Landscaping: DESPERATE for advice...H E L P !

Replies: 55 Views: 602

Author	Comment
buzbug Argenta, IL August 30, 2009 01:12 PM	We have lived here for 15 years. We started out planting over 25 (yes 25) small plants here. We forgot that they would grow! After 10 years it was overcrowed, all same height and really looked dumb. So we ripped almost everything out (see photo)...and then did not know what to do. The area is about 30' wide. We want it to compliment the house, have different heights, colors--but no trees or water features. PLEASE any advice would be SO appreciated!! View Larger
missingrosie Hillsborough, NC August 30, 2009 02:32 PM	Willing to have vines creep up the posts? Does a birdbath count as a water feature?
missingrosie Hillsborough, NC August 30, 2009 02:33 PM	I'd plant a skinny small open tree in there somewhere ;0 )
buzbug Argenta, IL August 30, 2009 07:42 PM	Hmm...vines sound good...no bird bath...we have them in back yard :-) ...Please any ideas for the space?
ves522 Jim Falls, WI (Zone 4a) August 30, 2009 07:45 PM	Which way is the house facing?
buzbug Argenta, IL August 30, 2009 07:47 PM	The house faces North
JasperDale Long Beach, CA (Zone 10a) August 30, 2009 10:04 PM	Can you post some photos that show the entire width of the house and garage ? One or more that show both sides from where the front door is ?
buzbug Argenta, IL August 31, 2009 12:25 AM	Hi..Just got back on line....I will try and get those up tomorrow. Stay tuned.
MonnieBC Mays Landing, NJ August 31, 2009 11:07 AM	I like to drive around and note what looks good. Usually its a mix of evergreens that are different shapes and colors. If the homeowner is out in their yard, they are usually flattered that you ask the names of their shrubs and plants and are helpful. Would the dwarf Japanese maples or cutleaf maples grow well in your area?
missingrosie Hillsborough, NC August 31, 2009 11:17 AM	What is it you have there on the ground now? Are you mulched with small rock?
buzbug Argenta, IL August 31, 2009 08:31 PM	Just got home this evening...and it is nearly dark...so I will try and post pix tomorrow. In answer to other responses: >>>Would the dwarf Japanese maples or cutleaf maples grow well in your area? I have no idea..I live in Illinois? >>>Are you mulched with small rock? Yes, those are rocks. Thanks for your help.
buzbug Argenta, IL September 01, 2009 07:11 PM	Pic facing West View Larger
buzbug Argenta, IL September 01, 2009 07:12 PM	pic facing East View Larger
buzbug Argenta, IL September 01, 2009 07:15 PM	OK....The pics are posted...send me your best advice. We like...grasses, roses, ?spirea, etc....BUT HOW DO WE LINE THEM UP?????
JasperDale Long Beach, CA (Zone 10a) September 01, 2009 09:56 PM	I think you need to take a picture from across the street showing the entire front view of the house. The shots you posted are good, but now we need to see the LEFT side of the house (on the OTHER side of the walkway) to be able to give you some advice on plants and/or a design. The curved walkway is very good. What zone are you in ???
JasperDale Long Beach, CA (Zone 10a) September 01, 2009 10:12 PM	I looked up your zip code (62501 ???) and if that's correct, you're in Zone 5b.
buzbug Argenta, IL September 01, 2009 11:27 PM	..Thanks "JD"...I will try to post more pics. Yes I think zone 5b is right. As I said we have lived here for quite some time..most of our efforts (and $$) have been spent on the inside of the house and also we are gardeners...so lots of time goes to that too. (Besides jobs, pool, grandkids etc !!!) Thus the front lanscaping just stays on the back burner because we are clueless. More tomorrow....
themoonhowl Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a) September 02, 2009 11:36 AM	Buzbug, you certainly need to add a bit of height to the area...what landscapers call a focal point. here is a link on Japanese Maples that are hardy in your zone. Also a picture of the Bloodgood JM growing in my yard. It has beautiful color in the fall...deep red, and new growth in the spring is also red, The rest of the year it has red-tinged green leaves. http://www.worldplants.com/intro2.htm View Larger
bellieg Virginia Beach, VA September 02, 2009 04:15 PM	It sounds like us, we had been here for over 25 years and finally our beds looks pleasing to the both of us. If I were you I would ask pictures of garden designs from DGers. My husband and I like to drive around to check out other neighborhood 's landscaping designs. I like to share our front landscape next week . i am busy right now. Bellieg This message was edited Sep 3, 2009 3:44 AM
digger9083 Dahlonega, GA September 02, 2009 05:08 PM	I'll be waiting . digger
buzbug Argenta, IL September 03, 2009 12:11 AM	Hi again... Well I did get pix up tonight. :-( I like the idea of a "focal point"...but am leary of a tree. Would it go in the center? Would it shade the other bushes too much? Do we keep the rock? We started out with mulch and it basically all floated away with the Illinois spring storms. I would LOVE to see other pics!!! Please post!!!!
