Raised bed/ landscaping advise

[MIKE82397]

Hello all. I wanted to run an idea by you guys on preparing the “yard” for some more  palm plantings. Western NC foothills 7b/sketchy 8a. My yard is for lack of a better term a huge rock. Granite slabs and what I call sandstone. It can’t decide if it wants to be rock or dirt. Otherwise red clay dirt. South side of property. Full sun. Hot humid summers semi wet winters( only snows every couple years lately) So my plan was to create sort of a raised bed area by tilling up the area a foot or so deep then bring in maybe 12 to 18” of topsoil or nursery blend mix and mix together creating at least 2ft of good dirt. I want to plant various sabal minor varieties( Louisiana  tamalaupis cape hatteras craven county) sabal palmetto brazoria Birmingham Bermudana Mexicana and windmills. Most are 3 to 5 gallon size now. I’d like to do this bed before winter so it would be ready for Mid March early April planting. Would this be a good plan?  What would you do different? What’s that one most important piece of advise? What about plant spacing and grouping. You thoughts and advise are much appreciated 

[SeanK]

Make sure there's some sand in the mix also and something organic like hardwood mulch.

[MIKE82397]

1 hour ago, SeanK said:

Make sure there's some sand in the mix also and something organic like hardwood mulch.

Thanks Sean

[Swolte]

Hey Mike, I think it can be a good idea. Sabals are very versatile when it comes to soil but most plants do like some moisture-holding capacity and the possibility for a vibrant soil biome for faster growth. So yeah, mounding with organic topsoil should speed up growth. To encourage root growth, you may want to mix up the transition area - where your organic topsoil meets your dirt/rock/clay. 

Sounds like an exciting project. Please keep us posted with pics!!

[MIKE82397]

4 hours ago, Swolte said:

Hey Mike, I think it can be a good idea. Sabals are very versatile when it comes to soil but most plants do like some moisture-holding capacity and the possibility for a vibrant soil biome for faster growth. So yeah, mounding with organic topsoil should speed up growth. To encourage root growth, you may want to mix up the transition area - where your organic topsoil meets your dirt/rock/clay. 

Sounds like an exciting project. Please keep us posted with pics!!

Yes sir thanks for the encouragement!! Will hopefully update in spring with before and after pics

[MIKE82397]

Well got the bed area done finally. Yard took a beating but I think it’ll be worth it in the spring when I get some palmage in the ground. Stay tuned!

[redbeard917]

I don't have much expertise to add about soil amendment, but I think you've done some excellent prep work. With regard to the spacing, maybe set them in the spots you are considering, and ponder them from every angle, perhaps with the aid of a lawn chair and adult beverage, and sleep on it so you're sure. Also placing a plant in its eventual location for a short period actually reduces transplant shock slightly because it will have already adapted to the sun/shade regime when you plant it.

[Swolte]

This literally makes me drool. Nothing better then a well-prepared virgin canvas!

Not too much wisdom to share but a few minor points that are hopefully helpful:

Edging/mowing - I am not sure what grass you have and if it will go in between, or under, the rocks. I does not look like Bermuda so that's good. If you have a lawn service with trimmers that cover that area, you're probably fine. But if not, although I like the natural rock look, it can be a pain to do yourself. Digging a little trench in front to allow the mower better access to grass that wants to reach the stones can help.   

Weeds - I assume you will use mulch unless you want to kill your back in a year. Lawn services here generally do not weed beds (I wouldn't even want them in my case...). 

Timing - March/April is playing it somewhat safe. But if you have a reasonable chance to not hit the teens anymore in February, I'd risk planting out some of the hardier stuff (eg Sabals). The sooner they can get established, the better prepared they are for next winter. 

[ahosey01]

Planet the Sabal mexicana and brazoria straight into the heaviest wettest clay you have and watch the magic happen.

Here in the RGV, mexicanas stop volunteering as soon as you cross from clay or clay/loam to sandier soils.  Then you only get washingtonias.

My soil weighs more than uranium and they love it here.

