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ah031548

I'm hitting a brick wall !!

6 months ago

How can I beautify this 2 story windowless brick wall that is the front of my townhouse? There is a metal gate entering a narrow courtyard. Width of house is from brick wall to the metal gate only. HOA has no restrictions except no painting. House faces South and is located in west texas. Thank you Gor your help.


Comments (10)

  • PRO
    6 months ago

    You got help inJuly with that post what has changed ?

    ah031548 thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 6 months ago
    last modified: 6 months ago

    Put a trellis (or screwed in wires to make a grid) on the wall and grow bougainvillea or wisteria on it.

  • 6 months ago

    In July I didn't explain the full situation and I feel I have presented it differently.


  • 6 months ago

    If it's your wall, put a large vine or espalier a fruit tree on it. If it's not, plant a short tree with a in front of it.

  • 6 months ago

    Here are some suggestions:


  • 6 months ago
    last modified: 6 months ago

    Can you plant anything in the lawn area?

    If so, I'll give the same advice as I did in your last post. Don't do anything to the wall. Put a small decorative tree in front of it. Buy a much bigger pot for next to the gate and fill it with colorful flowers.

    I wouldn't plant much more than that right now until you can figure out if it's a hospitable area for plants. It looks really dry there.

  • 6 months ago
    last modified: 6 months ago

    There is no magic answer for tough growing spots.

    What’s that shrub growing there now? Is there a loosely-defined planting bed across the entire width of the wall? I think I see a jumble of small rocks along there.

    Could you formalize that planting bed with a clear, neat border and then plant more things in it? It would be ideal if the bed could measure at least 4’ (measured from the wall out to the outer border of the bed). This would allow for getting your plants a bit away from the brick wall. The brick wall holds heat and can roast your plants.

  • PRO
    6 months ago

    You had another post a while ago on this same wall question, why an 2nd post? You had received several suggestions.

  • 6 months ago

    The first question that came to my mind is -- how easy/hard will it be for you to keep that area watered? Is there a hose bib there or an irrigation system? Are you willing to spend time weeding, pruning, deadheading and compostiing the area? I love gardeing in my backyard but don't enjoy working in the front of the house. You might consider a fabulous xeriscape plan with local stona and plants that thrive in your climate with little water and minimal maintenance. It could be beautiful!

  • 6 months ago

    Before doing anything that requires maintenance I suggest cleaning the brick and getting turf in better shape. Meanwhile be a little more precise about your location. Western part of Texas covers a bunch of territory with diverse soil and climate. Add the fact a city named West 600 miles away is actually located in Central Texas where climate is near 180 degree different. You are expecting a lot from people that have never set foot in Texas, much less experienced her diverse land and climate. I once gave a friend grape vines I had grafted and begin to regret my generosity by the time we finished digging holes with a railroad pick. That was in Odessa where you find caliche clay below 3" of blow sand. To give those interested an idea of caliche, majority of country roads, oilfield roads and main streets of one horse towns aren't even paved.