No idea what to do with this mess ...
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5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
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What would you do to landscape this mess: privacy vs pretty?
Comments (7)Hi Jen, I'm also in zone 3 in BC so I know some of the challenges. I don't think you need to choose between privacy and pretty as you can definitely have both. I wonder if you are new to zone 3 or if you understand this zone. You must have lots of deer, as we do, so you might research deer resistant plants. I'll post a link in case you haven't yet seen Freda's blog. She posts on the Cottage forum here at GW and is in a much warmer zone altho it will give you some ideas. Trying to fence out deer is costly and not always attractive so we live with them by using plants they seldom like. Deer usually don't like aromatic plants so if you use lots of that type you might be able to use some others without the deer noticing. Anyhow Freda has lots of good ideas for deer proofing on her site. When I first moved to this cold climate I joined the local gardening club and received a lot of good information about plants that grow well here. There are actually a lot of very hardy perennial plants that will do well for you and many can be grown from seed at low cost. You might use local stone as edging and for low walls and should be able to find this free in your area. This info is likely known at the garden club or just ask around, many people know where rocks are available. We're planning a day trip to find volcanic chunks to use in landscaping and already have some nice big flat stones we use in a path. For paths that need snow removal in winter you might think about using something other than grass as it won't survive long-term such treatment. We used concrete and a mold from Lee Valley and there has been almost no frost heaving over many years. For our long (500') driveway we use gravel (and refresh yearly) as it's in an area grazed by livestock so paving is not an option. Take into consideration where your water lines are as you don't want to drive over them excessively in the winter. I recommend you take a lot of pictures, measure your land and locations of natural features and buildings and make a sketch of your land, also just sit and look at various areas, look at lots of inspirational pictures so you begin to have a vision of how you want it to look and please don't cut down any trees immediately. Doesn't make any sense to cut down trees then have to plant more as they are really expensive. The trees you have are hardy and so are a very valuable part of your landscaping. Try to work with what you have and you will eventually have a very natural but enhanced landscape. Of course you will eventually remove trees but make sure you look carefully to remove the right ones. Some of the smaller trees you have would cost $100. each at the nursery so value them as such. Keep in mind that some of those large aspens (alder?) may need to be removed eventually as they tend to rot from within when they get as large as that. My DH removed one this year before it fell on our house. It probably would have lasted another couple of years but who wants to take that chance? When the woodpeckers take a great interest in that type of tree it's a sign there may be insect infestations in the rotting wood. Most of all I hope you will enjoy the process of designing your property. Take your time and it will be very worthwhile. Here is a link that might be useful: deer garden inspiration...See Moremessed up planting tomato seeds what do i do now
Comments (10)Paula, You have to realize the sad, sickly plants stay home as "back up plants" in case hail or some other disaster strikes, and I only bring "the best ones" to the Spring Fling" to give away. Diane, Speaking of getting better, I hope your infected finger is improving, and I hope the infected finger isn't your green thumb! Leava, Doesn't it seem peculiar that we often talk about what a stress reliever gardening is but then we forget to mention all the times it brings more stress into our lives? lol I was just trying to provide a balanced view of gardening in case anyone here is laboring under the misguided belief that it is all fun and games. : ) Let's face it, none of us has a Martha Stewart type of estate with a staff of gardeners, landscapers, etc. We all live right here in the southern plains in the Real World! Dorothy, I second that suggestion! I always buy a bag of Epsom Salts in the springtime "just in case the pepper plants need it" but, really, they never need it....but I do! Gardening, like aging, is not for sissies, you said, and that is so very, very, very true. The cow incident happened to me 3 or 4 times and then by the time someone came to help me herd cows, they'd totally disappeared without a trace. Wily cows who are good at escaping from a pasture often seem to have an uncanny ability to put themselves up again. About the 4th or 5th time I saw cows that then disappeared before anyone could get there to help herd them, we figured out they were escaping from a downed fence at Ranch A about 1/2 mile from us as the crow flies (but much farther by road), traveling through Ranch B's pastures, coming through that ranch's broken water gap gate onto our property, and then traveling through our creek until they reached the woods beside the garden. If the cows hadn't left hoofprints on the creek bank one day, the whole neighborhood probably still would be thinking I was losing my mind and seeing imaginary cows. Rancher A fixed his fence, Rancher B fixed his water gap gate and I haven't been visited by an entire herd of cows since then, although plenty of other animals, including goats, have managed to find their way to my garden. If I didn't have a fence, needless to say, I wouldn't have a garden. I now know why country women's hair turns gray. Dawn...See MoreWhat should I do with this mess?
