We started planting along this strip between the house and the driveway a few years ago. The intention was to have something nice to look at from the front door/windows besides the neighbors junk. But mowing around each tree/plant was getting to be a chore. So I got my brothers' permission to make one long bed. Only thing was that I had to keep it straight and in-line with the house. I also had to keep it back from the driveway because there's an underground drainage pipe that runs along there. So I got out the tape measure and ran some string-line to mark where the boundaries would be. I got permission to go ahead as planned (although I had already started). Here's the before photo from the first week in February. driveway-bed_before ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) And today I got the final layer of mulch spread. driveway-bed_lined ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) I wish I could have afforded to do the entire border with rock... but oh well... this was alot easier and cheaper. There's another baby plant in there, but that should be all that planting that will go there... for now :-D And mowing just got alot easier!
Thanks Toni... but it really wasn't too much work. I just laid cardboard as I found it and covered with mulch. And the border was really easy since I had the string-line to follow. The plants are (from front to back): Crepe Myrtle that I got for my Mom a couple years before she passed away (it is grafted with 3 different color blooms - purple, pink and red); next is a Primrose Jasmine (yellow) that I got from one of my aunts; then another Crepe Myrtle (sorta crimson) that came from Hubby's mom's place; next to that (which you can't see because it's barely sprouted) is the Malvaviscus Penduliflorus (red Sleepy Hibiscus) that I got from the same aunt; then there's the Snowball Bush (that you MADE be want); and then a Cassia (yellow) that I got from Hubby's sister.
Oh I forgot... way at the end is a Mimosa that my brother "The Dragon" planted from an offspring of our other one.
You can come and mow our weeds if you need some more to mow. I'm trying to make it all into vegetable beds so there won't be room for weeds. No grass is allowed. Just weeds and vegetables. dooley
Dooley... mowing is one of my favorite yard chores... but I'll have to pass on your offer. I have plenty to keep me busy here. :-D
That bed looks sharp. It really showcases your plants. Great job. The old cardboard and mulch trick, for making the bed...it makes it look like you spent weeks prepping the area. Nice job
Thanks Jewell.... yep! The cardboard/mulch is probably the best trick I learned here. And it did take weeks... only because I had to scrounge up cardboard every day. If I had all the material on-hand, it could have been done in one day easily. Thanks Donna... Nice, neat and straight... that's what I was aiming for to keep my brothers happy. I do like how the trees/plants really standout from the grass now.
That looks really good, Cheryl. I am looking forward to seeing more pics as the plants progress in this bed.
Thanks everyone for the kind words. Here's a photo from the other end looking up the driveway. You can see I've already added a stand of flowers, I just couldn't stand it not having any color. I may put some more pots of annuals all along there just to liven it up. And you'll notice that guard rail there. It's a part off my brother's boat to protect anyone from driving off that area where there's a drain pipe. It got me to thinking... what if I found an old dinghy and put it there and filled with flowers? Hmmmm.... Driveway bed - other direction ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )
