new 1 acre lot- clay but wet soil, very windy area

we just moved into new house last Oct. 1 acre lot in subdivison. Front yard 2 small trees, border bed to foundationof house is approx 3ft deep, already planted with some shrubs,grasses, filled with pea gravel. we will have to put in french drains due to standing water problem. currently pallet built walkway from side drive to front deck/door. this walk does go right by front garden bed. I am undecided to keep walkway straight, maybe plant a bed on other side of it as well, (we are replacing the pallets with flagstone type walkpath) I also want to do a split rail fence in the front, with a type of climbing vines over it. trying to find a climber that will do well in the full sun, clay soil, and be very bushy with flowers. Like a honeysuckle, which I love the smell, but maybe somthing different? The view is not great from my front door- just neighbors house which is not too pretty. this is new area, so any trees are still very small. we already have evergreens planted on the side property line, and the prior owners already had poplars planted all along the back and 1/2 side property lines, which will make a good windbreak and privacy when they grow taller. I've planned out on paper many many times simple design. Now I am thinking though,, am I wasting all that wonderful space out front? I still have 1/2 acre in back to do as well- partly with small veggie garden. I like paths, and cottage type gardens, with benches, and fountains etc, but wouldnt that look strange in the front yard? or does it matter anyways as long as I like it..LOL . I would like to put in Koi pond too..I just love it all! The landscaping beds that were already here is a nice start, just trying to add to it to make it special and lots more of it. we also have raised covered deck in front. any idea what to do with underneath deck? other than just cover it up with lattice? and anyone from zone 6 out there tried Lavender here? I would love to completly line the front "ditch" between road and front of rail fence with lavender and maybe some wildflowers. Its so windy out here I dont know if it will survive it though. SO, should I put pond,walkpaths in the back? I would just like to really enjoy pulling in my driveway, taking my time into the house enjoying the plants on the way. If its ALL covered in flowers would be great for me! LOL

i dont know why this didnt marrk as New. This is first posting.

How about considering some rain gardens to go with your french drains? There are some good sites and references in my article on the subject. http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/634/ Maybe you need to take some pictures and use them to kind of figure out what you'd like to put where, then check for plants hardy for your zone. :))

thnx Doccat5! I have not heard of the rain gardens, will definitly check out the link! Yes, this biggest problem is making a decision, with little money to spend, I want to be sure first. The local nurseries of course will be first stop, but unsure of the wind factor out here for some plants. ah decisions, decsions..

I'd probably rethink the lavender--when I hear clay soil and ditches, it tells me you're going to have way too much moisture around for the lavender. If you want to grow some, you need to make a nice raised bed so that the lavender can have good drainage, otherwise it'll rot every time. Also make sure you research your varieties, some I think are only hardy to zone 7 but I'm pretty sure there are a couple that will make it in zone 6.

Since you're on a limited budget, you might consider getting some packets of wildflower seeds and plant those in your front yard--that should give you the flowery look you want. Then you can spend your money on things like making the flagstone walkway, buying some benches, etc. Before you start anything though--do you have a homeowners' association in your neighborhood? If so, you may want to check what their rules are before doing much in the front yard, some HOA's are very restrictive of what you can do.

Also--to answer your question about why your thread didn't show up marked new, it's because it wasn't new for you, since you made the first post, the computer knows that you've seen it already. But for anyone else coming along who hadn't read it yet, it did show up as new.

thanks so much ecrane; I was afraid of that with the lavender. I may deligate a seperate area and make a raised bed for it. The wildflower seeds would be a good option too and not very expensive, to hide the ugly ditch in front. I have so much room, but unfortunlaty it seems not very good soil to start with. The french drains will help some, but too expensive to amend the entire acre of clay soil. As far a HOA, just cant be privacy fence. Im glad you advised on the lavender! I was ready to try it, now I know to keep it for raised bed only. I thought maybe on the up side of the slope would work for "well drained" as it calls for, but wasnt sure.LOL glad asked first! At least the wildflowers should be ok with the wind factor out here too. Oh and thnx-(DUH)on the marked New post question..lolol

You also need to set aside an area to do some composting so you can improve that soil. :)

