licensed contractor to jeapordize their license for the unpermitted job. We are leaving for a week today. Going to a remote cabin with no cell service. Nothing is happening while we are gone. I won't be surprised to hear the seller walked. She needs a cash buyer and feels they are out there. Since it is an investment property, small banks aren't interested. Times have changed in California. Our hands are tied. The carriage house is deemed a Health and Safety issue. No lender will loan on it. I don't have $300,000. Laying around to cash her out. 25% down was our offer. We need a loan. We have been approved for the loan. The carriage house is messing it up. Sad but resolved. Won't move forward without a permit.
...See More
Looking for a Succulent That Will Help Fill Corner of House Vertically
Q
Comments (29)
@Christopher CNC For an indoor plant I like peat a lot and I can control the watering. Like you, I do not like to water plants. I like a well-draining soil that retains a lot of moisture. For an outdoor plant that is outside of its ideal environment, I think the plant dictates the soil. There are succulents that will do well in a well-drained peat soil, and there are succulents that would get root rot quickly in that soil. So the issue with putting rocks below a soil layer is that you raise the perched water table. If your perched water table was going to be six inches, then the new perched water table will be the height of the rock layer plus six inches. That's not inherently a bad thing, as long as you know where your roots are going to grow, and you do not want to rob deep rooting plants of well aerated soil. With a gritty mix you have a pretty minimal perched water table. If I were buying the soil from a garden center, then I agree who cares about a little more cost. But gritty mix is such a pain for me to make. I have to filter out the bark. I have to filter out the Turface. It takes way too much time, and I do not enjoy it.
...See More
Closing up my small, open concept home.
Q
Comments (12)
I can see why something is neccessary to delineate the space, but not want to reduce the floorspace. A question to ask could be how thin any construction could be. This might help with any decisions. It might be worth exploring custom options to fit a full floor to ceiling screen located as I drew out above and exploring materials - maybe frosted glass ? wooden floor to ceiling slats with glazing between? or another material between? or just slats set at an angle ? or slats that can have the angle adjusted so they can be 'open' for light to travel, or 'closed' to obscure the sight line, or partially opened? It could be a combination 1/2 wall with glazing above or slats. Another option might be to consider not having an island and placing the 'wall' at the lounge edge of the island bench so the kitchen becomes a galley style so only the dining space and bench with the stove is visable.
...See More
Furnace Intake. How close can something be to it?
Q
Comments (3)
It looks like the termination is for a concentric pipe system which supplies combustion air to and exhausts combustion gases from a high-efficiency gas furnace. You're right to be concerned about clearances. It's low enough that it's pretty easy for it to get blocked with debris or snow or become a seasonal nest for critters. Venting should be in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions. With respect to code requirements for the combustion (intake) air, the 2018 International Residential Code, which forms the core of most statewide building codes requires: 2407.11 Combustion Air 8. Combustion air intake openings located on the side of a building shall have the lowest side of such openings not less than 12" vertically from the adjoining ground level. I'd also be concerned about whether the exhaust is higher or lower than the furnace. It's supposed to slope back to the furnace to facilitate draining of condensate. Unless your furnace is installed at basement level, it doesn't meet that requirement.
...See More
ianna
7 years ago
Ive seen trees planted that close but what it does it leans forward towards the light or because the wind flow pushes them out. So bear that in mind when you plant too closely to the house. There are many columnar trees that may fit the bill. I've seen one thats a columnar oak tree. or a nice weeping copper beech. or maybe because you have nice gunmetal grey home, a birch (only thing though some birches are prone to disease).
cakbu z9 CA
7 years ago
A trellis with something growing on it?
PRO
Dig Doug's Designs
6 years ago

If still needed, try nandina domestica.

Related Stories

MODERN ARCHITECTURE Houzz Tour: Arizona's Dialogue House Has Something New to Say

Get in on the conversation about this minimalist masterpiece in the Phoenix desert, remodeled by its original award-winning architect

URBAN GARDENS A Vertical Park in Zurich Greens Up the Grid

This breathtaking mix of steel and vines in Switzerland shows promise for greener, healthier cities around the world

KITCHEN STORAGE Going Up: Vertical Storage Holds More Kitchen Stuff

By Kathryn Peltier Design

Fit more of what you need at hand by looking to narrow or shallow kitchen spaces and walls

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Reasons to Love Vertical Gardens

By Laura Gaskill

Boring patios and lackluster views, begone!

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: An Art-Filled Austin Home Has Something to Add

Can a 90-square-foot bump-out really make that much difference in livability? The family in this expanded Texas home says absolutely

LIVING ROOMS A Little Something Extra for Your Fireplace

By Tiffany Carboni

Warm up your fireplace and mantel with color, sparkle, shine — or something unexpected

KITCHEN DESIGN New This Week: 3 Modern Kitchens With Something Special

By Mitchell Parker

Looking to make your kitchen feel unique? Look to these spaces for inspiration for tile, style and more

ORGANIZING Something Wicker This Way Comes

By Lisa Higgins

Store your stuff neatly and easily in any room with stylish, versatile baskets

DECORATING GUIDES Up Close: DIY Salvaged-Wood Wall

By Vanessa Brunner

See how designer Garrison Hullinger made this unique wood wall covering

KITCHEN DESIGN Open vs. Closed Kitchens — Which Style Works Best for You?

By Vanessa Brunner

Get the kitchen layout that's right for you with this advice from 3 experts

Sponsored