My new front yard look - Pictures inside!

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 3:11 pm

I added some new beds and plants to the front yard. I am going for an "extreme" tropical look, so I planted a lot more palms. Now I gotta figure out how I want to protect them all this winter!

Looking southeast at the entire yard.

Looking southeast, closeup of corner bed. Trachycarpus fortunei seedling (hard to see), 3 gallon trachycarpus fortunei, 3 gallon phoenix sylvestris, 3 gallon trachycarpus fortunei, trachycarpus fortunei seedling (hard to see).

Looking northwest, closeup of second corner bed. Trachycarpus fortunei seedling (hard to see), 3 gallon trachycarpus fortunei, 3 gallon phoenix sylvestris, 3 gallon trachycarpus fortunei, trachycarpus fortunei seedling (hard to see).

Shot of my washingtonia robusta and trachycarpus fortunei. Robusta got really beat up by wind this week, ugh!

Any ideas for filler plants around the palms? Bananas, elephant ears, etc? I don't know what to plant there to look tropical but also not take away from the palms.

ScottyON · Post by **ScottyON** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 6:46 pm

Are you still planning your trip down south to pick up some palms?

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 2:12 am

Humm ... be interested to see how this looks in 10 years (even 5 yrs).
You seem to have a nack for cold climate winter protection.

Cheers, Barrie.

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 6:06 am

Scott, I'm not planning on going south to get palms anymore. I did this instead.

Thanks Barrie!

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 7:35 am

Looks good Wxman!

Mark

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 11:24 am

Nice job wxman.
A phoenix sylvestris...wow.

Re groundcover, I'd pick something that stays low-growing to give more prominence to the palms.

Barb

ROBRETI · Post by **ROBRETI** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 2:33 pm

Hi Wxman,

How would you like the idea of a dwarf Nandina variety? It would be a bamboo-like evergreen of 2' high, with beautiful red berries, leaves turning bronzish in the late fall and pretty full if planted close together....
Rob

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 8:13 pm

That looks really good.

gpenny · Post by **gpenny** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 3:45 am

Wxman
I imagine your place stops traffic from time to time! Does anyone else in your area try to grow palms?

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 7:05 am

Thanks for the comments guys. I can't wait until the sylvestris is 10 feet tall. That will be a sight. My street doesn't have much traffic, so I don't get a lot of people stopping and unfortunately no one else is growing palms in the neighborhood.

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 7:54 am

HA! I cna't say that 'no-one in the neighbourhood grows palms' anymore! I think Scotty lives close enough to negate that comment...

WXman- things are looking really good right now... I have a question though, what ever happened to your Parajubea? Oh, and what sort of styrofoam do you use to insulate your palm huts?

Thanks!

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:07 am

Hi Paul.

My parajubaea turned brown and just died. Not from cold, so I dunno. It came bare root so I suspect the roots got damaged.

As for foam, I just the 1 1/2 inch pink foamboard that is sold at Home Depot. I painted it white to I don't have pink boxes in the front yard. It's pretty rigid and really insulates well!

ScottyON · Post by **ScottyON** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 2:43 pm

Ha! Just you and me Paul!

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 7:35 am

wxman wrote:Thanks for the comments guys. I can't wait until the sylvestris is 10 feet tall. That will be a sight. My street doesn't have much traffic, so I don't get a lot of people stopping and unfortunately no one else is growing palms in the neighborhood.

I like it. Could almost be a neighborhood in Los Angeles. You house is somewhat similiar to mine.

I think it better that its just you growing palms. Keeps it a unique pastime. One house in Wisconsin with Palms is cool. An entire neighborhood does it and it becomes commonplace.

Ironically, people often do not notice mine. They will be standing right there and not say a word until I point them out. Granted I tend to blend them in with other foliage, but I think ADD is taking its toll.

Anyway, great job.

Corrosion · Post by **Corrosion** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 1:41 pm

Looks very promising, hope to see these in a future as huge specimens

btw the lawn looks very nice and green already, does it stay green during the winter?

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 6:01 pm

The lawn browns out during the winter. Usually covered with a deep snow pack for 3 months or so. Is your lawn green yet?

