Spring-2016 Gardening anyone? What do you plant? or not?

Whoop!! The board approved my request to cut down two ugly bushes! Look at all the space I have to garden in!!

Now I got to plan. Ideas?? Something tall In the back- maybe large flower pots..


This one is an L shape, it goes around the boiler. Technically- it belongs to my neighbor, but she gave me permission to garden in it.
If anyone has suggestions of tall plants to hide the ugly boiler, please do share!

If you are going to plant annuals, snapdragons against the wall would be spectacular. They need a good bit of sun, so I'm assuming that's a south-facing wall.

DreamerRose said:

 
If you are going to plant annuals, snapdragons against the wall would be spectacular. They need a good bit of sun, so I'm assuming that's a south-facing wall.

Click to expand...

It is south, gets a lot of sun.

how about something in front of the ugly boiler, to hide it a bit? any ideas?

Snaps grow to about 3 feet, so they should hide it. Delphiniums will too, but they are biennials, meaning you may not get flower spikes this year, but will next. Or the reverse, flowers this year, but none the next. Rudbeckia also grows tall enough to hide it. There are a lot of flowers that will grow to hide the boiler; check with nursery staff and ask them. Shasta daisies, perennial verbena, sunflowers (plant those from seed), yarrow, cleomes, and so on. Cleomes are a favorite of mine. They grow to about 5 feet with heavy branching, and all the branches have flowers on the ends. They also self-seed extremely well, so you will have them forever. This is one flower:

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    

that is really pretty!!

Thank you for the suggestions! I can't wait to start gardening in a few weeks!

Is the boiler that grill?  If so, does it get hot? Cold?  Blow out air?

Also, how much water comes down that downspout? Don't want plants washing away.

rubysmama said:

 
Is the boiler that grill?  If so, does it get hot? Cold?  Blow out air?

Also, how much water comes down that downspout? Don't want plants washing away.

Click to expand...

No water downspouts- you must be looking at the stoop support pole.

and good question RE the boiler.. I never really paid attention, but I don't think much comes out of it. I will take note and see.

Draco said:

 
No water downspouts- you must be looking at the stoop support pole.

and good question RE the boiler.. I never really paid attention, but I don't think much comes out of it. I will take note and see.

Click to expand...

It was the white thing in the corner by the window that I thought looked like a downspout.

And about the boiler, if the top is solid, and doesn't get hot (or cold) maybe you could put some pots with hanging plants to help hide the boiler.

Hope once you get things planted, you post a pic for us to see.

rubysmama said:

 
It was the white thing in the corner by the window that I thought looked like a downspout.

And about the boiler, if the top is solid, and doesn't get hot (or cold) maybe you could put some pots with hanging plants to help hide the boiler.

Hope once you get things planted, you post a pic for us to see.

Click to expand...

ah, THAT downspout, lol. I will have to pay attention when it rains to see how much water comes out- it was blocked by the unsightly bush and never noticed it before.

The top of the boiler does not heat up nor gets too cold. last year my senior neighbor wanted silk plants on top of the boiler as her garden... UGLY as heck, but since her bedroom window is right over the boiler, least I can agree to. Hopefully some potted plants up there would make her happier.

If that vent in that photo=that metal grill thing-blows warm air=you COULD try a hybrid rose bush=I have a rose bush planted right in front of where I put the air conditioner in the window=it drains water a foot away from the plant (roses are thirsty buggers) and it blows warm moist air above the plant-and I always get big blooms on that bush-I actually didn't plan it this way= I have a few other cheap rose bushes planted around in other places and they didn't do as well-so now I know why.

IF you have lots of dry weather and no way to water-I would stick to plants that like dry conditions-remember it takes awhile to get a good 4 to 6 inch soaking of water for most plants. That size garden would take about 6 trips of filling a watering can for just the bare minimum moisture-I had a garden at work this size and we had no hose spicket. I had to haul water to it. It was worth it though because its in a corner and I planted these drawf holyhocks in this pretty purple color and petunias around them. Unfortunately the petunias need tons of water and the holyhocks don't like a lot of water.

You can try a few annuals of spreading petunias=let them go to seed and they will come back the following year=but they wont germinate unless the dirt stays at 65-70 degrees-in NH my baby petunaias don't sprout until end of June=but they look spectacular in Aug through Novemeber. Last year I still had a few flowers blooming in the beginning of December before the extreme cold=I covered them at night with a bucket.

That's the nice thing about planting along a brick wall=bricks give off heat=so helps keep them growing. How deep is that dirt there? If its shallow you want to stick with short root system plants=bee balm is a good choice=its spread via root tubules but they don't grow deep=Bee Balm is loved by many bees and butterflies=it spreads and has a pretty scent. They come in red, hot pink, light purple and regular pink=at least That's what I have growing in various places. You just have to becareful you don't rake them out in the spring=Jon tried to help last year pull off the dead stuff from the prior year but the rake pulled out all the plants-since the roots don't go deep=the GOOD news is they are easy to transplant-just keep the roots covered in moist soil and water them for 10 days=you wont kill them. Plus they tolerate drought pretty well.

