Here is the front of my house. This was taken when the first owners lived here so I don't have those plants. I bought a pride of Barbados and a sago palm that are in pots out front until I can decide where to plant them. I have planted a couple salvia already. I also have a sweet almond verbena in a pot on my back porch until I decide where to put it. Do y'all have any suggestions? You can see the windows to the right of the door. In that top right corner of that window water comes gushing down when it rains. I am trying to think how I can use that in designing that area. ( photo / image / picture from poodledoodlemom's Garden )
Hi pdm--I suspect this posting of yours got lost in the crush of Stew posts. I don't live in your area & really can't help. I am responding in the hopes that a Southern or Texas Stewbie will see this & respond. That is, assuming you still need help! In terms of your landscaping, it looks like you are starting with a 'blank slate', which is a great place to start. BTW you have a beautiful home.
I missed this one also. Beautiful home and lots of room to play! Have you considered gutters for that part of the house to divert the downpour when it rains? That way you could better utilize that space. I just can't think of a plant that would like to be beaten by all that water. Your Pride of Barbados and the Sago Palm will need lots of sunshine. Have you found a place for them yet?
Yep, guttering for that area. And since you are in an area where the drought has been the worst for the last several years, you might consider getting a couple of pretty rainwater collection barrels connected to the guttering. Which direction does your house face? I am guessing either north or south. And is that a Live Oak in the front? Keep an eye on shade patterns for a few months. If that is a Live Oak it will be green year round and plants for that area will have to be part shade tolerant. And don't plant anything under it that requires regular watering. Live Oaks live solely on what nature provides, regular watering of plants under them will kill the tree. What type of garden do you imagine when you see your house? Lots of color along the front or all green shrubs? Do you plan on only planting along the foundation or will you venture out into the surrounding lawn area to create beds? The three plants you mention will be quite large at maturity (which is usually 3-5 years) so they will need plenty of room to grow. And the Palm and Pride of Barbados have different moisture requirements so they probably shouldn't be planted in the same bed. Where did you plant the Salvia and what kinds are they?
PDM, Contact a local hort school, whether it is a high school class or even a college class, maybe there would be a student who needs a project for a grade. I don't have the same weather as you and refrained from giving you useless advice on plants and planting. Drive around and look at the plants in the neighborhood/area and see what appeals to you. Flowers, shrubs trees. Go native to your area. It is much less work in the long run. How much work do you want to maintain it with? How big of mature plants do you want? Towering trees or dwarf specimens? how "dangerous" of plants do you want? IE... Yucca's. They have serrated edges to the leaves. Painful to rake your arm along as you are pruning, thinning or just cleaning up around them. Thorns? somethings have mighty wicked thorns. Just a few things to keep in mind. Not every cultivar in every family, but make sure you research them individually. Some fruit trees have many thorns, some have none. Are you planting trees or shrubs to appeal to birds? or looking for an edible landscape for yourself? maybe you don't want unusable flowers and shrubs, but food in your landscaping?
Thank you CM for bumping this post. Guess Summertime is an easy time to miss stuff.... PDM, your home is beautiful. You have so many different ways you can start. I'll wait and see what the pros recommend for you.
update? How's the sago palm? Interesting tidbit, like many common names, sago palm can refer to a number of trees so we don't really know what species that is.
