Plants for a tricky area PNW
Leanne Downs
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
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Leanne Downs
3 years agoLeanne Downs
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Ideas for screening tricky driveway area?
Comments (2)These are the site's instructions on how to post a photo (I've never done it, so I can't tell you how): http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/pepper/2002072150000611.html When you go to "Preview Message," your photo should show up (if you posted the photo itself) or your link should show up (if you posted a link to the photo). If the photo doesn't show up or the link isn't good (click on it to see), then you'll have to go back and try again. Good luck....See Moretricky plant recommendation?
Comments (11)The dwarf variety of Indian Hawthorn/Raphiolepis, either the white or pink summer-flowering, might also do - they are a sturdy plant and can take an occasional drowning. If there's room, or if you don't mind pruning, the regular one could also work, but will grow to 4-6' unpruned. Itea or Clethra are both wetlands shrubs, which will grow happily in regular soil - they will sucker a bit, and might need pruning to size. Clethra flowers about now, either in white or pink. Dusty zenobia is another for wet feet, as is red-twig dogwood, or sweetshrub/calycanthus - the fragrance there can be variable. Glossy abelia is another thought - summer flowering, will need some pruning to keep in size, although there are dwarf forms....See MoreTricky spot for a plant
Comments (4)Hi Popi I'm far from experienced, but I have exactly that situation in my garden. Exactly! So here's what has worked for me. I'm a bit of a native plant enthusiast so my choices are native, but look them up because they are beautiful all year around and flower profusely. Correas - will get about 1- 1.5 meters high. I have a few of 'chefs cap' correa (pretty lime green flowers, glossy olive green foliage and burgandy stems) and Correa dusky bells with red/fushica flowers and dusky green foliage. These shrubs will flower prolifically even in winter in the full shade (well they do in my garden) Also I recommend Westringa or Prostanthera, they will easily survive the winter shade and some of them flower in a breathtaking way esp Poorinda ballerina, a white form of Prostanthera (this is also hardy in the full summer sun - well mine is) These are from the mint bush family, so the foliage smells beautiful, especially if it rains or if you brush against it. The westringa and correa can also survive on little water compared to a lot of other plants. The westringa love being pruned and come back form the hardest of cuts to form lovely bushy shrubs. The prostanthera and Westringa can grow up to 3 mtrs. Check them out, most are available at nurseries. Now, I've also some experience with a crows nest fern in this area. They were in this area when I moved in. but did suffer and burn in the spring/summer, but were under a deciduous tree so recovered when the leaves came to shade them, so I suppose in my opinion they wouldn't survive the sun in summer. Having said that, I suppose that depends on the sun, is the 5 hours morning or afternoon? I hope this helps, these plants really perform for me and are very fast growing. cheers Andrea...See MoreTricky Front Yard - Where should I plant a tree?
Comments (21)Your space is such that I would plan to add several somewhat smaller trees to provide shade. I would most likely put one tree south of the mailbox slightly closer to the road from the midpoint between the side street and the power line to give morning shade, and I might put another the same distance from the side street, but about 1/3 of the way down the side of the house north of the mailbox. I would choose a relatively narrow tree to plant between the power line and the buried utilities to give afternoon shade. Because the walkway approaches the house from the side, and the porch configuration makes the entry clearly visible, there's no need to avoid planting a tree in line with the door. I think that "rule" is largely due to needing to have the entry not hidden, and that won't be an issue with your home. I would do my best to avoid having branches growing through the power line if you live in an area that has high wind or heavy ice/snow storms. We had the feeder line to the house ripped off the side of the house during an ice storm from heavy branches pulling on it. An individual feeder line is low on the list of problems to be fixed after a storm, so you may have to wait awhile to get your power back. If you use the porch for sitting, I might plan to add a trellis for deciduous vines on the south side to keep the porch area cooler or provide some more immediate shade in the warm parts of the year. As far as specific trees, I wouldn't use any form of callery/Bradford pear. They stink when blooming and being that close to the house would be unpleasant. They are also invasive in your area, seeding into wild areas courtesy of birds that have eaten the fruit. Logan, lines aren't measured in square feet . . ....See MoreLeanne Downs
3 years agoJj J
3 years agoLeanne Downs
3 years agoJj J
3 years agobtydrvn
3 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 years agoJj J
3 years agobtydrvn
3 years agobtydrvn
3 years agobtydrvn
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3 years agoOrpitaGhosh
2 years ago
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