Jova · Post by **Jova** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 9:37 pm

wxman: Looks excellent! The large trachy and washy in front of your house are stunning... I wish mine looked that good.. maybe in a few years:) You asked about companion plants for the new beds, and I would go for bananas. In my opinion, bananas are almost more of an "eye-catcher" than palms, since the huge leaves just jump out at you. Elephant ears are also an option, and I'm personally trying those this year for the first time. And don't rule out flower bulbs... I think canna lillys are almost essential to a themed bed such as this. BTW, are you planning to use any type of edging on those new beds where the mulch meets the yard? In my opinion, it looks a bit off without anything to separate flower bed from yard... All in all, looking great.. I envy your large trachy and washy:)

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 1:27 pm

That is a real nic eyard WX!. AS for fillers, elephant ears are great ( colocasia, you can grab some "taro" at the grocery store), some small bamboo ( ground cover species, or even some fargesia bamboo). Im not sure where your located, but mabey some musella? Belive it or not, common ginger ( zingibar officinal????) its a great filler plant, and cheap to get from the grocery store as well. Nothing wrong with some ferns in the shadier parts as well..

Im trying to go or that look, without the palms (climate), but i have some elephant ears, some musa, and tons ofperennials to make up for the lack of large tropical plants i can plant here....

Mabey try some passiflora? And a eucalyptus tree mabey?

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 3:02 pm

My lawn down here is getting green, which I good as I use 7 acres of it to feed horses (+ the weeds for the goats). I'd like to know what you have up there that greens so well, so early.
As for filler plants, all the suggestions are good. However, I'm going to suggest basic annual bedding plants--coleus, impatiens, etc. They have great color but won't get so big as to hide the palms. Colocassia, Canna etc. always get tall enough by July to hide my gems....

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 4:03 pm

Looking good Tim!
Sorry to hear about your washy and the wind damage you put a lot of time into it. It will be fine as you know, one month of good growth and you'll forget all about it.

Bill

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 4:07 pm

By the way have you heard about the truly tiny or tiny tiny bananas? They might look nice in the front without over powering your new palms.
Also super dwarf Cav's stay pretty small around 3-4 feet in one year, they do really well inside.

Just a few more idea's

Bill

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:06 pm

wxman wrote:The lawn browns out during the winter. Usually covered with a deep snow pack for 3 months or so. Is your lawn green yet?

In the PNW we have exactly the opposite situation ... green (as grass) in winter and dead brown in the drought of summer.

Cheers, Barrie.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:19 pm

When I lived up in the PNW we had that, too, with the fescue. Green all winter, brown in Summer 'heat."
I grow bermuda grass down here, but at the northern extreme of the range (is there a "bermudagrassnorth.com forum?"

so I have to buy tons (literally) of hay for months each year. Hence my asking.
--Erik

palmtreecod · Post by **palmtreecod** » Mon May 31, 2010 7:03 pm

wxman wrote:Thanks for the comments guys. I can't wait until the sylvestris is 10 feet tall. That will be a sight. My street doesn't have much traffic, so I don't get a lot of people stopping and unfortunately no one else is growing palms in the neighborhood.

Maybe not the neighborhood, but same region!

Yuri · Post by **Yuri** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 12:18 pm

wxman
I'm a fan of your palms now! Those p. sylvestris look awesome!

Rubtherock · Post by **Rubtherock** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 7:17 pm

Looks awesome!!! The stone in the front of the house really makes the palms natural beauty stand out...

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 8:37 pm

Thanks for the comments guys. The washy in front is toast. Spear hasn't moved since early May. Thinking the roots got hit this winter and it has been sent into shock. Digging it this week and replacing with a huge trachy.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 9:16 pm

Damn,that sucks!
Does it look healthy other than the spear not moving?

My Butia is doing the same thing although it has moved a measly 5" since being uncovered.

I think it will start moving in the next month or so.

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 9:45 am

hardyjim wrote:Damn,that sucks!
Does it look healthy other than the spear not moving?

My Butia is doing the same thing although it has moved a measly 5" since being uncovered.

I think it will start moving in the next month or so.

Yeah, it's green, firm and not pulling. But it's acting like a new palm that doesn't grow because of a small rootball. Roots must have froze off maybe the roots are rotten from moisture? It just won't move! Last year it put out 4 fronds by this time. This year, 0! My trachy which was covered the same way is pushing fast. Just don't think robustas can tolerate a little frost in the soil, but trachys can tolerate some. Don't have time or patience to wait all summer for 1 fan. 15 gallon trachy is on its way from collectorpalms and is getting planted Thursday.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:28 am

Oh well-it's a shame though when we invest the time...and you do get attached to these dang palms
when they do so well.
The combination of already cold gound and added moisture from rain/snow melt is what did it in.

