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We used to have almost full privacy across our backyard but lost the trees during past storms. We have planted 2 oak and 2 Japanese Fern trees in the yard and it's finally time to re-landscape across the back fence. It will take some time to decide the look and plants for the area. Of course our Zone 10a is a consideration too.

So what do you have for Perimeter Planters in your gardens? How did you connect them so they work within the landscape? Any pics to share?

I hope someone responds. This is an interesting question. Living where I do, perimeter planting is not an issue...it's either woods or pasture, so I have no ideas.

Bumping to the top.

ve

I'm about like VE as far as planting on our property...but I'm not a plant planning person either. I plant it, if it doesn't suit me I move it if possible or cut it down. I just can't visualize anything like that on paper like some folks do. I see in my head how I want things to look from ground level.

Thanks Vera,

It is interesting to see the boards and how different the garden sites are for each poster. Still learning and reading about landscaping and thoughts.

Some call it "perimeteritis" meaning plants along the property lines. Some articles are pro to developing a plan along the property lines. It works as a foundation to the gardens.

Karen, LOL, I am not a planner either and end up moving plants/shrubs. Yep it's all in our head.

Thanks!

B Rose, maybe if you posted a picture of your back yard, we could get a handle on its size and what you've got back there currently?

I just plant taller plants near the back of beds and it's a real mixed garden! LOL Meaning almost completely unplanned! I do have trees and fields behind the house yard fence for a backdrop.

I'd like to have some vines on the fence but never seem to get around to doing that.

ETA - I have lilacs, tall perennial sunflowers, lilies, tall bearded irises, a caragana (sp?) tree, echinacea, Oriental poppies - mostly tall or medium stuff, nothing special.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: joyluck,

Here's an old pic of part of my front yard. The lilacs (and all the background plants) are much larger now and I forgot I also have delphinium. I also don't have all those glass garden totems as much of the garden has been reworked and I didn't bother putting them out.

Oh how sweet!!!! Well groomed & enchanting Lucky!

Joyluck, that is a beautiful yard!

ve

I do like joyluck, plant taller plants along the back medium in the middle and an edge plant near your yard in the front. For taller plants, bushes work well for all seasons.
For the edging plant near the grass, I like creeping ground covers. Since you are in zone 10 and I am in 4, I won't suggest plants. :-)

Thanks Everyone!

SSTR, I just wondered your thoughts in general on perimeter plants for the garden/yard.I am in the early stage of deciding how to lay out the beds/plants. It will be Fall before any plantings are done. The width is approximately 98 feet across.

Lucky, Thanks for sharing the pic. It's great inspiration. How long did it take to get everything planted and growing so pretty? A couple of years or so?

Dacia,
The gardens with a variety of heights always seem the most pleasing. Of course even with plant specs they often grow right out and over other plants. Guess that's why we have to trim everything in Fl.

Since you live in zone 10 and it hardly ever freezes, I would say go for fast growing tall tropicals.

Bird of Paradise
Pinecone Ginger
Banana trees/Plants
Umbrella plant/Schefflera actinophylla
Norfolk Pine

When we lived in Miami I saw all of these plants get to 15-20 feet or more.

quote:

Originally posted by Beau's Rose:
Lucky, Thanks for sharing the pic. It's great inspiration. How long did it take to get everything planted and growing so pretty? A couple of years or so?

BR, I think that pic was taken about 12 years after starting the garden. The entire area was forest to start with so there was a steep landscaping curve at the beginning. As the trees grew we had to have many removed otherwise it would have become almost an all shade garden. Since I can never let well enough alone it's gone thru many changes over the years. In fact has changed recently as that center oval bed is now much larger as of last year. IMO a garden, like house decorating, is never 'finished'!

If I could give one word of advice it would be to take the fully grown size of plants into careful consideration. I've always had difficulty doing that so always ended up with an overgrown cottage garden very quickly which necessitates moving plants more often than should be necessary. I'm trying very hard to space plants now as I renovate beds and am mulching well to keep the weeds down instead of relying on closely spaced perennials to do that.

Thanks everyone for the nice comments.

I have an entire border of shrubs as a privacy fence in my backyard. I have Arborvite, Euonymous and Juniper shrubs. They were already here. I love them, but in all honesty, I wouldn't get Arborvite if you live in a cold climate. They have a natural tendency to turn brown from the inside out (which is normal) and bend something awful if they have heavy SNOW on them. They are very sensitive to bad weather.
Edited to ad ~ Joyluck's garden is gorgeous!!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Wavy,

Can you grow Viburnums in your zone?
We have 2 different ones for our zone and they are wonderful and maintenance free. They flower in the spring, get berries and then wonderful color the end of summer into fall...

Beau's Rose, I forget where your general area is...BUT, it might be worth a trip to Tallahassee to that fantastic nursery I found there. FFG is the one who told me to go there.
I'm not sure anyone could cover the whole thing in one day...maybe if you walked fast & didn't look at any plants or pots.
They have a fantastic selection and most plants come in several different sizes too!
It's just the Tallahassee Nursery. I haven't made it to the other one she wants me to go to...it is a native plant nursery but they are both located fairly close together.

If you are south of zone9lady, you could stop & pick her up to come along. If you let me know when you are coming, I can drive down!

I wanna come too...