Need landscape planting ideas for shallow soil in full sun
We are in zone 5 and enjoyed our first summer at this recently purchased property. Looking for ideas for a ca 2.5 ft wide very dry stretch along a patio wall with very little growth during the summer except crab grass. We discovered some landscape fabric underneath the dying grass and removed it. It was the wrong time for seeding grass, so crab grass took over. Now we want to do something about this. Either seeding grass, which might give it a clean uniform look. Or else I could visualize some perennial flowers such as a variety of echinacea, painted daisies, bee balm, maybe also some annuals such as zinnia, etc.
However here are some limitations: the present soil under the mostly crab grass is only 2-3 inches deep, underneath it is limestone to support the patio wall.
My husband thinks nothing but grass or some ground covers which I am not keen on can successfully grow there unless we install a raised garden bed. I prefer to do without it.
Are there flowers that have very shallow roots and still grow tall? The patio wall is 34" high, and I would like flowers that are taller than that so we can see some of the flowers when looking out from inside the house, or sitting on the patio.
The strip straight along the wall is ca 2.5 ft wide and 16 ft long, and on each side of it there are two more 5 ft long sections going off on an angle (see area in blue). We can make the strip wider where the soil is not shallow.
Please also read my comment below the pics...I answered someone instead of editing here and don't think people are reading that.
We are mainly interested in flowers, flowering bushes, and perhaps decorative grasses. There are already over 120 large and small trees and hedges and green shrubs on this property, too much green, not enough color for my taste.
Comments (22)
rosaprimula
last yeardiggerdee zone 6 CT
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Comments (10)What city do you live in? Does it get 100+ degrees in summer where you live? If so, nothing will do too well in full sun (6+ hours or full afternoon sun). The sun is too intense and the pot soil just gets too warm. Conversely, if you can put your barrels in morning sun/afternoon shade, you can grow almost anything, assuming your soil, nutrients and water needs are taken care of. Don't give up on your lemon tree. It's hard to keep them looking good outside during winter unless you live in Miami or San Diego. If you think it can hold on for another month, I'd give it a shot of mild liquid fertilizer now. You will still need to address the hot afternoon sun problem though....See MoreHEAVY Clay Soil and Full, Afternoon Sun
Comments (4)Pieris are definately not going to be happy in full afternoon sun, especially in zone 7. They like shade in the hottest part of the day. I'm not familiar with Nandina or the type of Abelia you have, but perhaps talking to some good local nurseries would give you a better idea of suitable shrubs. Your site is not particularly difficult; it just requires the right plants....See MoreI need special full sun shrub or plant- ideas?
Comments (26)There are 3 "seemingly dwarf" firebushes on the market, andt he nursery trade has butchered the names/ID of them all. There is a natural-formed dwarf of the native florida firebrush. I've not ever seen a botanical listing for it (although I've seen it written as 'Nana') other than a common name "dwarf firebush" and the typical Hamelia patens. Another smaller firebush also called dwarf is the African Firebush (really from Mexico) as Hamelia patens 'Glabra' (this is the only legit name). Then, there is the Firefly Bush, a forced hybrid, that grows to about 5-6' and stays compact and very flowery. It seems to have characteristics of both the African Firebush and our native, so I wonder if it is a cross with the African with the natural dwarf form of our native. Tropiflora in Sarasota likely has Aloe ferox. They too would have Alcantarea, but perhaps at a sharp price!...See MoreIdeas for full-sun planting on border of walkway
Comments (6)Hi Tina! Your post could have been mine two summers ago when we lost a big Maple in front of our pale yellow bungalow in a historic district of Memphis. The loss of our tree was a mixed blessing. On the down side, we lost the shade to the front of our west-facing house. On the up side, where before little would grow under the tree, now the new bed is full of color from spring through frost. My problem with the new bed was tree roots close to the surface. They will eventually decompose, but the first year they were a problem, so I piled on compost, manure, topsoil, soil conditioner, etc. making a slightly raised bed and improving drainage. I had existing pink Crepe Myrtles beside our drive, and a bed in front of our picket fence on our property line filled with pink shrub and climbing roses, Lycoris squamigera (Naked Ladies) which flower in mid summer, white phlox 'David', yellow daylilies, Shasta 'Becky', Geranium 'Rozanne', Iris (both Siberian and Bearded), Stokesia, and a purple Butterfly Bush. In the new bed I planted yellow and pink Daylilies, Iris, yellow Blanket Flower, Thread-leaf Coreopsis, Chrysanthemum 'Sheffield Pink' and 'Clara Curtis', and Verbena 'Homestead Purple'. The verbena grew quickly and completely filled in the bed. The combination was so pretty, we got "Yard of the Month" last August. Both beds have daffodils that flower in the spring, and last fall I planted about a hundred pink tulips under the Crepe Myrtles, the new center bed, the side bed, and by our front door. I also interplanted annuals - pink, white, and lavender poppies, 'Star white' Zinnia, pale pink Gomphrena, and yellow Melampodium, and along the drive in the new bed - some lavender Heliotrope I grew from seed collected from an "Athens Select" plant last year. Those have flowered since July and make a lovely annual ground cover. I'm growing three ground covers successfully - Veronica 'Athens Blue', Laurentia "Blue Star Creeper", and purple Mazus reptans between stepping stones and under foundation plantings. These plantings are really low maintenance. The only things I've needed to do have been to collect seeds from the poppies and other plants and deadhead the blanket flowers and daylilies. Good luck with your new sun garden. As much as a shock I know losing your tree has been, you'll be happy come next summer....See Morediggerdee zone 6 CT
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