Landscaping design

[Aggie_Ama]

We have a very narrow, boring suburb lot that desperately needs some personality. I am trying to come up with some ideas for landscaping the yard but having trouble finding pictures to give me any starting point. The yard is small, house sits near the curb, probably only 30 feet back? The lot is only 50 foot wide and about half of that is driveway.

We would like something clean looking but not too manicured (shaped shrubs). Anyone know any good sites or books to help? My husband's co worker is a landscape designer but he is always so busy and I am getting impatient. Fall planting season will be here sooner than we think!

[Aggie_Ama]

The only photos I have access to right now:

This one shows looking from the front walk to curb, the yard only goes about 2 ft passed the tree on the right:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/AggieAma/69a7f8862287.jpg

Shot two, we want to do something with this flower bed. This summer I didn't put flowers in it, the shrubs are not growing (builder used wrong shrub for the lighting/drainage) and the shrubs are just the vast blah of green.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/AggieAma/IM000434b.jpg

[LBTC]

My DSiL is an award winning landscape designer in Vancouver, BC. Here's a link to the porfolio on her website. She does a lot with rock, and the overall look of her gardens is a bit on the wild side. Rock spacing and really organic shapes help that look.

http://www.gardenhabitats.ca/portfolio.html

If you have enough of a budget, the sky is the limit! Have fun with it!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[tulip]

I'm a landscape architect. I suggest going to the library and looking at the garden design books, making copies of the designs that you like. You'll probably notice stuff that you like over and over again. That'll help narrow down your ideas. You can go out and buy a few magazines, too, and cut out pictures that you like.

I wouldn't count on your husband's co-worker UNLESS you are willing to be a client (and pay him). We do have to make a living and we always get requests for free design work.

My advice would be to keep it simple if you decide to do it on your own. Choose a limited palette of plants that work well together and for your site (water, sun/shade, etc.) You may want to take the sustainable angle--low water needs, wildlife habitat, non-invasive plants, year-round interest. Or you may not.

The good thing about landscape design is that you can always change it as you learn about what you like in terms of design and plants. Landscapes evolve with you, it's nice.

Do you live in College Station? If so, perhaps you could hire a landscape architecture student from A&M for design work. Please be sure to pay them, though!

[Aggie_Ama]

I wouldn't count on your husband's co-worker UNLESS you are willing to be a client (and pay him). We do have to make a living and we always get requests for free design work.

My advice would be to keep it simple if you decide to do it on your own. Choose a limited palette of plants that work well together and for your site (water, sun/shade, etc.) You may want to take the sustainable angle--low water needs, wildlife habitat, non-invasive plants, year-round interest. Or you may not.


Do you live in College Station? If so, perhaps you could hire a landscape architecture student from A&M for design work. Please be sure to pay them, though!

Double edge sword with the co-worker is he is also a close friend. He wants to do it as a friend (offered when DH told him we were doing it), I want to pay him. But really he takes on too much as it is and has real paying clients outside his day job. Plus there is the satisfaction of it being your own creation.

We definitely are going the drought loving route. My husband works at a nursery so the plants will actually be pretty cheap, it is just deciding what works!

Unfortunately, we are not in Aggieland anymore. I knew tons of students who did design through college to pad their portfolios and dirt cheap. :rolleyes:

[peachgirl]

I'm a landscape designer...when I worked at garden centers, I would help people all the time who would just bring in pics like you showed here and show them what was available and what they could do with it. No charge for that...;)

If you take your photos to a good garden center (NOT Home Depot, etc) they should be able to help you. Take some measurements and also note where downspouts and faucets, etc are.

Edit...I just read the part where you said your husband works at a nursery...surely someone there can help ya! There's only one design person there??

[Aggie_Ama]

LBTC_ I want to move to BC now that I looked at your SIL's site!

My husband works at a wholesale nursery, the people they sell to don't need the advice. They all know plants but not the design side.

We came up with some ideas over dinner that I have jotted down. I think we are just going to try what we have in mind and see how it works. I know, I know you are probably cringing at the idea.

We might try some of the garden centers here since his nursery doesn't sell the plants we have in mind for the area between the side walk and street, we want to do some sort of succulents there to xeriscape. I am definitely going to pick up some magazines for tips on drainage and such. I have a mental image but don't know how to do it.

Any magazines better than others?

[NbyNW]

Hi Aggie,

I'm a landscape architect too . . . not yet licensed, but I'm working on it . . . Everyone above has provided excellent advice. I only have this to add:

Are there any gardening organizations in your area? You might get some great suggestions from the local gardeners.

