Dull Chicago brick ranch in Eight Mile, AL, needs landscaping help!
by
Susie
+16
I recently moved from Illinois to Alabama for Hubs job. We are now in Zone 8b, Tropical/Coastal area. It's not IL soil, that's for sure! I am so overwhelmed with transforming the 70's interior that I can't see how to fix the front landscaping. We have a huge Magnolia tree outside our front door a bit and small Azalia bushes along the front. Hubs wants to make the front into a tropical rock garden. What?! I'm open to any and all suggestions! Thanks in advance from the sunny South!
Looking directly at the blah front porch. Home faces South.
This is the SW side. The last two windows are in the carport area.
This is the SE side where the windows look into the bedrooms.
14 answers
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I love your house! Have him find some pictures of what he is imagining and take them to a nursery with your house photos. There are some that will do it free with the hopes you will buy your plants from them. WHATEVER you do make it low maintenance, it is too hot and muggy and buggy down there to want to work outside in the summer.
Trudy
on Feb 23, 2016
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Tak e brousse at this. http://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/perennials/garden-plants-with-a-tropical-flair/
Janet Pizaro
on Feb 23, 2016
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Don't know how you could do tropical in Illinois. I am in Wisconsin, have done Japanese gardens in my yard. A beautiful serene way to garden. Japanese maples are an addiction once you start planting them. Here is a picture
Patty S
on Feb 23, 2016
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Hi Susie. First off, I'm in s.w. Georgia so I understand what your facing. Your home faces south and from the looks of the pics, not much sun gets past the magnolia tree, correct? I'll be able to help a little more once I know this answer. If it does get any sun, what time of day and for approx. how long. Look forward to your answers. Hope
Hope Williams
on Feb 23, 2016
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can you do a brick path to the front porch?? Or some sort of paved walkway? that would really make it inviting. Those tree roots are going to make it very difficult for you to grow any grass (plus all of the shade) I have a mulberry tree with roots like that and the grass gets really sparse in the summer from lack of direct sunlight. Can you give the tree a good pruning? I would consider painting the shutters black for contrast. Cute house! Window boxes would be cute. You could do some potted Boston ferns and either hang them from the porch, or put them on either side of the future walkway! Hydrangeas would look nice under the right window. bird of paradise, some bamboo ( keep it potted or else it spreads everywhere)
Beth H. Makemeprettyagain.blogspot
on Feb 23, 2016
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I'd try and find some giant clown heads from Mardi Gras from days gone by. Put them on your porch for lovable local flavor and history. Enjoy. Always will make new friends as they drop by your new home for a quick gander. Have 'sweet-tea' available for your new neighbors, too !
UpState
on Feb 23, 2016
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Congrats on the move to this beautiful home! Can't wait to see the inside!! As far as the front yard goes, I think Beth H was on the right track, a brick walkway that matches the front facade needs to come first to define the entryway and cut the space into zones. Then you can build your flower beds put from there and across the front of the porch, adding darker mulch and flowers. Speaking of the porch, have you considered painting the shutters and door a different color than white? Or the porch swing? That alone will add some curb appeal and you can choose some of your plantings based on that color choice. This link provides planting info for your zone, but your local nursery would be able to help you choose which plants will work best for you.http://www.howdogardener.com/439-2/plant-hardiness-zones
Country Design Home
on Feb 24, 2016
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Keep in mind that the South gets HOT...not hot, but HOT! Trees are necessary...and all trees are messy! BTW...a Magnolia Tree is Royalty in the South. The north has snow removal, the south has leaf removal...Magnolia leaves are like large, tough sheets of paper. Play into it. Make a large irregular shaped area around your tree for a large pine island bed (this will also cover those tree roots). Spray away all the weeds and grass in that area. Cover in pine straw. This cuts down on the amount of mowing in the HOT (and believe me when I say HOT) summer. Also, when the leaves drop in the fall, rake them into the straw bed, wet them down and then put a fresh layer of pine straw over them...no leaves to bag and remove!! That is why I have 2 large pine islands. A good sod that loves the heat and will protect itself the best when it is dry is Zoysia sod! It is a little more expensive, but it is well worth it! And if you mow it high, you mow less often! (In the photo below, mine has not been mowed in about a month! I love it completely unmowed!) Here is a photo of my Perennial flower bed where I use plants with different colors that come back every year but add color all year long. You can space in some annuals in the spring to add color. Watering can be very expensive so you might not want to go nuts with flowers! Varying colors of green can also be beautiful in front of your house. By tackling one area at a time, it can be stunning! Yucca Filamentosa (Golden Sword” or Adam’s Needle) Soft Leafvariety is a very pretty plant that is low growing for planting in a straw bed or in front of your porch. The use of large rocks and pots can add interest to a planting area. Pots can be the resin kind that are not overly expensive and do not get so heavy.
Jeanette S
on Feb 24, 2016
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Maybe some long planters either on the edge of the porch or down below it would be nice. How about a rock garden with a nice bench sitting in it under that tree---kind of inviting people to sit and enjoy the view of the house. Put up a flag holder or something to draw attention up from the ground since grass will have a hard time in the shade. Hostas would be a good choice if you only get morning sun as long as it is not too much. Check with local extension office to see what grows best in your area---also, take a stroll thru the local neighborhoods and see what others have done ---might be a way to get some ideas or what to do or not to do. If roots would be a problem putting in a walkway, you can always do a walkway with loose stones with an edging to keep them in.
Cathy
on Feb 24, 2016
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How about a dry creek bed. Use lots of rocks and plant groups of flowers and shrubs. This way no lawn cutting and very easy to maintain. Live your house.
Patricia
on Feb 24, 2016
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http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/
Hope Williams
on Feb 24, 2016
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http://www.bhg.com/gardening/gardening-by-region/?sssdmh=dm17.884989&esrc=nwsimplestepsgarden3
Hope Williams
on Feb 24, 2016
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Hi Susie. I just left you two links to give a try. Gardening by region on better homes & gardens. I hope they can help you.
Hope Williams
on Feb 24, 2016
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definitely needs a water feature! ;)
Cepontzsons
on Feb 24, 2016
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