Ugly front yard needs help!

2 years ago

Hello All!

We just moved in to this house we remodeled the inside which left with a small budget for the outside. We just took out the 70 ft Mexican palm tree a few days ago.I have a few items I need to include in the design. 1)We live in Southern California so I am looking for drought resistant. 2) No street parking allowed...I need to accommodate parking for one more car in the yard for visitors 3) It's a busy corner so I was thinking of a hedge fence( the city limit is 3 ft tall). 4) Increase curb appeal. I was thinking gravel with hedges ...

any ideas?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

arcy_gw
2 years ago
What's code, can you expand your driveway into your front yard even with the cement walk way corner? It's easy enough to remove sod then place crushed gravel down. Conceivably two cars could nose in there parallel to the walk way. Pretty sure that's against code, however. It certainly would not add to the ascetic of your yard. At this point I am not so sure starting a hedge is drought resistant.
Susana Rangel thanked arcy_gw
mojavemaria
2 years ago
There are some great drought tolerant plants that could be used as a 3 ft hedge. you could use all the same kind or make it a mixed hedge. The texas rangers (Leucophyllum) come in many sizes, keep leaves in winter, and bloom several times a year in summer. Here is Lynn’s Legacy in my yard and it has never even needed pruning.

Rosmary is also a very drought tolerant evergreen that would make a handsome hedge. Just make sure you get an upright variety like this Tuscan Blue.

The australian eremophila’s come in a lot of different leaf and flower colors and shapes but they are great plants. Here’s Summertime Blue which blooms all summer.

There are also California native plants that would fit the bill like Cleveland Sage which smells wonderful and has spectacular blue flowers in spring. Rock mulch is attractive, long lasting, keeps down weeds if put on thickly and keeps soil under it cooler for your plants.

we have a lot of different sizes and colors here but i dont know whats available there. Good luck with your yard!
Susana Rangel thanked mojavemaria
Related Discussions
Help! My new front yard is UGLY! Any ideas appreciated!
Q
Comments (5)
You have a great house and it deserves something special. I'd recommend that you take an hour and browse photos from: http://www.deborahsilver.com/blog/category/container-planting/ She'll give you ideas. That entrance of yours is crying out for extraordinary pots.
...See More
Need help for front porch &yard!
Q
Comments (8)
Many people will "prefer" stain over paint, not because of an improved appearance, but because of the perception of less work. As stain deteriorates -- and it does -- since wood is showing through to begin with, it is not as obvious as paint would be if it chips off. Between the two I prefer paint because I think it generally looks better to begin with. Since I only use gloss paint, even though it is more expensive, it holds up well. The wood that is used -- usually pine -- does not have a grain pattern that looks all that good to me in the first place. As a decaying, sun-weathering product, it really loses appeal. If people really thought it looked great, they'd go paint & stain-free on the house trim. But no one ever does. There are some things you can do with annual vines to shade the porch from too much sun. I've seen openings between posts completely filled up with with a panel of vines grown on a temporary network of cording, and while it changes the house to an altogether different look, it is not unhandsome, pending that the plants themselves are happy (not dying.) With annual vines, such a device can be removed/during the winter. Some vines have a tendency to cluster toward the upper part of a support. That may be enough to add a little extra shade. Heavenly blue morning glories could do something like this. If you wanted an entire opening covered, moonflower vine has a better chance of doing it well. A vine support is something that could be configured in a way that makes sense for your particular needs. There is also the possibility of creating a homemade wooden lattice structure (think Chinese screen) that adds semi-shade without using a vine and is a permanent decorative fixture to the porch. The possibilities and potential combinations of structure and vine (or no vine) are wide open.
...See More
Ugly front yard
Q
Comments (24)
Florida without palm trees is like Canada or Colorado without pine trees. Why live in a tropical climate to have a yard that looks like it could pass for Ohio or Illinois? I do agree that the trees are too close together, but you will just have to trim the oaks. During hurricane season they could cause massive damage to your home. Just ask all the folks in Orlando after Irma came through. I would plant some flowering bushes like hibiscus, allamanda, or duranta. While common they will add a pop of color and make your home look more friendly. You could also use interesting foliage plants like caladiums or bromeliads. I kind of like the palm closer to the driveway, it has a majestic look flanking the driveway, like the palm lined streets in Beverly Hills. The bigger one kind of blocks the view of the house and makes it look too busy. You could also plant manageable sized palms such as pygmy date and adonidia palm next to the house for a tropical effect. The grass likely does not grow because of the shade and leaf litter from the oaks. Sand is not so much the problem. I am from Cape Coral and the soil is 95% sand but you see beautiful floratam grass in many yards provided you water and fertilize it, which you would have to do anywhere to keep the yard looking good.
...See More
big ugly brick wall in back yard? Also need patio space? Sloped yard?
Q
Comments (7)
Yeah, my little guy and our full time jobs have obv pretty much consumed all the hours since he was born not quite 2 years ago. lol...But, the pots I had started pre-him are actually all my gorgeous hostas that are just sprouting and now need homes ;_; The big pots are my hydrangeas that are coming out as well. I didn't want to put any into the ground since I wasn't sure of the plan for our yard. I would like to keep them potted and in our hopefully semi shaded new patio wherever that may be. The weeds on that upper part have been a struggle since day 1. The tree roots sprout new shoots constantly, so weed killer becomes difficult. Not to mention, the roses we had inherited with the property became diseased so we are in the midst of pulling them out as well. Believe it or not, we had a full vegetable garden year before last which is why I was hanging on to the empty pots as we do not have great soil. Long story short, I am looking to have more livilable space that doesn't include more weeding, watering, and gardening in our outrageously hot summers. If I put a patio in the corner between the windows and the retaining wall, what would be the best surface? raised wood type? Gravel ? would gravel hinder drainage and made the ground underneath even more soggy? same issues with brick? Even if I had concrete poured and connected it to the existing patio what kind of drainage solution would we need under and around? These are my beauties from last spring.
...See More
Susana Rangel
Original Author
2 years ago
Hi Thank you for the great response. I love the idea of rosemary as a shrub!We can expand the driveway per code. Thanks again!
apple_pie_order
2 years ago
You'll need to check with the city to see if you can add parking to your yard. You may not be allowed to pave any more space, depending on how much of the lot is covered with concrete already. Some homeowners find that adding portable sheds in their back yards for storage allows them to clear out their garages for cars, then the driveway is used for visitor parking. Check with the city to see what size sheds are permitted.

Some drought resistant plants that are easy to find and grow are gazanias, also known as "freeway daisies". Check with the city to see if you have a water usage cutback already or expected. 15% cutbacks are common in southern California this fall.
Susana Rangel
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you ! I will look at gazenias.
Sharon Fullen
2 years ago
Lavender is another great addition to a breezy yard.
Susana Rangel
Original Author
2 years ago
Great idea! I do love lavender!

Ugly front yard needs help!

Comments (7)

arcy_gw

mojavemaria

Related Discussions

Susana Rangel
Original Author

apple_pie_order

Susana Rangel
Original Author

Sharon Fullen

Susana Rangel
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Ugly front yard needs help!

Comments (7)

arcy_gw

mojavemaria

Related Discussions

Susana RangelOriginal Author

apple_pie_order

Susana RangelOriginal Author

Sharon Fullen

Susana RangelOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Susana Rangel
Original Author

Susana Rangel
Original Author

Susana Rangel
Original Author