Recommendations for very narrow patch

16 years ago

I've got a bit of a problem area in my Miami backyard, and I thought I'd solicit any suggestions for what I might do with it.

I've got an approximatly 8 inch strip of bare ground that runs down an entire side of the yard, lying between the big pavers that make up the patio and the six foot high wooden fence on the property line. I'd love to get something growing in there, but I'm not sure what would do well. In addition to being a tight space, it gets little direct sunlight (blocked by the fence and some very mature mango and avocado trees) and it's well away from the sprinklers (so thirsty plants probably wouldn't do well).

Ideally I'd like something that could grow to some height and break up the visual of the long fence.

Any suggestions?

Albaby

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Comments (9)

coffeemom
16 years ago
I would mulch the strip and go in another direction. Any way you could secure pots in the wooden fence? Then plant ivy, fern, orchids or tillandsia. I played around with this idea last spring. It looks better now.

Or plant vines to hide the fence.
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
16 years ago
Good ole bromeliads might fill the bill - esp. the longer-leaved kind.

& Sansevieria (snake plant) is dead easy & there are many varieties to choose.
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albaby
Original Author
16 years ago
I appreciate the suggestion, but I'm not sure pots are a real practical solution. While I could easily sink some screws into the fence to hold them up, I've got an awful lot of length to cover.

The sansevieria looks like it might be a good choice for the kind of really vertical landscaping I need. I'm going to look into that.

I'd love to get a flowering vine, like a bougainvillea, if any will grow in so narrow a space (the bougainvillea itself is a poor choice for me right now, since I'd rather not put anything with thorns where my 2 1/2 year old is playing).

Alan
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
16 years ago
FWIW, my old-fashioned sansevieria grows about 4' high in the ground & periodically puts out very fragrant blooms - their scent is stronger @ dusk/dawn.

& there are some very long-leaved bromeliads that put out showy flowers.
wally_1936
16 years ago
I know gingers does well in shade
junglegal
16 years ago
I'd do sanseveria, cast iron plants, may be some calathea rubra for some color. Stay away from neoregelias and aechmeas because of the teeth. You can do anthuriums too.
I know a lot of gingers will stretch and get very tall without enough sunlight.
Bouganvilla needs full sun to bloom as do most of the vines I know of.
sharbear50
16 years ago
I am wrong? Doesn't bougainvillea have thorns?
mrs_tlc
16 years ago
What about heliconias?? There are so many varieties that grow tall and give such beautiful blooms. You could plant one or two between your Sansevieria and you'd get a nice show of color. Just be sure to do your research, from what I understand there are two types of heliconia - clumping (which is what you want) and one that send out runners that can be pretty invasive. DH has a Lady Di and found out that it can send out runners that come up 10 ft. away so he dug it up real quick and put it into a big pot. It's a gorgeous plant though.
albaby
Original Author
16 years ago
Some great suggestions - the heliconias especially look lovely. I'm going to put together a plant list and see what's available at the local nurseries and price them out.

Sharbear - you're right, bougainvillea has thorns, that's why I don't want to go with it. With a little one, I am trying to be very careful about what I put in the yard, with an eye towards toxicity (no Oleander!) and thorns.

Albaby