Desperate Beginner Gardener with a challenging yard

I live in Southern California (Silverado Canyon - I think it is zone 10a) with a sloped yard in the canyon that is mostly partial shade to full shade. I am completely surrounded with California Oak trees. That's why I have so much shade. I am sitting on approximately 3/4 acre. But it is all slope except for my decking.

I understand I probably need to treat my soil. But again, I am a beginner and it is challenging when you have a sloped yard.

I have WASTED so much money trying a variety of plants that I researched. That's why I joined this group hoping I can get better results.

I actually have three slopes (my home is built up a hill - 4 stories).
My upper slope I have left wild. It is covered with ivy (which I hate), some type of ferns, oak trees and other varieties of trees.
My middle slope is where I want to look pretty. I have been trying many types of plants.
My lower slope (front yard) - I want to look pretty. have been trying many types of plants.
Side slope - I want to look pretty. have been trying many types of plants.

I really like the look of the Colocasia, but I was wondering if they would grow where I live.
I also love Hostas - but the few I planted were eaten before they had a chance to grow.
I tried ferns and they are taking forever to grow. Maybe I just purchased the wrong type.
I have wild asparagus fern on my lower slope. I dont want more of it. It is spikey and I have two greyhounds.
Black Magic Elephant ear didnt hold up.
I have some other elephant ears that are doing well - I just dont know what they are called.
Azaleas, Camelias and Gardenia's - all died.
Astibles didnt do well - but I purchased them from Michigan Bulb. Everything I bought from them has died.
I have an ornamental banana tree that is doing well. This will be its first winter - lets see if it holds up.
Bird of Paradise did well when I first planted (in May) and now they look scrawny.

I already posted one post asking for some suggestions on plants that might work for me. I have received one response. I was hoping for some more.

Do I need to post to more than one forum?

Desperate Beginner Gardener with a challenging yard
Sherri

Oh boyl, sounds like a perfect setting for some plants that need fast draining soil. What about some cactus and succulent groundcovers that trail down. There are some really neat gardens that have slopes like yours, let me find the link to RWhip's gardens. Check out the cactus forum also, you will see tons of things that look fantastic.

Antoinette

edited to add link: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/473476/

please check all of Ron's posts and you will see many other ideas.. hope this helps.


This message was edited Nov 29, 2005 2:13 PM

Hi Sherri;

Sounds like what I went through when I moved into my house in Eagle Rock, in Los Angeles. I think that in your area, it is very dry and brushy, and I right? All the stuff that you planted needs a lot of coaxing and care and water to get established in that kind of environment, especially through the hot summers. I think you would probably do better with plants that thrive in dry heat and drought. Lavenders, sages, agastaches, probably geraniums, maybe bouganvilla. I discovered that I need to plant in the winter and early spring, once it starts getting hot it's almost impossible to keep the new plantings alive. And you need to find plants that do well in "dry shade", the hostas and such like it moist. I've tried them to no avail. I do have a camelia that is finally taking hold after 3 years, after plenty of summer watering.
Take at look at this nursery, High Country Gardens, for plants that will do well in your area:
http://www.highcountrygardens.com/
But once again, if you order from them, you need to plant very early in the year. Those little plants are too tender to make it in the summer, even late spring. I know, I've murdered a lot of them! ;-)
Another suggestion: drive around and take note of plants that are doing well in your neighborhood. And lastly, I bought an inexpensive little sprinkler watering system from Home Depot, it came in a kit and during the summer I was able to soak the whole garden (mostly new plantings) at night 3 times a week. Everything finally thrived this year. Next summer I probably won't need to water as much, as everything will be better established.
Oh yeah, if you are fighting a lot of weeds or natural growth, as I was, what I did was I covered the whole garden in black plastic and let it stew for 6 months in the sun! That killed everything and gave me a very rich soil to work with.
In the pic: yellow daisy bush (I don't know the real name), bird of paradise, the purple bush is Mexican Sage,( those are great in the heat), and the red berries are a firethorn, which should grow great in your area too. I'm in zone 9 / 10, very hot and dry from May through..well, even now, in November. This pic was taken just a couple of weeks ago.
Good luck!
Lynne

hiya and welcome to DG!

I don't know if roses are your cup of tea, but take a look at the garden linked to below. One doesn't need to plant roses, but this garden is on a slope. Anything is possible...lol.

I'm with Gourd on this. If you're interested in cactus and succulents, it sounds like your yard is tailor-made for such plants.

best,
don

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/514987/

I have a large number of native oak trees as well, though I don't have a slope to contend with. One of the challenges is that oak trees are not supposed to be irrigated at all. However, most plants that thrive in shade do need to be irrigated.

One book that I really found useful was Plants and Landscapes for Summer Dry Climates. It discusses a lot of bushes, perennials, grasses and other plants that can get by on a low amount of water. And, what I really liked, is that many of these plants can get by in part-shade.

Cactuses and succulents are great too, but I haven't found very many that like shade. I mainly use them in pots in the sunnier areas of my yard, or on the edges of the oak canopies.