[PAPalmtrees]

Please show pictures when you plant stuff

[MIKE82397]

Update on the backyard project. After many months of planning, procrastination, delay, doubt, do overs and do more’s, hauling dirt and more dirt. And did I mention dirt …..lots and lots of loads of dirt and compost. Not to mention 6 scoops of mulch all wheel barrowed and shoveled I think I’m getting closer to what I had envisioned. My back is killin me but I wouldn’t have it any other way. The palms have been in the ground three or so weeks. I Picked up 20 various perennials at plant delights in Raleigh while visiting my daughter at NC State. Had them on order since January and was counting the days till I would pick them up. Beautiful plants!! along with some other mail order bulbs and roots  from other various sources. I pray we are done with the 30 -40degree nights or at least frost nights. It was killing me not to get these in the ground knowing we were gonna get some much needed rain this week with mild temps so I rolled the dice.  Last frost date average here in western nc is 4-15 but we’ve already had a few days in mid to high 70s.  I’m sure  in a few years hopefully I’ll be saying to myself dang why’d I plant these things so close together but we’ll cross that bridge at a later date. Glad to see the yard coming around too.  Thanks for all y’all’s suggestions and encouragement. Now looking forward to the new sunroom to gaze upon my realm!Rainy today but we need more. Here’s a rough list of the plantings. Much of the dormant bulbs and roots have not sprouted yet. 

Sabal brazoria

sabal Louisiana (3)

sabal Tamaulipas (2)

sabal palmetto

sabal Birmingham (2)

sabal mexicana

sabal minor cape hatteras

hesperaloe parviflora (red yucca)

sabal minor  craven county

trachycarpus x princess newform

trachycarpus wagnerianus x princess

needle palm

trachycarpus Bulgaria?  Not sure if true bulgaria

jubea x butia

chamerops humilus

yucca silver anniversary

yucca x recurvifolia ( mellow yellow)

yucca rostrata  (sapphire skies)

yucca flaccida (gold heart)

yucca color guard (2)

Euphorbia ascot rainbow (4)

sedum (dazzling dynamite)

baptisia (cherry pie)

farfugium japonica (3D)

Alsromeria (2)

Eucomis commas (sparkling burgundy pineapple lily)

lychnis (orange gnome (3)

hardy hibiscus (4)

hardy geranium (dusty cranesbill (4)

various colocasia

various canna

various peony

various dalhia

coneflowers

 

 

 

 

[Swolte]

Shiny! Lets hope for a mild string of winters so the palms will be able to bulk up. It looks like you added more to the elevation (great choice).

Big fan of the Euphorbia ascot rainbow. Had one for a few years (forgot what killed it) and it was a great low-care plant. 

[MIKE82397]

11 minutes ago, Swolte said:

Shiny! Lets hope for a mild string of winters so the palms will be able to bulk up. It looks like you added more to the elevation (great choice).

Big fan of the Euphorbia ascot rainbow. Had one for a few years (forgot what killed it) and it was a great low-care plant. 

Yea I wasn’t quite happy with the 1st soil. It was really silty and sandy almost no clay. So I brought in a mix of my area red dirt which has more clay and compost chunky mixture then tilled it all together. So I hope it’s gonna be perfect

I was just thinking come middle of December I’ll be like crap I’m gonna have proctect all these. Believe it or not the ascot rainbows were the 1st plants I bought to group with the palms. They’ve taken off 

[Chester B]

1 hour ago, MIKE82397 said:

 I’m sure  in a few years hopefully I’ll be saying to myself dang why’d I plant these things so close together

I think every gardener utters these words at some point.

[MIKE82397]

4 minutes ago, Chester B said:

 

[MIKE82397]

So true but it seemed like such a good idea at the time!

[Zone7Bpalmguy]

@MIKE82397 Wow! That was a big project. Roughly how long is this bed? I'm sure the pictures don't do it justice. That will look great one day when it really begins to fill in. 

[MIKE82397]

Yea big project for an old man lol. I’m glad I got it done. I’m guessing it’s about 40 50 ft. long and maybe 20 25 ft. wide. I have a bad habit of overwatering in pots so I’ve been careful with watering so far. All the palms are looking really good no transplant shock or anything. A couple of the plants are looking kinda puny but the sun blasts on them all day. Hopefully we get a little more rain over the next few days and a little overcast and they’ll perk up. Fingers crossed ……thanks

[MIKE82397]

2 month update…. Starting to take shape!!! Lots of rain lately 

[Zone7Bpalmguy]

@MIKE82397 We've had lots of rain too this spring. Yes, it's starting to fill in nicely. A great selection of plants! Looks great.

[MIKE82397]

Thanks

[Chester B]

Looks like my yard this year, except that you've cramscaped even more than me.