Front of house advice (narrow strip)

Tissot

Hi all,

Hoping someone can give me some advice regarding the narrow strip of grass at the front of my house. To be honest, it's more of an annoyance to have as its awkward to get the mower/strimmer out to it during the summer. Would really love to do something to it that looks well, but would be low maintenance. I've attached a picture - would love to get some advice on what I could do with it!

berrypendel

Tissot wrote: »

Hi all,

Hoping someone can give me some advice regarding the narrow strip of grass at the front of my house. To be honest, it's more of an annoyance to have as its awkward to get the mower/strimmer out to it during the summer. Would really love to do something to it that looks well, but would be low maintenance. I've attached a picture - would love to get some advice on what I could do with it!

what about?

Probably have to use weedkiller and/or that cover that stops weeds* first to stop grass coming through

*cannot think of term

Tissot

Hmmm - not a bad idea at all. All I would be afraid of here is we sometimes get kids passing by late in the evening, and they like to get up to devilment. I'd fear for the cars parked beside the stones if they decided to start throwing them around.

berrypendel

Tissot wrote: »

Hmmm - not a bad idea at all. All I would be afraid of here is we sometimes get kids passing by late in the evening, and they like to get up to devilment. I'd fear for the cars parked beside the stones if they decided to start throwing them around.

http://www.naturalstoneyard.ie/Vintage_Indian_Sandstone_Circle.html would not be loose. no connection to supplier random google

Technophobe

Or....build a raised bed from sleepers or wood from the hardware store etc, fill with compost/soil and throw a few flower bulbs or plug plants in there...
then in winter add daffs and tulip bulbs for next spring's colours...

Beruthiel

Here is a picture taken from my garden last year:



It is about twice the width of yours.
I have iris, lupins, hostas, alpines, primroses.
You could really make that strip beautiful.
Find plants which don't grow too big.
If it gets a lot of shade at the side of the house, go for hostas or large leafed plants which don't mind shade.
For the sunnier bit you can go for flowers. My purple iris in the front of the pic were planted six years ago and are beautiful.

magicbastarder

Technophobe wrote: »

Or....build a raised bed from sleepers or wood

i'd be a bit wary about holding dampness against the side of the house; even if it was lined, it'd still get a bit of water in which would have trouble evaporating.

Tissot

Beruthiel wrote: »

Here is a picture taken from my garden last year:



It is about twice the width of yours.
I have iris, lupins, hostas, alpines, primroses.
You could really make that strip beautiful.
Find plants which don't grow too big.
If it gets a lot of shade at the side of the house, go for hostas or large leafed plants which don't mind shade.
For the sunnier bit you can go for flowers. My purple iris in the front of the pic were planted six years ago and are beautiful.

That looks fantastic. I'd love to do the bark mulch thing too - anywhere you could direct me on how to find out how to do it properly - am completely clueless!!

Tissot

magicbastarder wrote: »

i'd be a bit wary about holding dampness against the side of the house; even if it was lined, it'd still get a bit of water in which would have trouble evaporating.

Just to clarify - the wall you're seeing is actually the wall between me and my neighbour - its not a house wall.

Technophobe

Tissot wrote: »

Just to clarify - the wall you're seeing is actually the wall between me and my neighbour - its not a house wall.

Yea I knew that..used to have a similar strip

Sonnenblumen

OP - that looks like a tough spot for many plants. Choose carefully, ideally one which is evergreen, not invasive, will not require too much attention and is ideally colourful and flowers? Other desirable factors might include, not brittle but could cope with wayward footballs etc, will not scratch (pedestrians or car doors) etc

One type considering is Libertia, eg Libertia Goldfinger.

looksee

I have a very gloomy spot that is just a dark patch between a north facing wall and various bits of building. I have ferns, bluebells, wild strawberries, violets, berginia and hellebores in it, and a honeysuckle. It looks after itself, doesn't even need weed membrane and I like it. It has mossy bits and a little wild geranium that is actually a weed but looks nice in that environment - I pull handfulls of that out occasionally, but no other weeds seem to bother.

That combination would not be any use for most of the OP's strip, but if part of it is in serious shade it is a possible option.

johnwest288

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

OP - that looks like a tough spot for many plants. Choose carefully, ideally one which is evergreen, not invasive, will not require too much attention and is ideally colourful and flowers? Other desirable factors might include, not brittle but could cope with wayward footballs etc, will not scratch (pedestrians or car doors) etc

One type considering is Libertia, eg Libertia Goldfinger.

Yeah nice one . i had a patch like this I put in a yellowy green evergreen x 4 evenly spaced. They shot up nicely and then the wall at the back i planted some ivy worked a treat

berrypendel

johnwest288 wrote: »

Yeah nice one . i had a patch like this I put in a yellowy green evergreen x 4 evenly spaced. They shot up nicely and then the wall at the back i planted some ivy worked a treat

was it cupressa? which one is the fastest to grow?

johnwest288

berrypendel wrote: »

was it cupressa? which one is the fastest to grow?

Bang on never knew the name of them, i just googled them yeah picked them up in tesco for about 3 quid each ! they have a nice tall pointy look too. they dont seem to spread out width wise so far anyway