Looking for advice on my front yard project. (w/ pics)

[Shadesz]

Hey guys!

You may be familiar with my yard project from the heirloom gardening forum. However, I am no longer planning an edible landscape and hence decided to move the discussion here. I am looking for ideas as I design my yard.

Here is the current plan...

-Give the yard a natural setting by incorporating only three types of micro-environments found in nature... shaded/woodland gardens, wildflower gardens, and a meadow.

-Create a 'valley' up the middle by terracing the yard. Reinforce the terraces with dry-stack rock walls in such a way as to look like they have been there long enough to become part of the 'naturalized' landscape. Note: this includes softening the walls with plants and including up to 3 locations that look like the wall was washed out (see picture below).

-Have the meadow flow up the valley in a way that "pulls" the person's attention from the street to the front entrance way of the house (also designed to allow maximum view while looking out of the big window). Note: The meadow must be perennial or self seeding, and not get taller than 6 to 8 inches high. Spring flowering preferred. Foliage must not look like weed when not in full bloom.

-Plant two wildflower gardens starting at the road (on either side of the meadow) which squeeze the meadow as it climbs up the valley (Think of the meadow being forced to look like an hourglass by the wildflowers and woodland gardens).

-The wildflowers can reach 2 to 3 feet in height and preferred bloom is summer and fall. Must be perennial. Their location assumes that they do not need access (no need for pathway etc).

-The woodland garden is kind of against the house. The medium sized deciduous trees will not be planted too close to the house, so please don't give me grief. I have chosen this location for a few reasons. It will draw attention away from the 'unimportant' part of the house and into the entrance way. It will shade the brick from the direct afternoon sun, reducing air conditioning costs in summer; while at the same time it will allow light through in winter to help warm the house. And last, it will allow a person to feel like they are in a forest while being a good backdrop to the wildflower and meadow gardens below.

-Once established I would like the woodland garden to have a 'back east' inspired feel with ferns and a lot of green, no other color required besides the natural wood and stone colors. If possible, I would like to block out the view so when you are in the garden it feels like that is all that is around you (I don't have a lot of room to make this happen).

Anyways enough jabber, Here are a couple pics to get your ideas started. Imagine the meadow starting just below the big window, running down the middle of the yard and then fanning out against the street. The forest/woodland garden starting at the large rock and wrapping around the left side of the house, and two colorful wildflower gardens against the driveway (on right) and property line (on left) framing in the meadow.



The next picture is a ROUGHsketch design to hopefully give you a chance to picture the whole thing in your head... the green shade is woodland garden, purple is meadow, pink is wildflower. In the backyard green is lawn, and brown is veggie garden. White is concrete driveway/patio and grey is house.

[Shadesz]

We live in northern Utah (latitude roughly 41 degrees north).

USDA hardiness zone 6.

We have about 159 days between frosts. (4th of May - 11th of Oct.)

The house faces west.

The soil is a sandy loam with currently almost zero organic matter. Lots of pebbles and very good drainage (almost too good).

No soil test, but most soil out here is alkaline (usually pH is around around 7.5 to 8.2)

We get unlimited water from a local reservoir, but are restricted to watering 3 to 4 days per week.

The water is brought to our neighborhood via an open irrigation ditch, but is pressurized and piped to our house. Some weed seeds, but I will be installing a better filter).

Now for your ideas...
What would you do? What plants would you use? What colors in what gardens do you think would look good? ...?

[skippydel13KYzone6]

I think the biggest thing right now is to get lots of organic matter (bagged manure, leaves) whatever to get it in there so it will hold moisture a bit more and I would go on and do a soil test. My friend jumped and ran with planting all this stuff and her soil is so bad, nothing thrived. I'm not good at design and am one of those stick it in there kind of people. LOL I'm zone 6 also but not familiar with your heat (we've been HOT and I have full sun) I guess we could all post pics of our flower beds and see what you like but I would assume you need drought tolerant plants? I like to have something blooming all spring/summer/fall so I find if you go around your neighborhood you can see what others have blooming and start kind of getting an idea of what will bloom when. I hate seeing a bed and it only has one time when everything blooms and the rest of the time its barren of flowers. LOL

[Shadesz]

Thanks Skippy. I plan to do so.

