Corner planting suggestions!

Question

Had to have a new driveway pad installed and now we're needing suggestions on something cheap, easy and low maintenance to plant in the corner area by the fence. Any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks & have a GREAT FRIDAY! :)

169756 · Answer

I'm just rubbing my hands together, wishing it was in my yard. Nothing like a clean slate to get the creative juices flowing :) Seems a somewhat shaded area? Big hostas, hydrangeas. Both fairly low maintenance although hydrangeas do need a little water for encouragement. If just green is your goal, there are a lot of small bushes/hedges/plants that would be great also. I've put a lot of plants in that have burgundy leaves just for a pop of color. Good luck. I'm sure you will get a response from Douglas in FL. He is a pro.

Cindy Carley · Answer

Oh thank you for your suggestions! Yes, just something that is pleasing to the eye when pulling into the driveway and only a small amount in the very 'far' corner. Cost & time are the issues we're dealing with! Have a great day!!! :)

Jeanette S · Answer

This would be pretty by putting in a Lantana right in the corner (moving out a little because they can get larger) and then setting out front some variegated Liariope and Cordyline (a maroon spike like plant) with a little Dusty Miller. Add some straw and you are basically done! Here is a photo of my mailbox planting with these items. My Lantana has gotten so large I am going to have to move it! I go out just as it begins to warm and cut off last year's growth in the spring on the grasses...that is all the care this gets. The Dusty Miller has not come out yet in this photo.

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

I have several questions-what zone are you? Is this full sun, morning sun, afternoon sun. Is the soil always dry there? Wet? Moist? How large of an area is that? 
For most zones, many native plants will work for you since you want low maintenance and beauty. I love adore viburnums (which like moist soil) and they are so easy to take care of then you can think about using the fence as a back drop and looking for a vine such as crossvine (bignonia capreolata) to climb all over your side of the fence (you may need to add wire so the vine has something to grab onto. This native beauty will attract all kinds of hummers, butterflies and bees! Then you can look into even using Wiegela which is a non native bush but some of them grow 8' tall but in the spring are loaded with trumpet shaped flowers for the newly arriving hummingbirds. I love variegated but wine & roses has such beautiful plum colored foliage. Right now Lowe's are closing out summer stock so deals are to be had! for flowers I would think about natives such as Black eyed Susans which this time of year the finches go crazy over! Then there are coneflowers and Autumn Joy Sedum which are 2 very low maintenance perennials. I also use Salvia -May Night or Lyrical blues for spring through summer blooming. But right now no one in hot weather buys plants so you have a good chance for some deals. I wish I could post lots of pics for you to see of my yard to give you ideas but i will limit myself to a couple LOL

Julie B · Answer

I think a few crape myrtle trees would look beautiful along the fence line. You can get all of them in the same color or mix them up. Get them started first, then you can address smaller plants. They have beautiful fall colors too! Oh, and they are drought tolerant! No watering (except to get them started).

MICHAEL · Answer

A raised easy flowing fountain with tall grass plants and Hostas surrounding edges.

Cyndi Moore Tippett · Answer

start with a meandering pebble or brick walkway...not very wide because you won't actually walk on it to anywhere, but it will give the illusion of a path to the corner.  Place a bench to one side and the on the fence itself hang your inital on the fence somewhere.

Carol · Answer

Maybe powerwash the fence before you plant. Add something that will climb on the fence and soften the lines--maybe clematis - then make a flowerbed - could border it with upside down wine bottles (ask for empties from a bar) or used clay flowerpots turned upside down (yard sales) to save $$. Then you could plant a variety of flowering plants--iris, day lillies, hydrangea, lilac, etc. and in fall add some mums toward the front edge of your bed - they will come back next year. Ask friends, family and neighbors to share plants from their gardens. Since the area is shaded, plant impatiens to fill in spaces and add color. YOU DON'T NEED TO DO IT ALL IN ONE YEAR!!! Good luck and ENJOY!

Leona G · Answer

Check with you Extension office to see if they have something similar to Florida Friendly Landscapes, http://www.floridayards.org/ . There are 9 principles which include the right plant for the space, drought tolerant, low maintenance and so on. You might want to think of a dry river bed with suitable plants, maybe a bench in the corner for reading or having a glass of wine. As Kathleen said you have a blank canvas to paint any picture you want. Good luck

Kathy M · Answer

It is wonderful to have a blank slate! Contact your local or state native plant society and extension services..Where are you located?  Take the opportunity to recreate a beautiful native landscape  and please steer clear of non - native thugs like English ivy, porcelainberry, Barberry etc.

Liliana Wells · Answer

You ave lots of good ideas here, so I will not add anymore. However, first thing to do is determine your growing zone. Where are you? Then choose plants that are appropriate for your zone. The Garden Frog has given you some good choices. Good luck. Post pictures.

Michelle · Answer

Butterfly bushes or lilac's would look lovely. Also 'wall art' for the fence, perhaps a seat area with fire pit

Carole · Answer

If you'd care for something more classical, I'd suggest a group of three shrubs - tall, slim at the rear, flowered round mid size off to the left and low-ish planting (hosta?) forward and to the right. Visually very appealing.

Lynn · Answer

Crepe myrtle-----different adult sizes available-just don't 'rape the crepe' by cutting the top off every year. Allow it to be a full, from the base shrub--tree. Lantana under the crepe myrtle......maybe some impatience under that. Oh what fun you will have!

Bonnie Lee Spencer · Answer

i think you should put in a little herb garden...in containers, so not to did holes.

