I just had my concrete patio extended 5 feet all around. The concrete contractors back filled it with black dirt. I am looking to maybe plant some flowers and bushes around it to spruce it up. Any one have any ideas? I've attached a picture.
Thanks in advance!
Very nice!
One thing I would NOT do is to completely encircle the patio. You will probably want to be able to pass through to the rest of the yard in at least one or two directions.
You may not want to plant anything too near your grill or fireplace either.(?)
very nice robotec! I agree with JulieQ....I'd go for privacy/windbreak/shade on one side, and access/sun on the other three....you don't want people tromping on your flowers all around, having no way to get to the yard. There's so much you can do, patio pots, a trellis, with vines, one wall of arborvitae, a little flagstone path leading into the yard, an arbor to mark the entrance .....just suggestions.....it's really nice and you have endless possibilities.
a trellis with a colorful flowering vine on either side of the back door might be nice... could even make a narrow pergola. as mentined before, i wouldnt encircle the entire area. maybe a nice medium shrub at the corners and lower growing flowers around the rest, leaving a pathway on either side to access the rest of the yard.
Thanks for all of the wonderful feedback to my posting. I took a lot of your advice and this is what I've done so far. I transplanted 3 of my dwarf spruces to give privacy. And planted a brandywine flowering crabapple in the front for shade (eventually). What do you guys think? I'll be adding ground cover and complimentary shrubs and flowers as well. Thanks again!
Here's a better image.
oh robotec that looks nice! keep posting pictures as you go along, we love to see things as they progress. what color flowers are you thinking of?
This is what I've done so far.
I love that gazing ball, that blue is a pretty color, and the pavers...what flowers did you plant? Are you zone 5? It's hard to plant in August.
I live in Zone 5. Illinois. Still making final adjustments with the flagstones. All I need to do now is just add mulch and I'll be pretty much done.
it's nice, and you'll have a nice September to enjoy it (that's what I keep telling myself after the rainy summer lol)
I see what you mean with the flagstone, maybe try the big one in the middle?
robotec Have you considered using daylilies? Low matinance and lots if blooms. If you spend much time sitting out there then I would also suggest checking into the fragrant plant options. An arbor over the flagstones with climbing roses and clematis on each side would be lovely! Just my thoughts. So much fun isn't it!
Yea, I just moved some daylillies into a garden bed by my fence along with a Magnolia I had planted in the back that wasn't doing well. An arbor with vines sounds real good. Maybe next year.
Daylillies and Magnolia tree.
nice! I like daylillies too.
The leaves on my Magnolia are starting to droop badly. I've made sure it got plenty of water after the transplant. Any suggestions?
it's a tough time to transplant anything, it may not look good till the spring, it has to re-establish roots now so it will let the leaves go. just keep watering and it should be ok.
normally these trees are transplanted while dormant, so it's a little transplant shock.
Hi robotec, I agree with Lynnie - transplant shock. Just keep deep water soaking. How wide will the species of magnolia get? Here in MS we've got HUGE and WIDE magnolias. Remember to take mature size into consideration when planting. Hope it isn't to close to the fence. The daylilies look so healthy! Just love kidney shaped beds. Keep posting pics as progress continues. We can't plant here right now due to extreme heat. (100+) What are your day and nite temps like now? Joyce
This message was edited Aug 15, 2009 12:00 AM
Not sure of the species. Its not supposed to get too big as I recall. It's about 5 feet from the fence. I hope that's enough if it survives.
That should be plenty of room, i've never seen huge magnolias in zone 5, even the very old ones.
I read somewhere that I should cut back some of the branches and a little off the top so that it doesn't have to work as much to rebound from the transplant.
I have no idea, I try not to mess with my plantings too much because I'm really a beginner lol at least I think I am. Maybe if you post that question on a new thread, someone with more knowledge can answer it. I think it will just drop the leaves on it's own.
If the magnolia is not supposed to get to big it could be 'Little Gem' which is a dwarf form of the type I mentioned in the thread above. Do not cut it back! Especially the top. This would cause two main crowns to grow up there and ruin the form of the tree. It will not hurt the tree if you remove a few of the lower branches tho but I don't recomend it at this young stage. Wait and see what it looks like in a few years. Then decide. Good luck - Joyce
Almost there. Still figuring out what type of ornamental grass and ground cover to choose.
wow you're moving right along...I love ornamental grasses! What fun!
Found this Golden Moneywort at Home Depot. It's supposed to be very hardy and will be able to withstand my grill.
I have that! It is hardy, I step on it a lot. It spreads too, but is easy to keep where you want...if mine spreads the wrong way, I pull up the bit that's trailing in the wrong direction & direct it the other way.
My Magnolia has bounced back pretty well so far. It has several blooms and the leaves are starting to fill back in. The only problem is the blooms are starting to turn brown and fall off. Any suggestions for care? There were spider webs starting to form on the tree but I got rid of them.
Robotec, here is some general care info for your magnolia
http://www.life123.com/home-garden/trees-shrubs/flower-trees/magnolia-tree.shtml
http://www.magnoliatreecare.net/
http://www.ehow.com/how_4485976_care-japanese-magnolia.html
http://www.magnoliatreeearthcenter.org/magnolia-tree/little-gem-magnolia-the-native-american-southern-magnolia-and-japanese-flowering-magnolia-trees
