Landscaping For Large Country Acres

(IN)

You can see where the yard divides. The bushes are all gone in front of the house.

I need a front yard design or ideas.I live in the country on 6 acres of land. The problem is that there is no landscaping on our property. The land used to be farm ground, and there is not anything to build landscaping around.

I live in Zone 5 with hard, clay soil. The plants for the landscaping would need to be full sun. I have two questions:

1. I have one acre of front yard in front of the house that we do not use. We have planted trees, and let it grow up in native grass in the summer. What type of landscaping would you use to divide the one acre yard from the yard in front of the house that we do use?

2. Also, I have a flowerbed that goes across the front of the house, between the sidewalk and the front of the house that is only 2 ft wide. What can I plant there that will have height, that will draw attention as you drive by on the road, but won't outgrow the space? (the bushes that are in the photo have been removed) Any idea's that will not be too costly will be appreciated.

Thank you!

Landscaping Help

We have a french style home and have not been happy with landscaping jobs at all. We spent a lot of money only to have most of the plants die. We put stone around the flower beds and this is the only thing I have been happy with yet.

Now what will look good and give a lot of color? We had English Boxwoods but they have all died. What will take the west sun and look good in front of a wall, which is the wall against the garage?

Help please, Im tired of spending money only to be disappointed!

Front Yard Tree Planting Locations, Planting Beds and Landscape Drainage

by Neal Eo
(Houston, TX)

Front Plantings - Trees, Plants, and Landscape Drainage

I live in Houston, TX and I have a very rough basic front yard with mostly grass. I have 2 Nutall Oak trees on order to be planted in a week.

Challenge #1: Where to plant these 2 trees? I have a tentative plan to plant them at opposing ends of the front yard up near the street, just on the house side of the drainage ditch.

I also plan to make some large plant beds in the front yard; a raised one on either side of the walk, near the house, then a lower one in front of each of those...might eliminate all the grass...any comments on that?

I will also be putting in two drainage swales tying the downspouts on either side of the house out to the ditch out by the street. They will run up the edge of the driveway and the edge of the lot on the other side.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Neal
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ANSWER
I like your front yard tree planting ideas. At first it may seem like a lot of trees for the size of your yard, but the trees will grow tall and the canopies will be high. The appearance of street trees will be attractive.

I think it will be a challenge to create the raised planting beds as you mentioned, due to both a space issue and drainage issues. It does not appear that you have the room...once you raise the beds, the water must flow properly. I think it will get complicated.

Your ideas of removing the lawn is definitely an option however. It's a matter of your personal preference, but I do think it could work well and look nice. Perhaps you could have bluestone stepping stones meandering through. A good planting design is a must for this concept. James Von Sweden wrote a book (and designs this way) called the new American Garden.

He uses mostly perennial flowers such as ornamental grasses, Russian Sage, Black Eyed Susan's, etc. These are all easy to grow flowers and grasses. Some are long blooming perennials. Adding some evergreen shrubs could work too.

Regarding the drainage swales...typically downspouts are tied into pipes rather than leading to lawn swales when doing any type of landscape drainage. If there is a large flow of water, the swale may not be able to carry it. Also, you need a swale pitch of 1/4" per foot.

You would be better off installing a pipe and lead it to the ditch if you can. If not, you might need to explore other options, such as a drainage pit.

I hope this was helpful.
Regards,
Susan

Landscape Help With House That Sits Close to Road

by Polly
(PA)

Landscape Help to Separate House & Road

Our home sits close to the road. I need some help to create a landscape design to separate our house from the road. I believe originally it had a cobblestone wall which is typical for this area. When we purchased it, there was a hedge, however it was filled w/poison ivy.

Any suggestions now that the hedge is gone?

Need Help with Landscape Ideas

by Lynn
(USA)

My ugly house

I have a house with a retaining wall in the front yard and I have no clue how to add curb appeal to the home. Right now the grass in the front is pretty much dead and doesn't do well.

Are there any websites or ideas that I can get some ideas on how to landscape ... maybe with pavers and flowers or something to get rid of the grass yet add some much needed curb appeal.

I've attached a picture, but the picture cuts off the left side of the house. The retaining wall actually extends over on both sides of the house so I need ideas to fill both sides.

Please help.
Lynn