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Fruit & Orchards Alabama Gardening Edible Landscape

Ideas for a front bed in a house that faces west.

5 years ago

My house faces nearly due west in zone 7b. That means that while the front beds get at least 6 hours of sun a day, it's the hot, afternoon sun. Eventually the cherry trees that line the frontage of the house will provide later afternoon shade, but I'm not counting on that happening for many years. I'm having a hard time deciding what I want to plant in my front beds. I want an edible shrub. Initially, I was thinking hazelnuts, but I think that they really need more morning sun than afternoon sun. I was also thinking pomegranates, but I'm not how well they would fruit in 7B. I wouldn't mind some kind of berry bush like blueberry or raspberry, but was hoping for something a little more unusual. Has anyone had any luck growing something like hazelnuts or pomegranates in 7B, especially facing west? Thanks!

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Comments (3)

Kevin Reilly
5 years ago
Figs or a dwarf mulberry could work
Ashley
Original Author
5 years ago
I was planning on putting in a fig tree anyway, so that could work.
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Well, the elephant ear is telling me that area really does get alot of shade. But the holly's, even though they are scragley, look pretty nice, so they are getting enough sun. Go for evergreens, they will look nice in the winter. I do not know where you are, which would matter, so I will just give you a few suggestings that I know would probably work. Gardenias, in particular, Chuck Hayes, will do very nice in that spot. You can trim them if they get too full, but I don't think you have to worry about the height. Plant this in spring and COMPOST and pine mulch well. Also, I love elephant ears. They can get big though, and you have to bring the bulbs in for the winter. But next spring look for multicolored calidums to plant there. (they look just like elephant ears). Also, can't forget ferns. THere are some beautiful ferns that would do well there and give a nice feathery texture too! Look at the HD or Lowes this fall and spring for a bush called Sweet Box. It is real dark green, easy to trim, and blooms white sweet vanilla flowers in Jan Feb and March. So when you are coming and going you will get a wiff in the winter. They are evergreen. Nice bushes. Oh, for the grass, St Augustine will grow in shade. I don't know where you are. If you aren't into grass because of the lack of sun, why not try a ground cover instead? Something you won't have to mow and can occasionally walk on like Creeping Jenny. It turns bright red in winter, loves shde and water and multiplies. You will get other suggestions. Good Luck in your new home!
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User
5 years ago
I think figs would work great. I'm in 6B, and I espaliered Brown Turkey figs against the front wall of the house facing south. They are protected from the worst winter winds, but they still died to the ground 3 winters ago. They came back like nothing happened and I still got fruit that year.

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