Need ideas for this hill.

8 years ago

Just moved in, and I have this area next to my drive. I want to clean it up, leave some privacy towards back from my neighbor, but make it attractive. Texas Zone 8a.

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8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

It’s hard to know how this area relates to the front of the house/street view, and how steep it is .... would it be feasible to do some sort of low retaining wall or stone border there? If a wall, I’d backfill it a bit, too.

I did a rough mock-up to show what I mean, along with plantings (Crape Myrtle, Feather Grass, dwarf nandinas, perennials). Of course, mock-ups are quite flat and one-dimensional, this is just a very general idea to see if it’s a look you’d be interested in.

If that’s not do-able, agree with posts above — spreading some plantings around — shrubs, grasses, groundcover, etc. It would be a more wild and natural look. Dwarf Yaupon hollies are a good lower growing evergreen shrub, too. I’d add in a few large rocks/small boulders for interest.

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Comments (8)

Irving Ragweed (Austin 8b)
8 years ago
Since rainfall and soil vary within the state, whereabouts in 8a?
kulrn thanked Irving Ragweed (Austin 8b)
kulrn
Original Author
8 years ago
DFW area
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Irving Ragweed (Austin 8b)
8 years ago
I'd recommend a perfect fit for that landscape if you were in 8b, but growing primrose jasmine in DFW would be pushing it. Anyone in the Metroplex care to chime in?
kulrn thanked Irving Ragweed (Austin 8b)
dreamr
8 years ago
How much sun vs shade throughout the day? Something akin to a native hedgerow? Possumhaw hollies in front of a row of evergreen hollies for privacy, Muhly and Mexican feather grass en masse towards the front to soften the edge and control erosion, puctuated by planting pockets for color . . .
kulrn thanked dreamr
kulrn
Original Author
8 years ago
Wow, thanks for the mock up! I'm not real good with plants and shrubs, etc, but I can research to death! The drive is to the Left of the front of the house. It needs help too! This is all new to me as I previously lived in a mass development with a small fenced yard! Here's a few from the other side. Listing photo which doesn't show the steepness.

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From front window towards street...
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PKponder TX Z7B
8 years ago
We have a slope between our drive and the neighbor and planted a mix of Inland Sea Oats and Turk's Cap along with some other plants to stabilize the slope. We have far more shade than sun here.
kulrn thanked PKponder TX Z7B
Vulture61
8 years ago
Water availability?, irrigation system?

Awesome mock-up Miz! Yes, I would also use understory small trees (crape myrtle, redbud, buckeye, holly, pyracantha, Eve's lace, bauhinia...) and then would throw some bushes like rosemary, Jerusalem artichoke, nandina, hypericum, Echeandia, lantana, agave, cacti, Himalayan Indigo and esperanza... Get familiar with those plants and decide which ones you like.

Make sure to throw all the leaves you can find to mulch the area and control weeds. Consider adding rocks, birdbaths, bird feeders and ornaments.

Have fun!

Omar
kulrn thanked Vulture61