Another option is something called a false sunflower-I have these growing all over the place=these I got as a free plant from the end of a plant sale=8 years ago-they spread via self seeding..so I have bee balm and these false sunflowers growing together-these sunflower things grow 3-4 feet tall and a pretty yellow color=they stay blooming for a long time=3 weeks?

The other option=daisies that you see on the side of the road-another self seeder=they do well in drought=I dug them up and planted a few bunches 8 years ago-took 3 years to get them to spread but once they spread they are low maintenance. also these plants you will see small green leaves the first year but I don't think you will get flowers but the following year-many flowers.

Also if you like vine type things you can get those wild small rose teacup types that grow on the side of the road=I have seen these climb very high-they could grow along the back-the fragrance they give off is heavenly. and you can shape them and keep them tidy if you want. so many choices..or beach roses-those grow anywhere. or morning glories=these come back if you leave the greenery over the winter so the seed pods dry up and the seeds drop into the dirt-then you wont have to plant them as they keep coming back..

some ideas...

Draco said:

 
ah, THAT downspout, lol. I will have to pay attention when it rains to see how much water comes out- it was blocked by the unsightly bush and never noticed it before.

Click to expand...

Yeah, that's the one I saw!  I wondered if it might have been hiding behind the shrubs and stuff you cleaned out. 

I have no idea where it goes to- I don't see an opening at the curb or anything.

Oh... looking at that picture, I'd say you're fine and that it drains underground to the sewer.  

In the first pictures there was the tray-looking thing in front of it, so I thought the water came out the downspout and ran down the tray thing.

or they put crushed gravel underneath=I have one similar on the side of my house-the pipe goes underground to spill out in the common land lower than my land. you can take a piece of metal like a skewer for a barbecue and poke it into the dirt to see how far it goes-just in front of that elbow bend-if it hits something hard-then its a pipe to the collection sewer underneath-I assume there are gutters on this building? I also put bark mulch around the back edges of my gardens that have the roof ending above it=helps stop the spray of mud if we get a monsoon.

Reading several good solutions here to hide your boiler. Not sure what your planting zone is, but I would choose something that offers year round or near year round hiding services. My first suggestion is an ornamental grass. There are several to choose from and left up after they turn brown, they still offer winter interest. My 2nd choice would be a fragrant deciduous shrub such as a dwarf korean lilac or one of the fragrant viburnums. There are also other non fragrant flowering shrubs that would fit there. Because of the reflected heat from the brick, an evergreen would not be a good choice. Perennial wise the magnus purple cone flower is tall, beautiful, attracts butterflies and left up over winter offers seed heads for goldfinches to feed on.

My best suggestion is visit a nursery, explain your situation and then select something you like. A good plant nursery person should also be able to show you some good companion plantings to finish filling the area.

I saw this site and thought somebody might be interested. I really like the flowers spilling out of the container and the fairy dust balls:  http://www.thegardenglove.com/how-to-add-whimsy-to-your-garden/   Our picnic table sits under a large mountain ash tree and we could hang some of those dust balls up in the branches for when we're sitting out at night.

Here's another one: http://its-a-green-life.com/2013/10/17/garden-stones-with-a-rubber-door-mat/  You buy a cheap mat and use it as a template to make some ceramic stones. Thought it was kind of cool.

I'm wondering if the spout goes into a French drain around your house.

It's a start. Too soon to plant in the area

I did get some snap dragon seeds to try in front of the boiler- I will have to seed when my super digs up the roots first

Irises... new ones planted last summer, bloomed for the first time-- here is 'Chasing Rainbows', a tall bearded variety, Honorable Mention (HM) and Award of Merit (AM)


'Shipshape'--Dykes Medal Winner 1957


Spiderwort-- a native prairie flower, with unknown white iris.


Rare albino spiderwort, naturally occurring in my flowers


Blue Crown passionflower (Passiflora caerulea), in bloom now


Back garden-- spiderwort, honeysuckle, etc. and Skye loves the flowers!




'Texas Gold' columbines (Aquilegia chrysantha var hinckleyana)-- a domestic cultivar of the Texas native Hinckley's columbine


This is not my garden nor did I plant these. These are bluebonnets... the state flower of Texas. They bloom along the highways and in fields about this time of year. The red flowers are Indian paintbrush, which often blooms at the same time side by side with the bonnets. Together, it makes a crazy quilt of Texas flag colors. Quite a sight!






And this is the very last photo session I had with my sweet Kepler one week before she went to hunt with StarClan after a brave battle with GI lymphoma. She loved her flowers, too...

Correction: "Shipshape" won the Dykes medal in 1972, not 1957. Oops!