themoonhowl Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a) September 03, 2009 12:23 AM	Buzbug, many of the Japanese maples are rather small trees, staying under 15 feet, and some only getting 6 to 8 ft tall. It is more a matter of presence than size. Can't wait to see the full front view of the house..can better answer questions and make suggestions then.
buzbug Argenta, IL September 03, 2009 08:04 PM	Here is the front ..... View Larger
themoonhowl Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a) September 03, 2009 08:30 PM	Using one of the moderate size japanese maples centered between the four windows on the left about 15 feet out from the house would give you a focal point that draws the eye across the yard and give you a balance for the lower roof line.
buzbug Argenta, IL September 03, 2009 09:00 PM	ok...that sounds good...but then what? Just the tree? Would it look right to add grasses? bushes? where do we plant them? In a line? We need help....
themoonhowl Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a) September 03, 2009 09:22 PM	You already have the two evergreens there, so that creates your triangle. You have a couple options here, make a gentle curve out to the front in front of the new maple, giving you a half moon bed. I am not sure what is planted between the two evergreens, but it appears to be low growing shrubs. You can fill the area in with hostas of varying size and leaf shape,and texture...http://www.hostalibrary.org/ Columbines are a beautiful perennial and come in a variety of colors and size: http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/colu... and add other low growing perennials such as Huechera, or some of the others included in this link: http://gardening.about.com/od/perennials/tp/Low-Maintenance-... Give these a look and play around with them. The other option is to just bump the front edge of the existing bed out to form a curve and add a mix of perennials to fill it in. Then , between the bed and the maple, add a bench or a couple chairs. You could use pavers or stones to create a small seating area there, or just leave grass remembering to leave room for the lawn mower.
themoonhowl Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a) September 03, 2009 09:29 PM	A bit of nuts and bolts info. http://landscapingdesign.landscapeliving.com/category/flower... http://www.ehow.com/how_4885971_design-flower-beds-online.ht... http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/flower-garden-desi... http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/flower-garden-desi...
JulieQ Cullman, AL (Zone 7b) September 03, 2009 10:47 PM	buzbug, you have a beautiful home! I am sure it will turn out great. With such a great porch, I would not want to block the view with too tall plants. Question: Did you say you had 25 of those round shrubs? WOW! Are they boxwoods? I have to say, pruning those things is NOT FUN when you have to clean up the trimmings from mulch or rock!!! And, why did you keep the four? They kind of make a square, don't they? With your curved flower bed, I am not sure I would want that shape for my shrubbery. If you want to keep them, you could perhaps transplant one or both of the ones that are currently closest to the porch rail out farther to make a more flowing line. If you keep the rock mulch, you may want to consider getting a couple of well-placed boulders in that bed, too. Good luck with your planning!
buzbug Argenta, IL September 04, 2009 12:42 AM	To Moon: Those websites are just what we have been searching for! ...especially the virtual garden. We also really need the reference sites...Thank you so much! To Julie: Thanks for your comments! Yes we planted 25 plants in that space over 15 years ago....(They were not all boxwoods)...I am not good with names but they were Golden Vickorys? and some thorny red bushes that the leaves loved, verigated green bushes that were diseased.........We got so sick of looking at the crowded, ugly space that we got a strap and backed our old pick up truck up and just started yanking them out..It was really fun!! But then we got down to the boxwoods and just couldn't rip them out. They were so green and healthy... So we just left them... They look crazy I know...and we will eventually get a strap and rip them out too :-( I love LOVE rocks...so getting a bigger boulder is a great idea Thanks !!! more later...
themoonhowl Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a) September 04, 2009 01:13 AM	You are so welcome, Buzbug. After you have had a little time to digest the info, if you have further questions, i will be pleased to help as I can. Julie's suggestion for boulders works quite well in the porch area, perhaps using some ornamental grasses and some of the miniature conifers to give that side an Alpine look.you could tie the two areas together by using small, (basketball to watermelon) sized stones and low growing juniper/evergreens in staggered plantings along the side walk. The driveway left side could continue that theme with varying clusters of stones and evergreen plantings. Small rock garden plants could be interspersed with the stones/small boulders to create pockets of color and interest. If the Alpine style is not appealing, there are many cactus/succulent/grass plants that could be mixed with a few boulders of varying size to give you more of a high country mesa feel. Enclosed is a link to a blog site featuring some truly beautiful minature conifers in natural garden settings. There are a number of pages to this link with a number of beautiful plants http://coniferlover.wordpress.com/2008/10/08/in-my-own-minia...
