Pimp My Landscape

[Rhett]

The inside of the house is finally done. The new diveway is poured and dry. Time for some landscape. Wife and I have been going back and fourth. She wants multple beds with ornamentals and I would like simple (Grass) with a bed in front for accent. Thought I would ask you all your thoughts. We are in Destin, North West Florida about 4 blocks from the gulf. Plants have to be cold and salt resistant. Heck may even be some prizes in the works. Couple hoodies and Craigs new hat. Thanks in advance for your imputs.

[Rhett]

Thinking of using the bed on the left hand side by fence. Changing the shape and adding some Hawians. Bed in front of porch with more Hawians and some grasses. Bed right had side of driveway Sega and some more grasses (aztec aand some larger variety). All beds would be finished in red mulch. Lawn turf will be St Augistine or Centipede. Will have to decide something to do around front oak as no grass will grow around it. Need more color

[DynaMow]

WOW Rhett the house looks awesome!!!

Nice colors on the white, nicely done.


The driveway looks great. Like the way its done. The snowplow guy will like it to cause he can just take a straight shot in and pile to the back, good job there.


I bet you love your new driveway.

[PineCrestWoods]

The house matches the trucks!

[Rhett]

The cat seems to like the improvements also. Just noticed that he is in all pictures but one. I did not pick the colors of the house. A tad to Christmassy for me. Now get to designing. Heck if not am going to be stuck with the wifes ideas. Yep you know who wears the pants in my family. And what is this snow you speak of? So far once a week I just blow the sand off of it. Naw cat not doing the nastey just scratching himself.

[marcsmith]

shoot the cat taking a dump in pic #4

[PineCrestWoods]

Are you keeping the tree(s)?

[Rhett]

The large one in front for sure. There is another on right front not shown that might go

[completelawncare]

Rhett, you probably already know everything I'm going to say here, but I will say it anyway.

You will have to go with St. Augustine, because it will tolerate more shade than centipede.

You might have to go with some cast iron plant under that oak tree. Or you could do some asian jasmine with some 'Christmas berry' ardesia scattered in it. I would put some kind of hedge along the right side of the driveway. Possibly some loropetalum or even some of the larger growing azalea.

It looks like the house is facing south, so you should be able to put something in front of the house that can take full sun. That might be a place for a couple sago palms, if you like those.

I don't know how well any of these tolerate salt, or how much salt you even have, so I may be way off on some of my suggestions.

[Rhett]

We did have some of the same ideas. Was thinking of cast irons around the tree. I like the idea of a hedge on the south side (right) of the driveway. Would kind of make the fence go away. Think the sago by the front porch would work. Kinda leaning to keeping the plants closer to the ground and going with some boxes above with flowers. Thaks for your inputs so far

[Danscapes]

I got nothing. I'm too far north to know what grows down there.

In the first pic, it looks like you have a cat tail growing in the street.

[AmEdge]

I agree with Nick.

I gotta say though that I don't think you'll get even St. Aug to grow in the front. It may look good for a year or two, but will eventually thin out from the shade.

I'm with your wife. More beds, less turf. Looks like you may be able to do some turf on the side of the house and maybe some in back.

I've heard that 'Raleigh' St. Aug does the best in the shade if you decide to do it. I put some in for a guy last year who had even more shade but insisted, although he also had irrigation. I need to drive by this summer and see how it did.

And I beg you....please consider something besides the red mulch.

[AmEdge]

Here's what I'm thinking...bed in front of the porch, large bed around the oak, that ties into the left side bed at the prop line. Then have a thin strip of turf (wide enough for one or two passes w/ the mower) that ties into the side yard from the front steps.

Kinda like this...

[Rhett]

Thanks AmEdge. Have good sun in front of house about ten foot from tree so should have no problem growing grass. Like the curving aound the tree think maybe bring it back towards the street allowing a little more turf. If I do a larger bed would not use red mulch. In large quanities it just over whelmes everything else

[Rhett]

Where is she shovel when you need her?

[pakerfan8]

Cold resistant plants? you live in florida

[Rhett]

Actually I live in LA. Lower Alabama. Naw just kidding live inbetween Panama City and Pensacola. We do get in the 20s and 30s during the winter. Hence why I am sitting here waiting for it to warm up. By the way welcome to the site. Grab a beverage of your choice and stay awhile.

[Crawdad]

Whatever you do, be sure to leave room for me to park my camper beside the side deck.

[PineCrestWoods]

The Chitter's Full!!!!!!!!!!

[Crawdad]

No problem, I got a hose!

[Rhett]

Hook ups on the right side of porch. Kinda concerned as most your vehicles seem to hollar trucks. Cant get out of the hollar. If you do happen to get here and I am not home, beer in the cooler by front door and food in the fridge. Don't mind Duphus as he has no teeth left to bite with

[Sheshovel]

WIAT wait for me Rhett! dangit don't you dare plant before I get my 10 cents in!

