Need help with new bed... Please.

Can anyone suggest other ideas of what to place in this bed?

I ask because we have our Septic Tank area enclosed with railroad ties, we did this to keep people from parking on it. Seems something about the area draws people to want to park there.. The area is about 16x8 and until recently it has been a "Bed of Weeds"...I have always been afraid to plant there for fear when it had to be pumped, the workers would have to dig my bed up completely..Several weeks ago we had a company come out and pump the tank.. All they did was dig a hole in the middle, pull a plug (cover), and then put it back when done... We then put the dirt back over it. While they were here they told me that I can use it as a flower garden. The guy suggested that I just place a bird bath or a good size plant over the plug that way it can be removed for future pumps and put back.

My hubby went to the dirt pit and bought a truckload of Garden Soil.. They told him it was top-soil mixed with compost.. We removed weeds, laid down landscape weed barrier fabric and he put the soil in about 4 or so inches deep.

So now I have a good size Alocasia cucullata, Chinese Taro, in a whiskey barrel planter atop the plug. I moved some different varieties of Elephant Ear to the back side of the bed.. right in the front corner I planted a Manaus Asystasia so it will trail out of the bed... There is a bench under some EE's in a back corner and a big pot of Blackie Sweet Potato vine in the other front corner. I can't really put anything in the ground that will root deeply.. I don't need the roots growing into the septic tank.. --

Forgot to mention. the bed is in the middle of my back yard. There is a huge maple to the east (back of it) so plenty of morning shade. The front of the bed gets full sun from about 2 pm, but the back of the bed is still part shaded by the maple tree for the rest of the day..

What ya think? Any suggestions?Zone 8b.

Thanks...

This message was edited Aug 8, 2010 10:01 AM

In shaded areas I like astible and foam flower and laminium. You would have to check your zone. Bleeding heart (I like the yellow) Hydrangea. There are lots of things you can plant -- I think with 4 inches of soil on top of landscape fabric ... you may have to go with annuals --- or is the plan to poke holes in the fabric so that the perennials can be planted and set roots? Have you thought about just having a space around the septic opening for a sea of beautiful grasses?

Maybe some red or pink periwinkle (vinca)? It would give the area some color. Periwinkle likes hot weather (which you definitely have there in Mobile) and they aren't bothered by pests (so easy to care for.) In the winter you could put some flowering kale, snapdragons, etc.

Ground cover thymes, Dianthus, Liriope, Iris, Lilies, Dahlias, Campanula, Gerberas, Daylilies, Cosmos...

Missingrosie,

You have some lovely ideas.. I'm thinking I will get another load of "garden soil" and build the bed up a little more. However if I decide upon some plants that need to set roots, I will certainly poke holes in the fabric.. Im open to many options. I want it to be full and beautiful. I intend for it to be a focal point when one drives up to our home. I LOVE your idea about a sea of grasses. That will look great with the Chinese Taro standing tall in the middle of them. Can you suggest some nice clumping grasses? I will also check to see what will thrive in my zone.

LadyPearl, Love your username. I have a niece who is 5 named Pearl, tho we call her Pearly.. : )

Vinca's are a great idea. I have some pink and purple in my beds off my patio. Easy care, love the heat and beautiful.. Haven't even thought about it for winter yet.. I'm happy you did. I'm going to check into those options as well. Thanks.

Debra,

Oh how I want some Dahlias.. They grow here but I never seem to find them in our garden centers...Not sure why unless I'm just too late and they are all bought before I arrive..lol. Gerberas are a good idea, as I love daisies.

Thanks girls!!

Could order Dahlia bulbs? I bought some Bishop of Llandaff and they did well here (until last winter with the 12 inches of snow, etc. LOL)

like missingrosie, I really love grasses, especially Fescue and Mexican Feather. I would be careful with which one(s) you choose. Lots of them like to self sow all over the place. Don't know much about septic systems, but if the grasses get into the system....And some of them are really bad for pets.

How about Frillaria meleagris, Checkered Lilies? (Borrowed the photo from Easytogrowbulbs.)

Oh I love those!!!

I agree with you.. I would only want clumpling grasses not trailing where the roots travel and then the grass is everywhere..

Dahlias being bulbous makes me happy. I think bulbs are a great idea for the bed.

Probably best to "mix it up a bit". If you want a colorful focal point you might want to plant a mixture of bulbs and perennials. You could then use much of the outside perimeter of the bed for your annuals which provide you with "instant color". The bulbs and perennials give you colors for shorter durations of time and the annuals will give you color during periods when the bulbs and perennials are not blooming. It's also a good idea to keep in mind how tall and wide something will grow. That way you can layer things with taller things in the back and work your way forward with the medium and short height plants. That way everything is visible and there's no competition for the available sunshine.

Try IPOMOEA Batatas (potatoe vine) "Blackie" mixed with "Margarita". The combination is striking and creates a great "support" ground cover for your main flowering feature plants..

Enjoy !!!

Larry

Hey Larry,

In one of the front sunny corners I have a 18 inch pot full of "Blackie". Just this morning I went out and took a rooted piece of "Margarita" and tucked it into the pot to give it some "Bling" shall we say.. lol.

It did not occur to me to put some in the ground as "groundcover".. I just might do that!!

Oddly one of the "Margarita" tubers, I put away from last year, sprouted this year and it looks a little different. It is young at the moment but it has the chartreuse colored leaves but a very thin line, the very edges are a much darker green. I really like it. Wonder what happened.. Maybe it morphed being wintered in the barn.. Hmm?