Palm landscape design

[FRITO]

I find it difficult planning and designing my front yard to make it look appealing from the road and somewhat private from my front porch.

my house is small and most cold hardy palms are grow large(washy butia, CIDP), so finding the right scale is also a concern...

Is there any good books out there that walk you through this?

Here is a crude areial view of my front yard. what im concerned with is the 3 sided curved bed that goes around my grass in the middle. I currently have planted 2 sabal 'lisas' , Butia and a mature sago, and recently a queen palm.

its basically a postage stamp font yard and Ive have created the curved beds that wrap it all together. Do I plant the large foundation planting palms(tallest) along the middle of the bed and tier and layer outward on both sides?

any and all help is appreciated.

panoramic shot from the side of my drive

Edited October 10, 2008 by FRITO

[Wai`anae Steve]

  FRITO said:

I find it difficult planning and designing my front yard to make it look appealing from the road and somewhat private from my front porch.

my house is small and most cold hardy palms are grow large(washy butia, CIDP), so finding the right scale is also a concern...

Is there any good books out there that walk you through this?

Here is a crude areial view of my front yard. what im concerned with is the 3 sided curved bed that goes around my grass in the middle. I currently have planted 2 sabal 'lisas' , Butia and a mature sago, and recently a queen palm.

its basically a postage stamp font yard and Ive have created the curved beds that wrap it all together. Do I plant the large foundation planting palms(tallest) along the middle of the bed and tier and layer outward on both sides?

any and all help is appreciated.

panoramic shot from the side of my drive

Luke,

That looks like a Nissan Hard Body p/u in the picture. I have a 91 and it still runs like new, w/27 mpg. Yours looks shinny red, you must polish it often.

Wai`anae Steve

[Phil]

Luke,

I don't know if it will help you, but below is a link to an article I wrote on setting up a tropical garden. It's a bit long with lots of photos, so scan over the parts that are appropritate for you.

Good luck,

Phil

Tropical Landscaping

[Phil]

Luke,

I don't know if it will help you, but below is a link to an article I wrote on setting up a tropical garden. It's a bit long with lots of photos, so scan over the parts that are appropritate for you.

Good luck,

Phil

Tropical Landscaping

[redbeard917]

Everyone's thought process is different, but one thing that helped me when I landscaped my brother's place was to make lots of rough sketches from different views, not just the overhead view, but the street view, the view from different spots in your yard and house, even the view out the windows. I remember sitting in a boring class and drawing landscapes on the edge of my paper. You can even make a sketch of how it will look immediately after planting vs. how it will look when the plants are mature. When it came time to plant, I was certain that the plants were going where I wanted them. Also I used the University of Florida's website which has pages on landscape design.

[Bags]

Luke,

One thing I think that makes a house more inviting is to have a walkway to your front door separate from the driveway. It can be a little difficult to menuvar around cars to get to the house. If you offset the walkway and make it sort of a winding path to your door it creates a inviting effect while still giving a private feel. My yard is almost identical to your design with the walkway added and a planter in the middle. I was also wanting a some what private feel, but still welcoming. Good luck with the landscaping and I am sure it will look great no matter what you do. Here is a pic of what I have done so far. Aaron

[FRITO]

Aaron, Phil , and Lucas

thanks for the info.

Phil your design page helped give me some basics and the photos are mouth watering.

Aaron, I saw your thread and your place looks nice considering its a been relatively short time. I never though of the side walk/path to the road like that. (maybe to my mail box) I also been contemplating a small 1 ft retaining wall along the driveway with some 'molded' in steps to enter the center of the garden and potentially connect to the path to the front porch and mailbox.

one thing messing up my design is the straight line grass hedge along the road. I got these for $1 ea soon after I moved it to give my property some "protection for the road" I like the secluded oasis feel.

I have contemplated pulling them out and re-aranging them in a more natural pattern as is suggested in Phils article. also to bring continuity through the garden.

I removed a big useless bush today and gained about 35 sqaure feet

[Gonzer]

Luke, I always start with the hardscape, ie. rocks, boulders, old tree parts, etc., to break up the one-dimensional look of the bare plot. Always visualize 5-10-20 years down the road too.