1st of all I agree with your wife...I'll tell ya why after I refer to a few books of mine and see what I can come up with for you. I normally would never say something like this but sometimes...men have a tendency to sharply limit their imaginations when it comes to the looks of things.

Men want a clean look and easy maintenance. Women want planting beds, showy but not ostentatious, color year round and a design that's simple yet beautiful and flexible. wooot Ima on it

[BORN TO MOW]

Are you keeping the

..CAT?

[BORN TO MOW]

.


And I beg you....please consider .

...Killing the cat!

[Sheshovel]

Oh holy moly Rhett I know exactly where you are located now. YOU crazy or what? That looks like one very scary area to live in! Okays well, because you are right on the coast and practically surrounded by water, might as well be on an island...I'm afraid you are going to be very limited as to plantings that will survive in your new landscape.

BUT take heart! I'm on it.

[Rhett]

Naw can't kill the cat. Daughter moved out with a suit case and a few pieces of furniture. She moved back in with a house full of stuff a dog and a cat. Yep She gets a little exciting around here when we have a good storm. If you have google earth look up the elementary school on Kelly street in the middle of Destin. Right by Joes Byou. Right across from the elementary school is second ave. Second house on the right. Kinda give you an idea how close to the water we are.

[BORN TO MOW]

Ahh, the joys of being a parent

Have you considered these plants

http://www.allnatives.com.au/cat-unf...9ecabc3dbf57cc


seriously, you are in quite a unique area there, do you get salt deposited on your windows when the stormy weather comes in or are the prevailling winds going offshore at this time, what are other people growing in the area, besides palm trees

I am in a very similar latitude to you, and even more exposed to the ocean, we tend to plant more hardy salt tolerant species, rather than go for ornamentals, but people in our area do grow them successfully. Though our winters may be milder than yours

[Rhett]

Salt is not that large of concern. The water that is closest is brackish water. Only time we get a good dose of salt is when we have a real good storm. Palms are not supposed to be here. When we have a cold winter as we have had this year we have alot of damaged semi tropical plants.

[Sheshovel]

Well NOW YOU Say that!! After I design your landscape with all salt tolerant plants and shrubs! Gee thanks Rhett....grrrrrrr
Here is one idea anyway...do another 4 ya tomorrow, now I know that salt isn't a big concern.
all for Sunset planting zone 28 your area.
Cripes! I wouldn't bother to try and grow any grass under that oak, best to encircle it with stacked up river rock, beach pebble, think a storm would blow off any mulch under Oak. YEP thats a swing alright...lol
AND you can have the whole right side and back for grass to mow tho, if that makes you happy.
Please excuse this mess of a drawing, I'm just now recovering from being pretty darn sick.

[Sheshovel]

Along the sidewalk, front and on other side drvwy is just BEGGING for a little knee- high white
(or green) picket fence. It would define the space and match the house perfectly.

I know that the above looks very busy and like a lot of planting, but its basically simple and something you can work on gradually if you want. It's also a garden that is full of color and your wife can walk thru it and easily tend it. I'd use the area under that oak tree for a tree swing or add an ornate garden bench under it. Just a few ideas to think about

[BORN TO MOW]

Hey She you would have won a cap if you included a couple of these.

http://www.elegantanimals.com/member.../B5044frog.jpg

[Rhett]

Naw the only garen knome in my lawn will be me. Sorry took so long to reply looking up some of the plants. Have never seen a few of them.

[Sheshovel]

The plants I chose are salt resistant and good for growing in your climate zone. Which ones haven't you seen? You have more work to do before you can plant.

ZONE 28. Gulf Coast, North Florida, Atlantic Coast to Charleston
Growing season: mid-Mar. to early Dec. Humidity and rainfall are year-round phenomena; summers are hot, winters virtually frostless but subject to periodic invasions by frigid arctic air. Azaleas, camellias, many subtropicals flourish.

[Sheshovel]

LOL Born to mow ;)

[Sheshovel]

Here's a really good link with a list if you are thinking of planting Florida natives. Check it out Rhett.You really can't go wrong planting native plants. Since your particular area is such an unique one, I advise planting natives.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep011

oh and I don't really need to win a hat lol!

[Sheshovel]

This grass would be great for foundation plantings in front of deck or? inter-planted throughout your garden


Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)- This ornamental clumping grass is native to Texas and Florida and grows 3 feet tall and wide. With the flower spikes (inflorescence), it is 4 feet tall and 4 feet wide. The deep pinkish-red inflorescence which are loose and open in appearance give the tops of the plants a feathery or cotton candy look. They last up to two months. The inflorescence is quite magnificent when backlit by early morning or late afternoon sun.

[Sheshovel]

......................

[DynaMow]

those are some awful pretty grasses!!

[Sheshovel]

several colors of this vine but...see what wonders a red Bougainvillea would do for that fence ?

[Sheshovel]

Bar Harbors baby....