Kathy Cerwin · Answer

Get some crape myrtles. They bloom all summer and would make your yard very pretty. Lantanas are pretty also but they require full sun. I have lantanas and they are draught tolerant.

Marie Worley · Answer

My back corner was similar, I put a crepe myrtle in the corner with juniper and lantana in front.

Patricia R · Answer

First I would start a pathway ,maybe kind of curvy from the end towards a power sourse for a fountain plug-in.Then I would check and see what kind of flowers and shrubs are native and build from there.Large Hostas are great as all of the smaller ones .If you plant shrubs you can use the shrubs as trellis for any flowering vine and then you only have to worry about keeping it on the bushes ,looks great .Oh,I could go on and on but first and formost decide what you like,use lots of compost and mulch to make it 90% weed free from the start.

Judy · Answer

It's really difficult to make suggestions without knowing what growing zone you're in so here's my suggestion. Take a picture of the area to a local gardening center (a smaller one like a grange co-op or local nursery....not Walmart or Home Depot) & ask them what would work in that area. They'll also be able to tell you where to go for inexpensive soil testing & give you contact info for a local Master Gardener's group or extension service. 
My first thought for the entire area was 'veggie garden' but that's just me. My second thought was a corner rock garden or small waterfall fountain & pond.

Ann · Answer

Grasses

Kim Houston · Answer

Colored pampas grass with butterfly bush, daylillies, and other colored grasses in front. Don't forget to lay down several layers of newspapers or you can buy the barrier cloth at a nursery. Good sized washed gravel would look great as a mulch.

Bren · Answer

I saw a gardening tip just this morning about crepe mrytles, they thrive in hot weather, and winter wont kill them. they come in at least 3 sizes, could put the taller ones at the back, and then the smaller ones graduating to the front, comes in many colors, blooms spring, summer into late fall. Need NO PRUNING AT ALL. And once established, water about once a week or two!! And dont soak them, they need very little water and come back each year, inbetween you could put some evergreens that are low to the ground, some green ones, and some golden/red ones, would really be pretty and once again, everything comes back. In the spring you could plant some annuals for depth and additional colors and for fun. Hope this helped you, sure would like to see it all in bloom this time next year. Bren, from Oklahoma remember, do not prune, if you MUST because it is hanging over a neighbors fence, then just do as little as possible, it wont hurt them, but you may not get a full heavy bloom where you pruned that year, but the next will be in full glory. YOU can bottom prune if you want a tree affect of the bush, my cousing in La. did that and they were stunning.

1401470 · Answer

Wow - great space! If you like to garden growing food in raised beds would be neat. Or a row of roses would also be grand. Have fun with it!

Elizabeth · Answer

This is lovely and could be very welcoming to your home. I would plant Hostas in various varieties along the fence. I would put a bench or small table and chairs in the corner. Lots of potted plants around the sitting area would be nice. Reseed to get the grass growing. I see some type of vent or something in the left hand side of the picture. I would obscure that with a round or oval shaped garden.

Laura Enez · Answer

Plant ivy or lilac bushes.

Connie K · Answer

What a great area this is. You have the perfect area for a series of garden 'rooms'. Depending upon your taste one part might be your own peaceful zen garden. I was just looking at pictures on a decking site and one plan used that feeling around the perimeter of the ground level deck. These gardens at least this type) don't require lots of upkeep I will try to attach a link to the photos. http://www.builddirect.com/Interlocking-Deck-Tiles/9-Slat/ProductDisplay_9645_p1_10079544.aspx I'm having the front yard redone this fall and plan to use this garden as an inspiration for parts of my more traditional front yard. If you were to try something similar in one corner then at the end of your zen garden, transition with a couple of crepe myrtle. I had two at my last home and love, love, loved them. They grew very large (like a small tree) and we removed the bottom limbs so that the beautiful multi-trunks are visible. The bark is very attractive and once they reach an appropriate height you can plant underneath them. We used dwarf plants (mondo grass and dwarf azaleas) so neither plantings interfered with the other but, instead, were a compliment to each other . There are many internet sites that show garden 'rooms' so you are sure to find some you love. With a little forethought, the rooms can be done in a way that will still have a unified look and feel. A meandering pathway from one area to another is a great way to both unify and allow your garden to be enjoyed. This type of planting is also very easy to tie into what ever decorating plans you have for you patio. You will never get bored with your garden and it can be as easy to keep as as any garden. I wish I had a place that would lend itself to this concept but in my yard it would involve a lot of high cost grading and terracing. Please post a photo of your finished area.

Cindy Carley · Answer

Thank you for your suggestions!! Its going to be difficult to decide what to plant, but know we'll figure something out quickly!! Have a great day!!

Le' · Answer

What a large area to decide what to do. I'm with the crepe myrtle girls with Lantana and Hosta or Impatiens but I would also have a raised herb garden with a little sitting area.

Cindy Carley · Answer

The sitting area sounds lovely.....we may take that into consideration and definitely will go with the 'crepe myrtle'!! Thank you!!

Irene · Answer

how about starting in the corner with a few hydrangeas and the hostas and a seating area. and planting smaller growing plants/flowers around the seating area. i like the idea of a curving path with flowers lining the path leading up to the seating area. this area looks fairly good sized and i love growing vegetables so would suggest a vegetable garden in the rest of the area. i have planted dwarf fruit trees in a small area of my back yard. depending on size maybe you could combine it all.

Corner planting suggestions!

Suggested Project Book

3 Refreshing Ways To Control The "See Through" In Your Window

Other

More

Corner planting suggestions!

Suggested Project Book