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What plant(s) for this space? - 6/20/2008 6:15:52 PM
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csl7037
Posts: 908
Joined: 3/24/2008
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Harvie just mentioned in another post that she lets morning glories take over her backyard and doesn't have to contend with weeds. I have a section that's about 4' wide and about 50' long - it's actually an "L" shaped area around two sides of my screened in porch. So one side is the privacy fence and the other is the screen of the pool cage. I hope that makes sense!
Now, I've got a few palm trees and a gardenia bush back there. The problem is that it freaks me out to go back there and pull weeds! I know there are things living back there, creepy crawly things, that I'd rather not deal with. I would love to pull those palm out and put them elsewhere and line that area with something like hibiscus or azaleas.
To be perfectly honest, without looking it up, I can never even remember the difference between hibiscus and azaleas! I'm not a gardener at all. I want something that can grow wild back there so I don't have to go back there ever. But it can't be something that'll grow into the screen and damage it either. Something that blooms would be nice. Carefree gardening - Am I asking for too much?
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RE: What plant(s) for this space? - 6/20/2008 9:04:51 PM
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creationtalk
Posts: 585
Joined: 6/9/2005
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In what part of the country are you? This makes a difference in the plants that will work best. Also, how much sun does the area get?
Maybe daylilies would work. Daylilies come in many different shades and varieties (I have yellow, peach, yellow with black centers, dark red, and a peach colored double bloom). The plants are "grass" looking when not blooming and are covered in flowers when they bloom. They are called daylilies because they look like lilies but blossoms last only one day. Here in Mississippi they are green year round and bloom from April through June or July. With flowers they can be around 24" high, plants not including flower stems are 12-18" high. Daylilies need full or partial sunlight. You could plant daylilies around the other plants and it would probably look pretty good. You could also put a stone or brick pathway back into the area surrounded by the daylilies so that you could walk through the area.
Hibiscus is a bush that has single large blossoms. It is a tropical so requires a sheltered area or southern gardens (some people on the coast have them in their yards, but I am 20 miles inland and have mine in a pot so that it can be brought in during freezes). Azaleas are also a bush, but they have smaller flowers in bunches. Hibiscus require full sun. Not sure about Azaleas.
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RE: What plant(s) for this space? - 6/20/2008 9:28:48 PM
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csl7037
Posts: 908
Joined: 3/24/2008
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Yea, I guess that's important - I'm in Florida. Hibiscus is what I'm thinking of - I have two in another part of my yard and they grow almost wild if they're not reigned in. With the palms that are out there right now, there's definitely one section that gets way more weeds! One side is almost manageable even for me. The weeds just seem to grow wild on one side, though. I know that neighbor has St. Augustine grass on the other side of that fence and I think that's the problem - the runners. I'm not sure about the neighbor on the other side but I'm thinking she may have a bed with mulch up against my fence and that helps control the weeds coming under on my side.
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RE: What plant(s) for this space? - 6/21/2008 11:02:30 AM
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creationtalk
Posts: 585
Joined: 6/9/2005
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Daylilies might work then. I'm in S. Miss. Another option is yellow honeysuckle. It grows wild here and will take over anything/place. If you want something that will stay low to the ground so that you can walk through the area, another option is a moss. I'm trying to remember what it's called, but there is a moss that is recommended for around paving stones because it is hardy and can handle the traffic; mosses tend to form a very tight mat that will keep other plants out. Don't know if this would work but it may be worth checking.
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RE: What plant(s) for this space? - 6/21/2008 11:34:18 AM
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csl7037
Posts: 908
Joined: 3/24/2008
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Honeysuckle might be a good option - something fragrant would be great! I wonder if there's a variety of jasmine that would work. I know that grows well here but I usually see it as a small tree.
I'd rather have something with at least a little bit of height to it. I really don't care to be able to walk through it - I don't want to have to walk back there. I went out there today to put some epsom salt around the palm trees and saw a big snake skin. 
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RE: What plant(s) for this space? - 6/23/2008 6:09:59 PM
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Wild-Rose
Posts: 237
Joined: 1/11/2006
From: Upstate NY
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I offer up Cat mint as a suggestion. It is big and bold and purple. If you trim it back when it is done blooming then it will re-bloom later in the summer.
< Message edited by Wild-Rose -- 6/24/2008 7:20:26 AM >
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Wild-Rose
Rejoice that your name is written in heaven. Luke 10:20
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