morishidol bowling green, KY (Zone 7a) September 05, 2009 04:53 PM	I would plant a weeping snowfountain cherry tree,,,and plant some knock out roses ,and maybe some ornamental grasses that do not get very tall,,and if you wanted something with a splash of burgandy in it that grows small you could put a few coral bells in their as well!! This is starting out from scratch with everything removed out of their!! Hope this helps. oh or if you want to see green in the winter you could plant some dwarf pines of some sort and a few variegated boxwood!! great tree that is a evergreen blue weeping atlas cedar!!
bellieg Virginia Beach, VA September 06, 2009 12:11 PM	As promised these are some pictures of out front landscaping. We had azaleas at first but DH got rid of them and replaced them with slow growing palm which is also hardy for this zone.This are very slow growing palms and had been planted for 3 years. I do not know the variety.DH also planted a couple of hostas which does not do well because it gets a lot of sun.. We have annuals and some perinials such as the low growing sedum which comes back every year. I have maybe 10 varieties of sedum. I will be showing you my red Japanese maples which are slow growing.Also the different groupings that Dh do. I let him rearrange the planters. I have hundreds of potted tropical plants and they all come in to the sun room during winter. I hire someone to clean the pots as well as arrange then in the sun room. I have lots of banana variety so it goes to the garage. I also have lots of plumerias. Now for your landscaping in front, i like rocks and boulders. Boulders are expensive but to can buy the hypertufas which are cheaper. I would buy a book and get some ideas. Here are the pics View Larger
bellieg Virginia Beach, VA September 06, 2009 12:14 PM	Well the picture is showing the opened garage and so pardon the mess!!! More pix-This is another picture of the palm tree and Dh said it does not grow very tall. View Larger
bellieg Virginia Beach, VA September 06, 2009 12:16 PM	this picture is the low growing sedum and i have lots planted in the ground as well as planters. they multiply very fast that is why I like them. Also they do not require a lot of care. View Larger
bellieg Virginia Beach, VA September 06, 2009 12:18 PM	this picture is located on the front porch. I had it made but DH decided to put rocks, we collect crocks from all over when we go on vacation. i like it and it get changed often. View Larger
bellieg Virginia Beach, VA September 06, 2009 12:19 PM	This are ivy in large low planter View Larger
bellieg Virginia Beach, VA September 06, 2009 12:20 PM	Again more planters with bonsais on our front porch View Larger
morishidol bowling green, KY (Zone 7a) September 06, 2009 12:22 PM	or a nice little koi pond would look good!! Heres a pic of mine that i put in last year! View Larger
bellieg Virginia Beach, VA September 06, 2009 12:23 PM	I do not know this plants but I have a lot of them.It multiplies and comes back every year View Larger
bellieg Virginia Beach, VA September 06, 2009 12:26 PM	more pictures in front, sedum, painters palette and annuals View Larger
bellieg Virginia Beach, VA September 06, 2009 12:27 PM	picture of our house from the street View Larger
bellieg Virginia Beach, VA September 06, 2009 12:29 PM	This is a bed at one side of the house. It has impatience, mexican sun flowers and other perinials View Larger
bellieg Virginia Beach, VA September 06, 2009 12:32 PM	Here is a 15 year old japanese. red maple. i do prune them several times a year. This was a gift from our children. I hope this is the right picture View Larger
bellieg Virginia Beach, VA September 06, 2009 12:40 PM	above picture is not the right one.! Here is the right one View Larger
bellieg Virginia Beach, VA September 06, 2009 01:04 PM	Apparently I did not take a picture of the tree that I wanted to show you however the tree near the banana chinese yellow is a red maple and it is over 10 years old. Have fun choosing your landscaping deign. Bellieg
digger9083 Dahlonega, GA September 06, 2009 01:13 PM	bellieg , If the weeping japanese maple in the pic with your koi pond grows as big as mine , it will be much to close to the house . Is the other maple a red jp ? they get hugh . My friend has a bloodgood 10 ' away from her house , in a corner and 20 yrs. old They are going to have to take it out , the roots have cracked the foundation . Didn't want to scare you . I love that pond , It's just what I want here , but keep putting it off . If I wait long enough , they can put on my tombstone , Time on DG would have built that pond . LOL
bellieg Virginia Beach, VA September 06, 2009 02:58 PM	Both Jap maples are not near the house. i can not remember the variety but they are very slow growing.My pond is 7 years old and I love it too. It was built by a local pond designer.
