I have just cleared a narrow 6 ft but long side yard. I am in the process of removing the old red tips planted along the fence. When that is done I don't know how to proceed. The area will have no grass ( ground cover?). I have purchased a Japanese Red Maple (small),a few Japanese Yews and some Japanese Sedge. Any Ideas??
In your picture, it doesn't appear that your area gets a lot of sun--which direction does it face? That would help us to know what type of plants could survive there.
This picture was taken around 5:30 pm . It was taken near the back of the yard which gets morning sun except for the corner. The front gets afternoon sun. I have placed Hostas and Ferns in the shady part of the back.
The first picture was taken at the above mentiond time.. I also need ground cover advise as I will not be using grass.
I have creeping phlox as a ground cover on the east side of my house and it's loving it there. There are, of course, several colors you could choose from. It's not a real aggressive type plant and I'm using it to fill in around some azaleas and day lilies in my flower bed. Day lilies are another good choice and they would offer lots of color--I have several of those in beds (east, west, and south facing) and all are doing very well. Another ground cover that's a good possibility for your light situation is periwinkle (vinca). I have vinca minor in a north facing flower bed which, again, I'm using to fill in around some shrubs and ferns. I also have dwarf ornamental grass (dwarf Hamlin and Little Bunny). I have some in east and west exposures and all of it is doing very nicely. You might consider an arch type trellis at the sunnier end to grow a clematis on--it would make such a pretty entrance to the rest of your garden. I'm sure others will come along soon with some other good suggestions.
or you may want some wisteria on that trellis which is beautifull and I use creeping tyme in shaded area which smell amazing when walked on and will not need to be cut it will just look nice at about two inches tall
mone
man i cant even spell my name this morning and for part shade toad lilies are nice and late blooming also there is bleeding heart ferns which bloom all summer are only 12 inches tall and get to be about the same across
and the name is Mona
I'm not exactly sure what type conditions tcinmb has but we have to be careful with creeping thyme down here in the south. Some varieties will rot in our abundant rain and high humidity.
Check out this article it is about a small garden with an area like you have.
http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/design/videos/dynamic-design-for-a-garden-passageway.aspx
Wow ! Now that is what I am looking for. But my gardening experience is pretty basic.. I think that would have to hire a landscaper to accomplish that look. Another garden that blew my socks off was from Taunton Press. A Tale of Two Side Yards. But here again being on a limited budget it will take me years to finish. Especially since I don't know where to start.
I think if you picked out the things you like best and put a few in at a time you could get there. The man that did that yard has an incredible garden center and runs a landscaping service, but you can get a few ideas and then over the years expand on them. Figure out of you want a path first, then add some plants year after year.
I'll start with first question- There is a cement sidewalk that runs the length from the front porch to the back. There is about 3 feet from the house to the side walk and about 6 ft from the sidewalk to the fence- Should I plant the trees in the middle of that space?? Or by the fence??
By the fence although it might be nice to put one by the house for variety.
zenpotter Thanks for your input. And yet I still have a question? How far from the fence? I know that the Japanese Yews are not really trees but they can get tall and not sure about diameter.
I am not familiar with the Japanese Yew so I looked it up this is some info I found, they called it a shrub.
Although there are many yews, the Japanese yew is most famous for its large growth potential. Each bush can reach to around thirty feet tall and eight to ten feet wide. Do not be afraid to use them as a small hedge though since they are very receptive to pruning, not severe pruning though. In addition, they are very slow growing; therefore it is not hard to keep up with the pruning to minimize the growth against its full potential.
When I checked it in the plant files on Daves I ended up with 2,245 hits of plants that had the word Japanese in it. Do the labels on the trees have the Latin name? If they do you should do a search for that.
I ran into an article today that might be of interest to you. It is from This Old House on line.
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,1635165,00.html
zenpotter- Thanks again - I had internet problems this am. I'm not sure which article you were refering to as I found them all interesting!!
This project is kicking my butt-- I had gotten it all cleared so I thought - I got into another fight with Greenbriar or Cowsweed--what ever you want to call it. It got me yesteday.. I'm not giving up and feel that if I don't get rid of the really nasty weeds I might just forget my plan. I don't think that even mulch can help with this stuff!!
These roots are what I keep digging up
Thanks for every one's input. I'm dropping out now and hiring a landscape designer.
those roots look like canna roots
Those roots are greenbriars or cow weed. They are very nasty weed with thorns.
Well - After getting prices form landscapers I decided to plug along myself. This is where I am now.
Here's my side yard now.
That is a big change.
Any suggestions for the Spring??
I am totally unfamiliar with zone 8.
Thanks for looking!
We have recently built a long brick wall (at least 60') to enclose the back of our yard which had a 6' drop. Part is shaded and part is full, hot Alabama sun. Nothing has ever been planted in this ground and I am looking for some ideas for tall plants that are perennial shade lovers and some that can be combined with other smaller plants to give the layered look. Are there any ideas out there?
You might start a thread for local help from fellow dg'ers. I find most of us really want to help. Yes most yews are shrubs and can be sheared to thickness desired. If you want cover for the cround you might try english ivy although it can get out of hand. Lantana,or vinca vines. one way to cut expenses is to use liners and plugs b ut it may take a year or two to fill in as well as having to grow them up pryor to planting. maybe some zoysia grass it would not require frequent mowing as others do. I will rool it around in my head for a bit and re post. I realize some of these suggestions are really out there so please forgive me.
Dave
I this article in Fine Gardening may be helpful
http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/design/articles/a-tale-of-two-side-yards.aspx
There are also other articles in Fine Gardening that address landscaping a long narrow side yard.
Good luck!
Those are very nice spaces. They end up being intimate yet looking bigger.
That article was my inspiration.