Oh my goodness - all such wonderful ideas.

I appreciate the idea on cactus and succulents - but unfortunately, I dont care for them very well. I am an old fashion cottage garden girl. I think I bought the wrong house to create one of those. But I would like to get as close as I can.

And lilystorm is correct - you are not suppose to water california native oak trees. It can cause them to rot on the inside and kill them. So, I do need to find plants that dont need a bunch of water.

I have tried roses - I have three white roses up near my jacuzzi - this location gets the most sun. They are barely hanging on. I have to battle with the ivy and keep cutting it back - or it suffocates them. Most of all the roses I found require sun.

Margu - I just love your picture. If I could get my garden to look like that, I would be one happy gal.

I will take all your suggestions and put them together. I want to start figuring out what I want to plant now so I can start planting soon. I think that when I planted some of my plants it was too close to the hot weather. I like the idea of starting in January/February so they can have some time to establish.

I didnt realize that it can take up to three years for a plant to take. This means that there might be hope on some of my plants. Maybe I am just not patient enough.

Keep the ideas coming. And I will keep you all posted.

I am so excited - thank you so so much.

Sherri

Sherri;

Check out this website for antique roses.

http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/

I've planted about 10 of them in my yard, many of them in shade for part of the day, and they are all thriving. When they get established, they don't need much water at all, and maybe you can even train them up into the oak trees! I have one that's about 10ft tall so far, and it's starting to grow up into an orange tree. Just make sure you find ones for your zone. They even have a section of partial shade roses. I can give you a list of the ones I bought if you're interested. Also, another idea is to make small terraces on your slopes for planting, that's what I did, you can't tell from the picture, because that's one of the terraces.

Please take some pictures and post them so we can get a better idea. I also live on a hill with simi steep slopes and found native drought tollern t plants the best . There are a number of sages with beautifull blooms, and are very easy to grow. The native plants are less likely to be eaten.

You slid in right before me socalpalms. I agree that sages and salvias are a great choice.

I've also had quite a time with things getting eaten in my yard. The salvias and shrubby plants are generally not disturbed. On the other hand, tasty tidbits like the iceland poppies I planted the other week barely survive a day before being eaten to the ground.

This message was edited Nov 29, 2005 7:42 PM

This is so much fun. Thank you for all the wonderful ideas.

If I could have roses - I would be the happiest girl ever :)

I am bound and determined to create my dream yard. I have always believed if there is a will - there is a way.

Since I work during the week, and dont get home until after dark - I wont be able to take photos until this weekend. As soon as I do - I will post.
It does make sense to SHOW you my situation :)

Good thing my work load is light right now - because I have to research all these great websites and books you are recommending.

Knowing me, I am going to probably want to buy the plants now. I was thinking I could keep the plants in my sunroom until after the really cold nights go away and then plant them. Do you think that would be ok?

Sherri

Sherri, you are so much like me! I always do that too, buy right away, and then the plants sit for months. I've never done it in the winter, though. (but I'm eyeing a sage from High Country gardens that I want RIGHT NOW!!!) But then, I don't have a sunroom. I think that if you keep an eye on them and give them the right amount of water, that would work. I've got one more antique rose in a gallon pot sitting outside because it's been too hot (!) to plant it, I may wait until Feb. to stick it in the ground. And do try the antique roses. A lot of them were cultivated from roses found growing by the roadside with no care whatsoever and are now available at that nursery.

P.S. - also check out books on Mediterranean gardening.......the conditions are very similar to ours and you can get some great ideas for plants.

This is a great time to plant roses, Sherri, since you can get them bareroot. It's also not a bad time to plant other shrubs either, so they can settle in before warm weather returns. (As long as the ground isn't soggy, that is.)

I would tend to get the backbone plants put in first (roses and other large items) and then have the smaller items arrive in February or so. Also, I'd make sure the planting area was really well-amended so you don't get any root rot.

One more idea for you--I've been planting japanese maples in several places as small understory trees. They add some height and structure to the garden and provide beautiful fall color. They do need water, but they are not water hogs. They do really well in part shade to shade too. (The larger leaf varieties do best for me, since their leaves don't burn as easily in our dry summer weather.)

Russian sage

Sherri;

I forgot to mention Canna's, big beautiful Canna's! They do love the sun, but I've got a couple growing under trees in complete shade and they still bloom. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and gorgeous!!

I have a yellow canna in a pot that I purchased about 4 months ago - It has gotten so big I need to transplant.

I had it on my deck on the side that received morning and late afternoon sun. But now its shade all day. I will keep an eye on it. I have seen canna at other peoples houses - but mostly in the sun.

Cross your fingers because so far - it is a very easy plant.

Sherri

The other great thing about cannas is that you can easily divide the tubers and replant and get a whole new bunch of plants. I started with two, and now I have them all over my yard. And everything I read says they like lots of water, but it's sure not true in my yard. They grow no matter what!

check out this thread about "giant white squill", looks like a great plant for us, but can't be bought until next year because now is it's blooming season. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/560036/

sherri, i hope you get something in the mail soon!