Comments (11)So I'm the last person who knows anything about landscaping design, so I won't speak to that. But I've figured out if I can grow it it's pretty much bullet proof. I work long hours and often forget (or don't have time to water). My trimming takes place 2 times a year - once in the spring and once in the fall. I'm not one to futz with plants, at least not at this point in my life. That'll happen when I retire. These are the things I've managed to not kill: Salvias- a Texas gardener's best friend. Come in all colors and all sizes. Trim them back a couple times a year. They don't die when they don't get watered (once they're established) and they put out tons of color all summer especially if they get some irrigation. Fanick's flox- ditto, except I think they're only in purple and white- at least that's what I have Agave's- they come with variegated striped ?leaves- they can live in a hell strip. Only thing they don't like is too much water. Nice accent plants Texas olive tree/bush- might get too cold there for these, but I potted up some last fall and they survived outside this winter without protection. Again, nonstop white flowers all summer Crepe myrtle's- same as salvias Turk's cap- might be a little sprawly for your space- mine's probably 4 feet wide now. Birds love the flowers There's more probably, but it's dark outside and I haven't had my coffee yet. If you look at the Texas superstar list of plants they're pretty tough as long as you make sure they're for your area/soil type. The other thing I do is look at what's planted in public spaces and try to ID the plants. If it can handle city workers planting and maintaining it, then I can probably manage. None of these will win you innovative garden design awards, but they're reliable and will survive Texas summers/winters without a lot of babying. Hope this helps- Lisa...See MoreMessed up tile behind fireplace - what to do?
Comments (0)We wanted to add tile on the wall around the fireplace. The linear fireplace is in the center of two windows. Initially, wanted to have about 3-4” gap between tile and windows. But somehow decided to cover the entire wall between the windows. I’m not sure if this good now. Please could you help with some ideas on how to address this. I have attached a photo. Thanks....See MoreUser
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoUser
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoTragedy averted! I guess DH had continued to ruminate on this little problem, because he came down the stairs and decided to take the housing covering the motor off, and sure enough, that was access to the bolt! We hadn't tried that before, thinking it was wired up inside there differently than it was. Three little screws later and some reconstruction of the end plate, and we have a fan that is put back together properly and I can definitely live with it. Whew! I feel so much better now! (And man, am I ever glad those lights are history.)
Thanks to you all for the suggestions and hand-holding. I needed that!
Oh -- here it was before, with the lights. Yucky.
User
5 years agoThanks! And yeah, with the recessed lights, the fan lights were just dumb. That said ... I confess to rather liking the soft glow from the upper portion of the fan, which is still operational. We never turn that part on, but I may do so from time to time. There's something reminiscent of the soft glow from a little chandelier. Either that or I'm delirious from all the DIY excitement of the day, which is a strong possibility.
User
5 years agoUser
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoWe are still on a quest to eradicate all udder lights from this house, and replaced the light in the first pic (this one still hangs in the library but an identical one was in the master bedroom until a little while ago) with the more clean-lined light in the second pic. Would have eliminated the light kits completely, but still need them as task lighting in some rooms. Anyway, very pleased with the new look, and this was a quick and easy change to make.
Old light:
New light:
Izzy Mn
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoUser
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
l pinkmountain
5 years agoUser
5 years ago
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