Plus, TRUST YOUR GUT. You probably have a good sense of what you like, and it sounds like you have a good sense of what's NOT working. I don't do residential landscapes, but I find that in my conversations with people that they often already have a good idea of what they want to do, but they're not sure how to execute it. I can't tell you how many times I've talked to someone at a dinner party who wanted to make changes to their property, and convinced them that they didn't need a landscape designer, they just had to trust their own instincts.

Some of landscape design is trial and error, especially when it comes to learning what plants will thrive where.

If you're not making major changes to the layout of your property, you may want to start trying things out based on what information is available to you from local gardening resources (books, people, organizations, etc.).

California/west coast has Sunset magazine as a great resource. They've got different editions for whether you're in So. Cal., No. Cal., PNW, etc. Maybe there's an out of state edition, I don't know. But I imagine the So Cal edition might have some good xeriscaping articles from time to time, since water conservation must be a bit issue there.

Maybe there is a good local resource where you are . . . your local public library/arboretum/garden center would be great places to start. Reference librarians always know how to find anything you need. Plus, every state has a a cooperative extension that can provide a lot of information. They are often focused on agricultural concerns, but there is a lot of crossover to ornamental, especially where plant diseases and pest outbreaks are concerned.

That sunny space with the two green chairs looks like a great spot for a little kitchen garden . . . think "potager"

[Eden]

I have a book suggestion for you

The City and Town Gardener
A Handbook for Planting Small Spaces and Containers
by Linda Yang
ISBN 0-679-76026-1

[Trek420]

California/west coast has Sunset magazine as a great resource. They've got different editions for whether you're in So. Cal., No. Cal., PNW, etc.

The Sunset Garden book is a great resource. Tons of plants grouped by region, height, bloom, water use .... everything you need to know to pick the right plants for the right spot. :D

[Aggie_Ama]

Oh thanks ladies! I got a couple books/magazines to go get. I am researching the plants my husband suggested right now. He told me names of ones based on the looks I like and shot down a few I like. Now the real problem is if the nursery will have them when we want to plant.

We have two months to design, I am trying to figure out if we can put a water feature in since my parents gave us this cool little fountain. But that may move to the backyard since the front yard is the size of a postage stamp. Next year is the back yard-oy! This fall the backyard is only getting trees.

[ilima]

Also consider maintenance, and how much time you are willing to devote to it. For the plants you are interested in, be sure and ask about how much care they need. Not only watering, but there's fertilizing, trimming, fall clean-up, etc.

If you're not really into the process of gardening so much, leave the fussy plants out of your plan.

[tulip]

Since you are going to do the work, it's a good idea to improve the soil while your at it. Feed the soil and you'll feed your plants and reduce or eliminate the need for additional fertilizers (except compost!)

[bmccasland]

The Sunset Garden book is a great resource. Tons of plants grouped by region, height, bloom, water use .... everything you need to know to pick the right plants for the right spot. :D

And if you're in the SE part of the USofA, there's Southern Living Gardening Book. Covers central Texas eastwards to the Atlantic.

One thought - make sure you leave room for your plants to GROW... I've cleaned up the mistakes of previous home owners twice now. Don't plant a sun loving plant under something that when plant #2 matures, it'll shade out plant #1. guess that makes two thoughts..

[IFjane]

guess that makes two thoughts..

No Beth - it was one multi-dimensional thought! :D

[Aggie_Ama]

We took the suggestions here and kind of let our runaway thoughts take over. We looked at a lot of beds that have been landscaped at new shopping centers, read up on plants (thanks A&M Extension) and are kind of doing a trial and error on the shape. The bed is about 1/2 done and I am really pleased. Don't know how a real landscape designer would view it but it was fun doing it this way. We think it looks better than what the builder left but probably not like we paid someone. It is unique in plants for our neighborhood since we don't have to shop at big box stores and DH spends all day looking at different plants.

The plants we have planted so far are: Japanese Barberry and Society Garlic. Plus added a bird bath which I have not seen in the light of day yet. :eek: Originally we were going to put a pot where the bath is but couldn't find the right pot. The bird bath will be good because phase two is all butterfly and bird attracting plants. I had hoped for a fountain for running water but DH didn't want to run electricity to it. We are not committed to the bath, it may be replaced. There is this busy look with the tree, I keep going back and forth on the bird bath. I wanted one for the back yard if nothing else!

The agave is still looking for its home amongst the new plants. We didn't want to plant it because it will get so huge and I don't want to leave it if we sell down the road (the plan).