No other people wanna input? What plants would you guys use?

[LuvsToPlant]

I'm sure all of us can help in some way!

I do this for a living....not sure if I can spend the whole time on this project...
...but can give some pointers!

I agree you need to start with the soil...before you start thinking of planting.
You have a slightly high alkaline soil and irrigation waters also tend to be high in alkaline...Are you in the Western US?

You should always amend the soil....In your case using lots of Peat will help lower the ph
You should select plant's that tolerates a higher ph....Also using native plants for your area will help.
As far as vegetables...here are a few that tolerates a higher ph
(but I am not sure of your climate)

Asparagus
Beets
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Celery
Carrot Lettuce
Parsley Spinach

Like your sketch...
There are somethings you should include ...
Utilities that are located within the project such as... buried lines, gas lines, meters
overhead electric wires,cable TV utility poles, etc. Indicate all household mechanical features within the area like air conditioning units, generators, downspouts, dryer vents, hose bibs, trash can storage etc...and indicate where gutters exists
These small items can have a factor on your design....

Anyhow...This is how we start before we design...
Hope this helps!

[skippydel13KYzone6]

I would start with putting your fall bulbs in and hit the nurseries for any clearanced items to start out with (you can always fill in with annual til the perennials fill out). Look in magazines and online to check out plants that look good together and fit what your idea is in your mind. My cottage garden my BF says is an overgrown mess (hate that for them, I like it). LOL It changes through the seasons with something always blooming.

[Tutter]

I would re-think using ferns. You're fighting an uphill battle in that environment.

[Shadesz]

Originally Posted by LuvsToPlant

I'm sure all of us can help in some way!

I do this for a living....not sure if I can spend the whole time on this project...
...but can give some pointers!

I agree you need to start with the soil...before you start thinking of planting.
You have a slightly high alkaline soil and irrigation waters also tend to be high in alkaline...Are you in the Western US?

You should always amend the soil....In your case using lots of Peat will help lower the ph
You should select plant's that tolerates a higher ph....Also using native plants for your area will help.
As far as vegetables...here are a few that tolerates a higher ph
(but I am not sure of your climate)

Asparagus
Beets
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Celery
Carrot Lettuce
Parsley Spinach

Like your sketch...
There are somethings you should include ...
Utilities that are located within the project such as... buried lines, gas lines, meters
overhead electric wires,cable TV utility poles, etc. Indicate all household mechanical features within the area like air conditioning units, generators, downspouts, dryer vents, hose bibs, trash can storage etc...and indicate where gutters exists
These small items can have a factor on your design....

Anyhow...This is how we start before we design...
Hope this helps!

Thanks. I will amend the soil for sure. The plans do consider utility supply lines, I just didn't designate them on the drawing. I didn't think about downspouts etc. I will put them into consideration.

[Shadesz]

Originally Posted by skippydel13KYzone6

I would start with putting your fall bulbs in and hit the nurseries for any clearanced items to start out with (you can always fill in with annual til the perennials fill out). Look in magazines and online to check out plants that look good together and fit what your idea is in your mind. My cottage garden my BF says is an overgrown mess (hate that for them, I like it). LOL It changes through the seasons with something always blooming.

Haha, I have been concerned that people will think it will look overgrown. But first, it is my house so who cares what they think. Second, I am more taking my 'inspiration' from nature, just not completely naturalizing it.

I LOVE clearance items!!! I am watching the nurseries for sure.

[Shadesz]

Originally Posted by Tutter

I would re-think using ferns. You're fighting an uphill battle in that environment.

Why do you say this? Why couldn't I use more alkaline tolerant ferns like the Maidenhair Fern or Matteuccia struthiopteris ‘The King’?

I will not be planting the woodland garden until after the trees are established (4 years or so). In the meantime they will get TONS of organic matter: natural style. I have several neighbors who will bring me all their leaves every fall. I am also considering a slow moving/meandering water feature through the shaded area to add some humidity. I can even add some localized misters that go off through the day.

Do you still think it would be too much work, once established? Thanks for the input