Landscaping/gardening for an L-shaped lawn in the desert
Zarina Khan
3 years ago
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callirhoe123
3 years agoZarina Khan
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Desperately Need Front Lawn Landscaping Help
Comments (9)Seems like with the strong angular elements of your home, you'd want to add some "bones" as gardengal suggests, meaning trees and shrubs that compliment and balance the geometric elements of your home. For example, I'd want to plant something tall and evergreen in that front planter, something to decorate that large expanse of brick wall next to the front door. I'd also plant some kind of shrub or small tree next to the driveway, to cover the view of the drainpipe and also soften the view down the driveway. I'd pick something that blooms or smells pretty, so I could enjoy it as I drove in and out, but that's just my taste. But those suggestions aren't really what you asked about are they! But I think that might help you with your being stuck mentally on this. You need to think "outside the bed." You don't have to stick with a certain bed size or shape just because it was there when you bought the house. Try stepping back and considering the whole vista of your front yard. I also find it very helpful to use MS Paint to draw in colors and shapes over a picture of my house. That helps me get a general idea of what will work and won't work, color and shape wise. I can then use my knowledge of plants to come up with ones that will fit the bill. Here's something I did, and it is NOT what I plan on doing with my yard and I suck at art, design and using the Paint program. I'm including it just to show it as an example of the kind of thing you can do without any talent whatsoever, just go give you an idea of the effect of colors and shapes of plants, paths and other landscape elements . . . how they will interact with the hard elements of your home and yard. BTW, this picture helped me make up my mind about what I DID NOT want to do, lol! If using the computer give you fits, you can do the same thing by printing out the photo of your home and using a pencil or colored markers....See Moresome lawn alternatives and other landscaping ideas
Comments (6)There are many plants with water requirements less than grass capable of functioning as lawn substitutes. The main drawback of any is the potential for disease if the plant is not entirely happy. It would be good for you to get local advice about the plants that are trouble-free where you are. If the geometry and scale of your project works out such that it can be comprised of several species, then you can avoid putting all your eggs in one basket. (But, of course, the more species you add, the "busier" the appearance.) Since you are looking for a list of contenders, you might search "drought tolerant groundcovers" to explore the range and possibilities. Creeping phlox and some of the Sedums are two species of plants that come to mind. But there are many others. The list of possibilities to meet all of your needs is potentially extensive and highly dependent on your taste and the details of your project. Consider also if a plant can tolerate some foot traffic. If you narrow a list down, it will be easier to give feedback on it than it would be to generate a list in spite of so many unknowns. Many of the ordinary landscape plants became popular because of their toughness so don't overlook a plant just because it's common. Look around where you live and see what groundcovers are successful. Keep in mind that success in implementing a plan for groundcover will be dependent on your ability to keep it weed free. This will take dedication, especially in the beginning....See MoreLandscaping Lawn to Succulent Garden- Remove Pine?
Comments (8)No, it doesn't fit, but I think most about the wildlife, the birds living in it. It's not an ugly pine tree like the ones I have to put up with, either... I mean, we have some uuuugly pine trees, haha. That really is a nice tree by pine tree standards. And it's healthy and not at all taking over the facade of the house or shading the whole yard. For your landscape goals, it might not completely fit, sure, but I don't know that it would ruin the landscape style, and some plants like a little shade, so it could be made to work to your advantage. The tree might also better fit the goals of a future owner someday. Perhaps doubtful, I know. There will be those who will treasure a yard with a shade tree, and I'm one of them. It's a place for people to rest and a place for plants with certain needs. Not everything I like wants all-day direct sun. Trees give a space some personality. I personally tire of seeing flat yards with solely direct sun, even with the beauty of succulents. It just seems harsh and hot with the sun, and the yards begin to feel very flat and standard to me. But I know this doesn't bother many Californians. I'm used to rolling hills where I am, so wanting an open, flat yard is completely contrary to what I am used to and contrary to my view of landscape beauty. You are considering a replacement tree, though, so you can ignore that... :) I'd find a way to honor that tree in my landscaping plans, hell or high water. ;) If I had a large tree I wanted to keep, I'd consider placing a bench below it, creating a stone path leading to it, something to give the tree a positive spin and encourage a future owner to keep it. But that's just me and my idealistic way of things. This post was edited by teatree on Tue, Mar 18, 14 at 0:31...See MoreNeed Help Landscaping Odd Shaped Lot
Comments (8)The Nootka cypress in the above cartoon will be out over the pavement in a few years. If you do not have a history of caring for a yard full of plantings you might want to take it easy at first, maybe instead keep most of the lawn - which you can probably renovate fairly easily rather than replace - unless you really just do not like summer dormant lawns. Which it sounds like the utility there may be effectively mandating, by limiting water use. Otherwise a successful approach might be to cut way back on the turf area in the back but keep most of it in the front, with something simple like a group of boulders combined with a single, clumping habit specimen plant - bamboo would be perfect but it likes water - near the center of the lawn where it will be the most effective visually. And with no plantings on the sides or at the ends, where they might affect vehicle access or sight lines while driving. Unless they are required by community rules I would also remove the row of shade trees across the front as for starters they throw the bed out of balance visually. And I certainly wouldn't replace them with the purple Norway maples shown in the cartoon, with their large eventual size, weedy seedlings, tendency to kill everything underneath and their heavy aphid drip - which is already well underway this year in our region....See Morecallirhoe123
3 years agoSabrina Alfin Interiors
3 years agodchall_san_antonio
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoKW PNW Z8
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoZarina Khan
3 years agoKW PNW Z8
3 years agoKW PNW Z8
3 years agoZarina Khan
3 years ago
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Zarina KhanOriginal Author