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Posted: Jan/27/2008 2:23 PM PST
Need some suggestions as to what to add to my front lawn flower bed that already has an hibiscus plant there, as the #1 plant. I need some vertical, evergreens and shrubs. The area gets a lot of sun,a nd both pics are in the same place. I have all these seeds to plant Calla lilies Canna lily Sunflowers 1 Corn plant Coneflowers Nasturtium Salvia ( red and yvonne salvia ) Zinnias Coriopsis Lobelia Cardinialis Daisies Sweet potato vine blackie Amaranth Alyssum Saxatile Marigold Crackerjack Attachments:   |
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Posted: Jan/28/2008 7:45 AM PST
I have a curved bed along my front porch too. I'm just beginning to tackle it after working on the backyard for the last 4 years. It has two huge heathers as the evergreens and it's been difficult to find something that will go with those. Plus it's a southern exposure and I can only use full-sun plants. Does your front yard get mostly shade? I see a hydrangea there. Are those plants annuals or perennials? If they are perennials, you will need to give them more room by their third year. How wide is the bed? You might want to consider widening it to 3-5 feet, from the hydrangea to the corner plant--trust me, you are going to need the room if you want a layered bed. I would start with some type of evergreen shrub at the center of the bed, or a pair of shrubs. You want to have some type of uniformity in a bed that size. We'd need a little more info about the sun/shade conditions there to start recommending plants. |
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Posted: Jan/28/2008 8:42 AM PST
Yeah, that hydrangea looks like mine and it is going to get huge - you do not want anything behind it! |
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Posted: Jan/29/2008 4:33 AM PST
All the plants there now are perennials. The sun starts at the back of the house in the morning, and comes to the front around 2p till evening. Now aeveryone has been saying widening the bed, but how am I suppose to get to the plants, and mow th erest of the lawn? Also your suggestions about evergreen shrubs, which ones would you recommend for my zone 5b? Have you got a pic of your front lawn? I am going to move that grass to the back of the house, and the hydrangea has already been moved |
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Posted: Jan/29/2008 7:31 AM PST
I do have pics of the front yard in my photo album, though those aren't my proudest moments.  I just planted it last summer so it looks pretty skimpy. The heathers were there when we moved in, and I would have preferred to have 3 but there are only two. The landscapers also jammed an azalea in between the heathers, not considering that things GROW! I did not want a front garden that I'd have to water constantly (the backyard is a big enough job), so I planted a rock garden with sedums, thyme, and lavender in the bare corner and a row of lamb's ear and ornamental oregano in front of the heathers. I have spring bulbs in there too. Some of my backyard photos show how deep and full of plants those beds are. To get to the back of a deep bed, I just walk right it--carefully! You can put a stepping stone in to keep from compacting the soil. As for your perennials--I know it's hard to tell in photos, but they seem close. If they are closer than 2 feet, you should space them out this spring while they are still manageable. Full grown perennials are a bugger to dig up and move! You can plant anything that takes full sun as your garden gets the most direct sun of the day. Most part-sun plants like morning sun, afternoon shade. You've got the opposite, though there are many plants that will do fine in your conditions. I think most of your seeds will work. But still, you need some evergreens or structural plants. Some of my favorites are a long-blooming shrub rose (one with good fragrance while you sit on your porch), nandinas, lavender...I'm not too good with the names of shrubs and I'm in zone 8, so I have much more to choose from. What do you have there already that might grow to enough size to give you a focal point along the porch? |
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Posted: Jan/30/2008 5:36 AM PST
Absolutely, widen that bed, those plants are going to take off! And many of them get quite big. The first year they will "sleep" (not grow much)the second year they will "creep" (start growing a little faster) the third year they will "leap" (you won't believe how big they have grown!) If you send me a list of the plants (the more details you have about the plants the better) you have there, measure the porch from corner to corner, I will write out a garden bed plan for you! All I ask is that you please take a before photo and an after photo and e-mail it to me. And if you remember, a photo and a comment on how you liked the results in a year or two. This offer extends to anyone! I studied Landscape design, and it is a hobby of mine, and a joy to do  As far as reaching them, you could place stepping stones, if you need to prune or weed the bed, or mulch quite heavily so you will not have to reach in much at all! ! |
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Posted: Jan/30/2008 7:41 AM PST
Which of the beds. Don't forget this is a front porch bed, and not a backyard. |
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Posted: Jan/30/2008 8:39 AM PST
Quote: Originally posted by Gardengirlforever Absolutely, widen that bed, those plants are going to take off! And many of them get quite big. The first year they will "sleep" (not grow much)the second year they will "creep" (start growing a little faster) the third year they will "leap" (you won't believe how big they have grown!)If you send me a list of the plants (the more details you have about the plants the better) you have there, measure the porch from corner to corner, I will write out a garden bed plan for you! All I ask is that you please take a before photo and an after photo and e-mail it to me. And if you remember, a photo and a comment on how you liked the results in a year or two. This offer extends to anyone! I studied Landscape design, and it is a hobby of mine, and a joy to do As far as reaching them, you could place stepping stones, if you need to prune or weed the bed, or mulch quite heavily so you will not have to reach in much at all! ! I think I may take you up on your offer Gardengirl. What if I were to start from scratch, with just a bed and NO plants? |
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Posted: Jan/30/2008 9:59 AM PST
Quote: Originally posted by bensmom98 Quote: Originally posted by Gardengirlforever Absolutely, widen that bed, those plants are going to take off! And many of them get quite big. The first year they will "sleep" (not grow much)the second year they will "creep" (start growing a little faster) the third year they will "leap" (you won't believe how big they have grown!)If you send me a list of the plants (the more details you have about the plants the better) you have there, measure the porch from corner to corner, I will write out a garden bed plan for you! All I ask is that you please take a before photo and an after photo and e-mail it to me. And if you remember, a photo and a comment on how you liked the results in a year or two. This offer extends to anyone! I studied Landscape design, and it is a hobby of mine, and a joy to do As far as reaching them, you could place stepping stones, if you need to prune or weed the bed, or mulch quite heavily so you will not have to reach in much at all! ! I think I may take you up on your offer Gardengirl. What if I were to start from scratch, with just a bed and NO plants? Yes! If you want me to make a custom garden bed of any kind. Of course just let me know size of area in feet, if it is a free standing bed, or up against something, and what light conditions you have, what zone your in... I also love to design specialty beds, like; Butterfly Gardens, Drought Tolerant Gardens, Wet Feet Gardens, Culinary Herb Gardens, Native Plant Gardens... you name it!
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Posted: Jan/31/2008 8:26 PM PST
WOW, GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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