One thing I learned is Society Garlic STINKS! But we picked it because it is supposed to turn dogs away and we have 3 that poop or dig in the bed. It is driving us nuts to see muddy paw prints all over the side walk. We have several neighbors that do not think the leash is a worth while invention. But I don't know when my car will be pleasant to ride an again!

I will take some pictures tonight (if it stops raining). There is still a lot to be done with the existing bed, so far we have only moved parts of the wall to make it less square:

Dig out yaupons and boxwoods
Replant those in back yard
Weed out Bermuda grass
Raise some sections
Plant Red Yucca, Katie's Dwark Ruellia and Pink Skullcap
Mulch

[Tuckervill]

I'd seed that garden with tiny little unbaited mouse traps so when the dogs come in they will be scared away.

Karen

[Aggie_Ama]

I'd seed that garden with tiny little unbaited mouse traps so when the dogs come in they will be scared away.

Karen

Haha! I love dogs, seriously but these three I want to drop kick out of my yard. Okay that is a little extreme but one of them pooped on my shrub while I was planting flowers in the yard!! And the neighbors lab was asleep in the shrub bed on top of a yaupon one day when I pulled up!

Even worse is there are new people who have a fourth dog roaming the neighborhood. We are out of city limits, no county ordinance so it would be up to the lazy HOA to do anything. If it weren't so expensive my yard would be lined with an electric fence in front. I am a responsible pet owner and I don't want one of them getting hit by a car on dying in my yard. In fact 2 of the 3 dogs I have almost hit with my own car and I drive 15 mph in the neighborhood! Ugh.

The Japanese Barberry have some pretty mean thorns, they walk in through that bed and they will have some scratches to explain to their puppy mommy. And hopefully the pungent Garlic does deter them, it is nice to look at but not smell.

[Aggie_Ama]

Okay photos, I am really happy with the results. It is such a leap of faith to do any remodeling or landscaping. I am not a creative or visual person so trusting our ideas is hard, I still find myself doubting them when I am not home!

From the curb:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/AggieAma/Home%20Improvement/IM000447.jpg

Stinky! This is the society garlic. It isn't completely foul just strong.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/AggieAma/Home%20Improvement/IM000445-1.jpg

Original bed in its current state. This will be completely changed in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully the bermuda will fill in where there used to be a bed. I fear we may have to re-sod that part.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/AggieAma/Home%20Improvement/IM000446.jpg

Up close of a barberry, these will fill out to about a 3' spread and about 3-4' tall. Should keep people from walking through the yard, another thing that just annoys me!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y258/AggieAma/Home%20Improvement/IM000448.jpg

[Tuckervill]

Bermuda loves sand, so put some sand in the bare spots, water it well and regularly, and it should fill right in.

It would annoy me to no end that all the dogs loved my yard. I love dogs, too, so that's why I can't stand to see them running loose, in danger.

Karen

[Irulan]

sounds like you need some of these:

http://www.4theoccasion.com/nopoopsigns/nodogpoopingsignsq_thumb.jpg

[Aggie_Ama]

Irulan- I can't see what you posted.

I was talking (okay whining) to my dad tonight about the dogs. He reminded me his rottweiler no longer needs her electric fence and said we can use it for our flower bed. First sign of continued digging and I install it. BUZZZZZ!! The dogs will learn somehow, some way. Unfortunately they will still roam and be in danger from the crazy teenage drivers in this neighborhood (the crazy adult drivers too).

[Irulan]

It was a No Pooping sign. :D

Personally I like this idea. On another forum I go to, there is a guy with a home office who had a dogwalker in his neighborhood who would bring her dog by, leashed, same time every day, and let it poop on his lawn. He documented this with a timer and a web cam actually:rolleyes: but then he set his sprinkler timer to go off aimed right at the sidewalk at the time they went by. It only took twice before they never came back that way.

You could get motion sensors on rainbirds- lots of folks around us use them to keep deer out of the gardens.

[Aggie_Ama]

Too funny! Unfortunately the offending animals are unaccompanied when they do it. Wonder if two pugs and a lab are literate? Maybe the no pooping sign would send a subtle note to the neighborhood?

A motion sensing sprinkler wouldn't be bad idea either. I am going to watch and see how these garlic work. Today I was down wind and the smell is noticeable. I would think it would be even more so for a dog. Of course one of my dogs licks Bitter Apple spray so there is a chance these guys will still poop on the garlic. :rolleyes:

[tulip]

Nice job, Aggie. Y'all have done alot of work! The electric fence for dogs only works when the dog has the special zapper collar on. So unless you can get special zappers on the offending dogs, the fence won't work on those dogs. I'm assuming you're talking about an invisible fence and not an electric fence to keep cows contained.

