First time home owner needs landscape ideas in Zone 9 (Long, awkward yard)

[J&Em]

Originally Posted by DubbleT

Looks like the perfect spot to try your hand at Espalier - Wiki

pictures~ espalier

Great idea! I was thinking vines and bushes but that would be pretty and not take up too much space. That seems so much better.

Originally Posted by Va-Cat

What a wonderful idea! High maintenance though I would imagine.

I thought the same thing, but then found one with Houston in its name... all ready to go in a big pot: Glen Flora Farms - Texas Wholesale Trees | | Espaliers | Pride of Houston Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria 'Pride of Houston') I'll bet it would not be as bad to maintain as to get it there. I have no idea how expensive it would be though.

[debzkidz]

Originally Posted by J&Em

Great idea! I was thinking vines and bushes but that would be pretty and not take up too much space. That seems so much better.



I thought the same thing, but then found one with Houston in its name... all ready to go in a big pot: Glen Flora Farms - Texas Wholesale Trees | | Espaliers | Pride of Houston Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria 'Pride of Houston') I'll bet it would not be as bad to maintain as to get it there. I have no idea how expensive it would be though.

Pride of Houston Yaupons grow wild all over the area. They can be trimmed in all sorts of cool topiary and espalier designs. There is a nursery in the are that specializes in that sort of thing.

[SusqueHappy]

It's likely that anything planted in a small yard will require maintenance, may as well get a little creative. Plantings like that are good for resale too.

[hhheights77007]

oHH! I LOVE THAT IDEA! Those look great. I like maintenance as odd as it seems... which also means I'm the type that will love a plant to death by water. I can't wait to try this. I wonder how old the plant can be to get started?

[Asagi]

There is actually a pocket of zone 10a in Cameron county, parts of Hidalgo, and Willacy county, and the immediate coast from the Mexican border to Corpus Christi.

As for plant choice, why not try some palms? Established Mediterranean Fan Palms are nearly bulletproof in Houston and will stay under 10 feet (unless it's 50+ years old). It is a clustering palm, usually with 3-5 trunks. There is also a silver form which makes a nice accent. The Pindo palm has feather leaves and is also very hardy and tropical looking, it grows to about 15 feet.


From Sunpalmtrees.com

Silver form

nedertropen.nl winterharde palmboom Chamaerops humilis cerifera


http://www.beyondparadisenursery.com...4&iCategoryId=

[Texyn]

Originally Posted by debzkidz

The winter is the rainy season.

No.