If allowed to plant in front of your house, do so. Our daughter in Ohio has a small front yard, but that is where she has sun. Her small cottage garden type planting gets many compliments, It had a nice Japanese maple in place. They had to cut down two Juniper trees to get their furniture in the house over the porch railing and now have plants there with a climbing rose up the side of the porch. If your area is brand new it would be great if can design a front garden. In addition to the wildflower meadow you can always fill in with annuals until you finish the large construction and add shrubs and other plants as it is financially posible and you find what works in your area.

thanks for the encourgment! Irisma; The previous neighborhood was in town,everyone did the standard landscaping in the front,small lots, neat but not very imaginative. We are now out in the country, although it is in a subdivision, only about 8 streets, all on 1 acre lots, and whole area is between pastures, so it is pretty relaxed out here, with sheds and outbuildings, ect. , and 5 miles is closest town/store. part of problem is it is flat, and you can see 2 streets over, due to everyone has chain link fencing if they have any at all. ( we do in back for the JRTs we have)No one else seems to be doing much in the way of planting, but we will see in the spring. this has been the worst winter for us with the ice storm. I would love to have a virtual forest of flowering plants out front. The HOA doesnt have restrictions other than privacy fencing in front, so , since this is our "retirement" home now- downsized when last son went to college, arent I allowed to get a little nutty out here! LOL. this is our last house for next 20 years until we can retire somewhere warmer, so I have alot of time to watch it grow and fill in! so dont we get some creative license at my stage in life now? anyone else think so out there? LOL a reward so to speak for surviving it all to 50! They can just call me the crazy flower lady out here I think ! LOL :) Still drawing out different plans and printing from BHG plans wihch save some time. Now to just decide!
thanks to all! Sue

Does the U. of OK put out any gardening bulletins? We are all a bit handicaped by not knowing your climate, so their literature would be a help.

I think OSU does, I will have tocheck. hot/humid summers, usually mild winters, hoepfully by march we will begin warming up. according to garden sights we are in zone 6. going not below 0 in winter. the lot is all full sun, no trees,shade or windbreaks to speak of yet. house faces west. our whole area must be low to the water table, as everyones yards has same standing water problem here. French drains have to be our first project as soon as it warms up a bit. changes drastically by the hour latley! wacko weather! thnks!

When I have been at OK iris conventions I have seen many rebud trees. Will they grow for you for shade?

oh yes! they are all over. I have 2 small trees in the front, cant tell what they are yet. and small evergreens on one side, poplars along back property line, so we will eventually have some shade and privacy. It will be quite a few years before they are tall enough though. I am adding to front with split rail fence along front of yard, with some type of climbing vines/shrubs with flowers. and the wildflower idea for the ditches in front of fencce is great. now trying to pick plants for adding to the beds by the house, and to put in a new bed on the other side of walkway to the front door, and half circle bed in front of the front porch deck, facing the street. I liked the heauchara's someone mentioned as well. this is a great site to get ideas and thank goodness for the Watchdog on the mail order- I had 150$ order allready in the cart to Springhill.. sure glad I didnt send it! I found a Huge nursery not too very far from me I am going to check out and buy all I can locally first for sure.

Local plants usually work best, unless you can't get something special they don't have. Also such a nursery is a good source for advice, they certainly don't wish to annoy their bigest base of customers.

Good idea, shubbard. They should have a better understanding of your local growing conditions as well. If you can stand it, just plant enough to easy your inner gardener and wait a full season. Take pictures and notes. It sounds like one of the first things you need to think about is a wind break. Maybe consider using a swath of conifers of different species to help with that. I seen some stunning boarders using nothing but conifers, very striking.

I do have 6 Arborvitae along the north side property line, but they are still small of course, and poplar trees all along back and part side of property line, so eventually there will be some wind breaks. not sure what the 2 small trees in front yard are yet. maybe could use conifers on south side property line next to road ( corner lot) . This might give a wind break to the front yard. I also have a medium sized weeping willow on the south side of the house, which looks to be doing well. Luckily, the former owners planted all these trees and put in landscaping beds before us, so they really gave us a nicce start. yes, wind and excess water are the challanges for the entire lot. the hardscape projects will comes first, and drainage, so I might get just a small amount of plants in this year. yes, it would be better to take it slow I know,, LOL I am so bad at that! just want it all at once! LOL, but better to plan carefully you are right, maybe some cheap annuals this year to appease my flower cravings while we are planning. we have not spent a spring/summer at this location yet, so we can see how hot,windy,etc it will be in spring & summer first would be smart idea,, thanks!