I would like to remove the strip of grass to the right of the black line (my property) with some landscaping.
I am only doing my part and will not be talking to my neighbor for his part (long story) so I need something that will look good and very low maintenance. I would like to add landscape lights to this part as well.
At one point I was thinking of adding a decorative fence to separate the areas along with plants.
Any ideas is appreciated.
Thanks
The picture shows the area to be planted with lot's of sun on it, so does it get full sun all day, just morning sun or late sun ??????.
Next, I cant see properly but, is the black gray area used for cars to be parked, or through way to property therefore passing traffic.??????
These questions might sound silly BUT it will make a difference to your choice of plants as gas fumes don't alway's mix with some type of plants and will infact kill them off so you don't want to waist money on anything that wont be suitable for the purpose.
My advice would be to separate the plot by using either a wooden barrier, preferably wood that has been pre treated for outdoor use.
After you lift off the sod / grass, you need to really work the bare soil by digging out any leftover roots, adding as much humus as possible to the soil and dig this in too.
You will see the soil hight rise up quite a lot but it will, in a few weeks drop down a bit, but not to the level where / when you removed the sod / grass.
At this point, you should be looking to plant all the nice things you fancy, good idea to get a soil test kit from garden store, this will allow you to know the PH of your soil, as in acidic or rich in nutrients is the easiest way to describe what your looking for, this is why a soil test will tell you what to add to your soil (as well as humus / animal manure WELL ROTTED) these test kits cost a couple of dollars and are idiot proof, just go by directions on kit.
If soil is slightly acidic, then I would go for shrubs like Azalea's, and other plants that like acidic soil.
If soil is fertile and has all the nutrients required for a wider range of plants then Roses, growing with an under-planting of catmint Nepeta, could look nice, easy to care for the cat mint will help cover the soil and depending on which one you choose, can grow anything from 6 inch tall to a lovely 18 inch tall and spread, I love this plant for perfume as you walk past to the see through effect and it covers bare stems of taller plants..
I would go for a good single colour of flowering shrubs as they are easy to care for, need no pruning or like Roses, once a year prune, maybe IF you have a wall space you could add a climbing plant again there are many depending on soil, sun, shade etc.
What you dont need is tall growing plants as IF the area is for parking, traffic etc, they will catch clothes, doors and get damaged or catch your clothes of exiting a car???.
What I'm not sure about is winter temp in your area, as this could have an effect on what type of plants you can grow, some could have winter protection but others will not tolerate freezing.
If you can get back here with some answers to these questions, then more help could be readily available.
Hope this gives you some food for thought and gets you thinking about the look you want for this area and some pit falls of selecting the wrong type of plant.
best regards and good luck. WeeNel.
How wide is your half of the strip? It looks very narrow which could make it rather difficult for growing many woody shrubs (given that smaller ones would have to be chosen and that they'd best be planted in the center of the entire strip, not in the center of your half).
If you do not get along with this neighbor I think planting this area would only make things worse.
His grass would be forever encroaching into your plants and you'd be spending way more time fooling with them than it takes to run a mower over it.
IF (big if) you have a 100% solidly uncontested property line you could run a root barrier down the line, put up a small (24 inches or less) fence just on your side and plant a few small things. But having room for a fence, plants, and lights would be quite crowded. And to tend the fence (washing, painting, sealing, etc) you would by necessity have to walk on your neighbors property.
Grass just seems way easier.
That's his downspout putting water directly onto your side on the left there?
Doesn't that get way soggy with two downspouts pouring into the same small spot?
Wouldn't your soil and/or mulch just wash out during a heavy rain?
Grass handles that better.
That's just such a narrow strip- gotta love suburbia!
If it gotta be done...
I would add a header board to keep the grass on that side, and keep the roots of whatever you plant on your side.
I would use something like flagstone and a fine gravel called Quarter Minus to make a landing area so that when you get out of your car you can stand on it. There are low voltage lights that can be placed under ground, but I do not recommend them.
Instead of the quarter minus you could use flat ground cover plants to fill in between the flagstones, and can be walked on.
If you want the fence/shrub/light design, then here it is:
Very low fence, as NICE as you can. Do not get the cheap folding wire fence.
Plants would probably be the dwarf form of whatever grows in your area. A formal hedge could be something like boxwood, kept squared off (or gently rounded, but neat, formal) at whatever size will work, but roughly as high as it gets wide. A little taller is OK.
When you trim on the side next to the fence do it when the neighbor is not home, and sweep or blow ALL the debris off his property.
There are high quality low voltage lights. The solar powered ones are just not there yet. They are trying, but I do not yet recommend them. If you can see the lights in person, not just look in a catalog that is the best way to buy them. Try Vista (less expensive, but still good), FC Luminaire (VERY nice, but $), Kichler (very wide range of products) and other commercial quality. DO NOT get Malibu or Intermatic lights. They are cheap, and look it, and fall apart fast.
If the plant selection is to be mixed, make sure it is kept up. Deadhead, and replace plants that are not performing well. Perennials that stay neat most of the time are probably best, then fill in with seasonal color (annuals) until the perennials have shown what they can do. Mulch with fine bark chips or ground bark, and keep it deep enough to keep the weeds down.