Have you thought about grasses for the part that you haven't done yet? You could extend the bed into the bermuda grass part as far as you can get away with (silly HOA! They are so concerned about lawns but don't care about dogs!). Tall native grasses are beautiful, drought-friendly, interesting even in winter, and easy to care for. I just planted a bunch (25 or so) big Panicum virgatum 'Dallas Blues' and it's beautiful. Ask your hubby if they have any at his nursery. There may be other grasses that do well in your area, too.

[Aggie_Ama]

Have you thought about grasses for the part that you haven't done yet? You could extend the bed into the bermuda grass part as far as you can get away with (silly HOA! They are so concerned about lawns but don't care about dogs!). Tall native grasses are beautiful, drought-friendly, interesting even in winter, and easy to care for. I just planted a bunch (25 or so) big Panicum virgatum 'Dallas Blues' and it's beautiful. Ask your hubby if they have any at his nursery. There may be other grasses that do well in your area, too.

I think my dad has one that requires no collar but I am going to just start asking the Sheriff how I make a formal patrol request. I see the dog catcher one every time I run anyway might as well befriend him. Of course a motion sensing sprinkler would be nice and the amount they come over it would like just keep me from needing to remember to water!

I didn't think about native grasses but we did talk to the extension agent about them at the TX Parks Expo. My husband pointed out several for the backyard when I was at the nursery last. Were you suggesting outside the retaining walls just replacing bermuda with native grasses? I think I even have a list of grasses the extension agency wished people would start using and I know many here you trim neatly and the HOAs don't even notice.

That is actually an interesting idea for the side yard you can see because we have some unique challenges there. I still plan to landscape out in front of my AC, although I was thinking of doing an Iris bed because I have fond memories of my Mammaw's iris bed as a kiddo.

[Tuckervill]

sounds like you need some of these:

http://www.4theoccasion.com/nopoopsigns/nodogpoopingsignsq_thumb.jpg

My neighbor has a sign shaped like a tombstone that says, "Here lies the dog that pooped in my yard." :D :O

There's a guy who walks his golden retriever down my street and lets it poo in other people's yards. It never comes close to mine because my dogs are always at the fence barking at it. One time my dogs got out (someone ran over my back fence and I didn't know it), and were outside the fence when he walked by. I wanted to feel bad that they were barking at him and making him feel scared, but I didn't at all! (My dogs never went near him.)

One Sunday morning my dogs started barking and I was sitting by the bedroom window with my husband. I saw the neighbor with the dog and I said really loud out the window, "OH, IT'S JUST THE GUY WHO LET'S HIS DOG POOP IN OTHER PEOPLE'S YARDS!" He couldn't see me, but I know he heard me, and I hope he got the message.

Karen

[Tuckervill]

I had to put an electric fence (not an underground fence) up for a Jack Russell I used to have. I just borrowed the part that electrifies the wire. She got shocked once and stopped trying to climb out (then we had to move the wire to the bottom of the fence so she would stop trying to dig out). Then we gave back the thing that electrifies the wire.

I tried the underground fence with her, too (the kind that requires a collar). She thought that shock was WORTH IT to chase a cat or squirrel on the other side of the line. She wasn't willing to take the shock to come back, though!

Karen

[Aggie_Ama]

My husband loved the idea of the no poop sign. He said even though the dogs usually aren't accompanied by owners he thought it would politely send a message to neighbors that although we like them we do not like dogs in our yard.

Most people know we own dogs ourselves and many know my husband is educated as a biologist so it isn't like we are the anti-animal people! Although more know him as the "nursery guy" so maybe they will just think we are serious about our plants!

I am partial to this sign, I think it would fit very nicely in the tree ring that is not part of the bed.

[carpaltunnel]

Once someone I knew planted a small evergreen in the front yard and the neighbour's dog came over frequently to "mark" it. It ruined the poor tree. So she replaced it with a new one, and put an electric fence around it. Wrapped it several times around. When the dog's urine made contact with the electric wire... yip yip yip all the way home. I heard it only took once. :D

[Aggie_Ama]

Well DH decided the no-poop sign is tacky. BUT the society garlic seems to be working. I haven't seen any signs of a dog in my yard since it was planted! :D And believe me yesterday when it was windy I could see why, a strong garlic smell wafted over me as I walked in. I can live with it because one of the back ones has a beautiful little violet colored flower to greet me.

The barberry bushes are already growing, I am pretty shocked and excited about that.