One of the more interesting areas to landscape are the ones along your own sidewalks ... Here is one to consider. Many others of course. It's OK to "borrow"... ...
This is a good example to consider. The area from curb is quite large to the sidewalk but without reasonable restriction by your town. In fact, they might encourage more like it. Have you seen others while walking your sidewalks? Let us know OK?
Last edited by Dom Nizza on Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:39 pm, edited 3 times in total.
If local ordnances permit I think doing something with the boulevard strip other than just planting turf grasses can be a good idea. The raised beds shown in the example, however, are not good for those trees.
Those trees will be alright... the plantings look like annuals ... easily replaced at a modest cost. If you are ready, just keep walking to that next sidewalk Azlea display .. like this one.
An interesting Azalea display selection on the south side of the street with a high elevation to deal with. Beautiful display in the Spring. I liked that one. Perhaps the grass portions could have been done a little differently. (A ground ivy?)
The general rule is that you don't want to alter the soil level around trees, especially under the canopy although ideally we'd be talking about double that distance, by more than an inch or two within a single growing season. Raising the soil level significantly alters the gas exchange and can affect the whole soil ecology at the root level. Partially burying the trunk also creates conditions favorable to insect, fungal or bacterial assaults.
Whether the plants in the raised beds are annuals, herbaceous perennials or woody plants has little to do with whether or not is a good idea although in some ways annuals may be the worst case scenario because of the high inputs of water and fertilizer that that are commonly used.
Whether or not this will kill the trees is difficult to access especially from a photo. I have seen trees recover from really massive insults in some circumstances and decline and die from seemingly more minor disturbance but the consequences usually aren't fully seen for years.
Continuing on my sidewalk Tour, I came upon this flowering crabapple I believe, in full bloom. ..
[img]https://www.mycommunity.com/uploads/22269_2.jpg[/img]
I thought this tree overwhelmed the small house somewhat.. but it was pleasant sight for the early Spring. The fence was a little unsightly and something might have to be done soon. ...
imagardener2 wrote:The 'tree' in your last post looks like it might be a unpruned [url=https://www.floridata.com/ref/l/lager_I.cfm]crepe myrtle[/url].
Yes it is an unpruned Crepe Myrtle .. I have seen those down at my son's Texas Farm. Smaller like the one you showed. They alwys seem hard to grow in my North New Jersey Area.. So I will just keep on walking like this.
webmaster wrote:Down in Central America many years ago I'll never forget the sight of gardening guys making topiaries using nothing but their machetes.
These are a great series of photos and commentaries Dom, I'm enjoying them very much.
Glad you like the "stuff". I heard of those Machete topiary sculptors .. I'll check my file... for some info. In the meantime.. check this one out.. just our Sunday afternoon walk.. for cyber guys.
[img]https://www.mycommunity.com/uploads/22269_6.jpg[/img]
You would need a team of "machete guys" on this Front Yard Tiered house Front. Probably some latin music while they work too. Do we get double time pay on Sunday? ... ...
This narrow sideyard now has some artificial turf.. small amounts might be worthwhile to invest in. It certainly will cut down on the grass cutting.. for an old-timer like me. Check it out for yourself too.
Certainly those smaller areas around a backyard pool are perfect for Turf... no grass clippings being brought into the pool. Small areas are proctical for the home owners. Check that one out. Invite me but, please heat up the pool water first. ... ...
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Grey wrote:I have nothing to add yet but this is a really good thread, I'm enjoying it.
Glad you like the thread.. you don't have to be an expert... just talk about "your recent and past happenings" .. we can all relate to that.. Have you ever ordered Eleven yards of top soil and found it delivered to the end of your driveway, when you weren't home like this?
Now what do I do with all this soil? Top dressing for the Lawn.. Freshen up the vegetable and flower beds ... lots of places to use it. but you better get some (cheap) help from the grand-children. ... ... like this one.
This one is a great big help but, unfornately every time he finds a worm he wants to stop and go fishing. Oh well, what ever that cheap help wants I'm willing to take a break from time to time.
Have you started to freshen up your garden? Get going ... you hear!
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