i am trying to landscape my backyard. this is the first time i have ever tried this, as a matter of fact, this is the first home i have owned with a landscaped yard (always dirt and weeds before). i am so lost. we have the whole thing prepped. the irrogation system is in for the lawn and i have a drip system ran to the area where my "Plants" will go but now i am faced with a gigantic problem. WHAT do i plant?????? yes yes i know i should have thought about that sooner but, i didnt, sooooooo does anyone have any ideas. i have a 3 ft x 40 ft strip to plant. VERY high sun exposure, and i live in Sacramento CA so we have summer temps in the high 90 low 100's.
thanks for your help!!!!!
BFP 11/9/2012
dx Partial Molar Pregnancy - D&C 12/11/12
HCG 12/10/2012 -96000
HCG 12/19/2012 -888
HCG 12/27/2012 -146
HCG 1/2/2013 -275
HCG 1/9/2013 -788
Dx with gestational trophoblastic disease 1/3/13
Meet with Oncologist for 1/11/2013
Second D&C 1/16
HCG 1/23/2013 - 88
HCG 1/30/2013 - 0 miracle!!!!!
Re: please help!
40' long and only 3' deep? That is a HORRIBLE shape. Is it really just s thin strip like that? IMO you desperately need a CPLD. I wouldn't recommend planting ANYTHING without a design (this should have happened BEFORE the irrigation went in). Three feet is barely enough room for a tiny shrub. What else do you have growing on your property (existing trees and shrubs)? Can you post any pics?
I agree with NB; you need a landscape architect to help with a bed like that.
It's really not too expensive and will be some of the best money you ever spend on landscaping.
If you can't afford a landscape architect (although I think that would be an ideal first choice) you might see if any of your local nurseries offer design help. I know one up here that for will work out a site plan and planting schedule, and then you can use the $500 fee as a credit towards plants from the nursery.
If you're determined to DIY it, Sunset magazine has some stunning* ideas for drought-tolerant landscaping. Try their website or one of their books. You might also check with your local governments to see if anyone offers classes on planting water-wise or native species.
*pretty enough to make me almost envy my MIL in Redding. Almost.
"The meek shall inherit the earth" isn't about children. It's about deer. We're all going to get messed the fuckup by a bunch of cloned super-deer.- samfish2bcrab
Sometimes I wonder if scientists have never seen a sci-fi movie before. "Oh yes, let's create a super species of deer. NOTHING COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG." I wonder if State Farm offers a Zombie Deer Attack policy. -CaliopeSpidrman
I like to just "plan" where I want to put things and then go shopping. I don't think three feet is too small to plant some flowers, maybe too small to put shrubs. If you want to get some bulbs planted, get them in before the end of the month. You can also buy them already grown in pots. Bearded iris and beautiful and spread fast. Perennials are fairly inexpensive and also spread. Typically you can ask the workers and they can tell you which plants like fun sun.
Good luck!