morishidol bowling green, KY (Zone 7a) September 06, 2009 03:07 PM	the jap maples that are by my pond are dwarf and the all green one is about to its max size,,I keep it pruned to give a nice shape to it,,I do agree unless you keep up with your maples you should not plant them that close to a house,,and the roots I do not worry about due to my house being built a a very thick slab the roots will not hurt my foundation,, heres a pic from some years ago of my deck when i was renting a condo! This message was edited Sep 6, 2009 3:10 PM View Larger
digger9083 Dahlonega, GA September 06, 2009 03:38 PM	Love that deck , and is there room for you on it ? No kidding , the plants are beautiful . D
buzbug Argenta, IL September 08, 2009 12:38 AM	To Bellieg ...I really enjoyed your photos and seeing how you blended your gardens so nicely. I am very jealous! Especially of the palm trees...those only grow indoors in Illinois weather :-( They remind me of some really nice resorts we have visited. I would like to know what that plant was that you said came back every year...I like that alot. Also in your post at 10:26 am...what are those bushes in the back. Do they bloom? I have so much research to do before we begin....
bellieg Virginia Beach, VA September 08, 2009 10:15 AM	The smaller shrubs in front are very slow growing, unfortunately I do not know the names but will google and will let you know. My backyard is a forest and I like it this way. i had not posted a lot of the pictures that I took.It is a lot of work and $ to maintain but I am organized now by hiring someone to bring them in as well as take them out for me. DH does not do a lot as far as my potted plants because he plays golf almost everyday all year round. It takes time to get the landscaping to your liking but take your time and get some books. You can also get a landscaper and will give you a design and a quote. I remember you read my posts on this years travel. Please posts pix when you start. Belle
bellieg Virginia Beach, VA September 10, 2009 07:08 AM	okay, I google the shrub and they are box woods. the taller ones has finer and light green color leaves and they are 25 + years old. Boxwood comes different variety and it is best to go to a nursery because they know their stuff.Our other original shrubs were dug and went to shrub heaven. DH prunes the smaller ones to control the height, does them early spring and by late spring they look nice. Make sure you post your pix when you start, take your time and plan well. Check the garden design forum, they have good threads. I thought you are moving to Korea or do i have the wrong person?Belle
kcviolet Kansas City, MO September 14, 2009 08:22 AM	Just putting in a word for native plants. I see echinacea, sweet flag, coreopsis, mexican hat. Hanging baskets on the porch to bring more color close to the door. Or, on my walkway, I have my bulbs (from back to front) iris, tulips, daffodils, crocus. Interplanted with these are hardy mums. First the bulbs come up, then when they die back, the mums are starting. I get great color in the fall. This is the time to order bulbs & buy mums. With your beige & green you get to pick any color. I'm in KC, which should be the same zone almost. Not all the mums came back, but eventually I got all good ones. As you can guess, I'm not one for neatness, I like it that I can just yank out some weeds on my way to the car and let nature do the rest. Ooh... can you see a climbing rose right in front of the porch rail? I am envious of all your sunshine! Aside from my mum area, I have to go straight to shade plants, which brings us to hostas. You could have beautiful hostas of all types, which would look great under the boxwoods. Gosh! I can't stop thinking of stuff. Whatever you do, bring it on down the edge of the drive and sidewalk to say, "come on in!" And match the seasons colors to a pretty wreath on your door. Oh, I love flowering trees (i.e. crabapple) in the front yard, so midwestern and beautiful in the spring.
Lynnie6868 (Zone 5b) September 15, 2009 07:08 AM	hi buzbug, I just want to add, if you check out bhg.com they have lots of landscaping plans to look at, and they show how to lay plants out so they don't look lined up. I followed one of their designs for my front foundation beds (substituted a couple things) when I got stuck. It's a good starting point.
buzbug Argenta, IL September 19, 2009 05:48 PM	Hello...I am back...I will check out bhg.com...because I hate the "lined up look"...I will post photos if it comes out OK...hahahahahaha
Lynnie6868 (Zone 5b) September 19, 2009 10:25 PM	lol buzbug I'm STILL working on mine ...I alternated some plants along the front, hate it, plan on moving stuff in the spring, just to group them together a bit. The part where I followed bhg's plan came out nice. It doesn't come naturally to me, I really have to work on it.