I think keeping them dry coming out of winter until they wake up is more important with Washys.

Take it as a warning though Tim,your protection is excellent over winter without a doubt but
you may want to consider putting down a moisture barrier (some plastic)and maybe using leaves or something to
insulate the soil during winter(warm roots are happy roots),that way you can just pull it off the rocks in spring
and your palms are open for business again!

BTW-are you going to pot up that Washy?-I bet it will be growing vigorously by the end of summer
in a pot.

Good luck with your new Trachy!

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:37 am

Yeah, I'm sold on Washy living in pots.
We've had a couple of inches of rain so far today and about as much more coming. Washy (and Bizzy) are in pots so it can all drain away while the Trachycarpus, Sabal and Rhapidophyllum may just float away today. --Erik

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:42 am

Maybe your Washy will float away too.....and plant itself

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:53 am

This is the "beach" AFTER we did all that drainage work last week. (The mess in the background shows where the work was.)
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Aa ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_r-MvN4jW1sE/TBZrk ... AG0024.jpg" /></a>
I hope it doesn't get washed downstream as that would put it in the Gulf of Mexico which isn't too healthy right now. --Erik

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 1:34 pm

Erik, are you saying the water/mud level rose to mid-pot on that palm?
Or was the pot sunk (planted) halfway into the ground?

It'll be nice to see that 15 gallon at home Tim.
Barb

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:10 pm

No, not that bad. The pot is painted that way.
Over in OKC it may have been that bad.

Back to the thread: yes, that large Trachy will be super. I like at least a few large palms in the garden to make a statement. Until I put some in, folks who don't garden much would come to see my palms and be underwhelmed as the little ones were lost among faster-growing plants. --Erik

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 3:25 pm

hardyjim wrote:Oh well-it's a shame though when we invest the time...and you do get attached to these dang palms
when they do so well.
The combination of already cold gound and added moisture from rain/snow melt is what did it in.

I think keeping them dry coming out of winter until they wake up is more important with Washys.

Take it as a warning though Tim,your protection is excellent over winter without a doubt but
you may want to consider putting down a moisture barrier (some plastic)and maybe using leaves or something to
insulate the soil during winter(warm roots are happy roots),that way you can just pull it off the rocks in spring
and your palms are open for business again!

BTW-are you going to pot up that Washy?-I bet it will be growing vigorously by the end of summer
in a pot.

Good luck with your new Trachy!

Thanks for the advice. Only problem with a moisture barrier is with our melting snow up here. When you have 2 feet of snow on the ground melting, the moisture goes down into the soil, and then I think it moves horizontally under the enclosure, so I'd have to plastic up a huge area to keep the moisture out. My trachy didn't skip a beat, so maybe they can tolerate the wetness better than the washy.

I will probably pot it up if I can get a cheap pot big enough to hold it and it also depends on how crappy the root system is.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 5:59 pm

Man that Sucks, Tim! All that work

Trachys are troopers for sure and you'll have no problems getting them through for the long too.

Washies are a ton of work to keep looking nice up north as you know, I wish I planted one to start instead of 3

I'll ride them out as
long as possible and replace with something slower growing like butia or something.

Too bad shipping so high otherwise I would have hooked you up to comfort your loss.

You'll do great and be much happier with a large trachy!

Bill

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 6:00 pm

Erik,
I was worried when I saw 8" of rain in OKC this morning, glad it missed you for the most part.

Bill

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 6:13 pm

Bill, thanks. I'll start a "rain thread" so I don't tread on this great one.

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 6:25 pm

Thanks Bill.

Yeah washys are a lot of work. It sailed through the first winter and started pushing fast last spring, but I think that's because the root system had not yet grown out of the enclosure. Now that the root system grew outside the enclosure it got zapped last winter. My trachy still has every frond from when I planted it 2008 and keeps growing strong. I think, too, that I will be happier with a large trachy instead of a washy. Maybe when I have more time, money, and other things I will dabble with washys again.

If my 2 phoenix's perish, they will get replaced with 15 gallon trachys too. I will give them as long as they can handle it though

PalmsNorth.com

My new front yard look - Pictures inside!

My new front yard look - Pictures inside!

Green grass