Beginner Gardening: Planting within a Retainer Wall, 1 by Kate29161

Kate29161 wrote:
All, thank you for the responses, so many ideas to consider. I will check out the High Country Gardens and Xeriscaping. I have not heard this term Xeroscaping before. As for the wall, yes it does taper down at the end. I will be able to walk from the yard onto the 1st level. In that section, I thought it might be work to plant rock cress or another slow creeping plant. I want something durable if the kids or dog would happen to walk on it. Then I would plant something a bit taller and eventually get to the larger plants. The wall faces south and gets sun most of the day. The house is Northwest and blocks the wind from the north. I am trying to avoid shrubs because I have concerns with the deep roots. If there is ever a need to pull the plant, I do not want to dig it out by hand, and to pull over the lower wall or upper wall with something stronger could damage or shift the walls. Adding a few different types of flowers sounds like a good idea. Maybe placing some Clematis vine against the back wall, then placing a few Hisbiscus with the Lillys would work. On the edge of the wall, I have placed buckets and thought I would plant Petunias in the buckets this year and maybe other annuals around the Petunias. I will be able to water every day for the first year and would prefer watering less years after. My biggest concern, is making sure the garden would survive if I was to take a week long vacation. This area is considered zone 4a. I have added pictures to help show a bit more of what I am working with

This message was edited Dec 29, 2011 8:38 PM