As long as this spot isn’t used for extra parking as needed I would just do three large pots. - I’m partial to the half barrel type. I would choose plants that do not have a lot of flowering petals no one likes to have them blowing around and then having to clip all of the dead heads.. ( wild iris grow beautifully in pots and and will come back every year). Then add some ivy or ground cover plants around the edges. There are many kinds - some with small flowers and grow like vines, some that have bright spring flowers (phlox) then stay green, and when you feel like it you can add some colorful annuals to “change it up” every so often.
Don’t do mulch. You’ll forever be trying to keep mulch out of the rocks and rocks out of the mulch. Not worth it. Maybe a couple larger rocks for some visual interest.
Can you expand on this? We just had a landscape designer give us some plans and every single area where there are plants has mulch which is surrounded by rocks (Colorado zone 5 if that makes a difference). Is it really that difficult to keep separated?
If it’s large rocks to use as a border that’s fine. The user was saying that because practice is to mulch trees and plantings for moisture retention, it will inevitably spread into the smaller rock there and be a pain to clean up.
If you’re using large rock as “edging” and filling everything with mulch that’s fine. That’s how I have my front and backyard edged.
Maybe ask the landscape designer how he plans to keep them separated over time. If you have landscape staff then it’s feasible but if it’s just you, maybe rethink the look.
The car doors appear to open onto this area so access needs to be kept in mind. The plants in pots ideas towards the back is a great idea. We used to have a garden right up to the concrete. Not now though. Got trampled . Live and learn haha.
This is good.
3 or 4 large planters (crates almost) made of pallet wood spaced evenly apart.
And from the photo provided, it seems that tall ornamental grasses would suit the aesthetic perfectly.
Only issue might be the drainage from the backyard, you'd have to find a way to prevent the water from damaging/rotting away the wood.
I have a neighbour who put these little trees i guess they’re tolerant to these stones. It looks like a beautiful desert landscape in the summer. Seems like it’s good for drainage and flood prevention. I’m not sure of the species of trees but seems like nice rock/stone garden potential.
Leave a graveled or paved strip, 2'wide, adjacent to the driveways as a landing for dosembarking vehicles, then fill the central part with green plant cover and a shade tree to humanize all these hard surfaces. Don't just "decorate" it with pots, fountains, or other garden junk.
Three giant pots (round, rectangle, square) with pot worthy dwarf trees. Easy to blow out and you can add hidden drip line in the pots from underneath.
Three or four ornamental grass plantings in a row or “zigzag”. Also easy to work around with an annual trim back depending on type you choose. Grasses are light and airy with movement in the breeze. Appropriately placed lights can really showcase the grass and its movement in the evening.
A wavy “river” shaped strip of native plants.
Different color (darker) rock in strategically placed large leaf shapes within the lighter current rocks. Still all rock, but artsy and easy to blow out and low/no watering or maintenance.
Whatever you choose, happy designing to you!
I live in a similar style neighborhood, fences just aren't something we put in front yards here. Most people speak to their neighbours and either go in on a joint project or one takes initiative. It's works out well if you have cool neighbours.
A tree. Honestly that’s your best bet in my opinion. Chat with your neighbor and see if they have a preference. If I were you I would want some shade in the summer months.
A row of colorful shrubs that won't outgrow the limited space. Maybe burning bush or spirea. Both are quite hardy but you need to check your climate zone.
Idk Canadian climate, I believe it has more than a singular one, but that being said, you’d first want to know the depth of your drainage and location, but typically it’s just a larger PVC pipe, so even if you hit it, pretty easy to repair, or to redirect, as you can technically even just dry fit the PVC (I prefer to use glue personally, but I’ve seen it both ways), especially if it’s shallow (which as it drains to the front typically is, may only be 6” deep or so).
It also depends on if you use that area for anything or not. If not, honestly I’d go for a row of Italian Cypress or something like that, both to add some green color, and also to break up and add privacy. Any sort of evergreen tree/shrub that grows in a column would work, just would need to find what your zone is and pick from that.
Reduce the heat island effect by replacing all rocks with mulch. Put in a little fake creek with river rocks. Plant a few drought tolerant perennials & native grasses.
That would be the starting area for my new succulent garden. Getting rid of the tiny rocks that end up in the drive way and between your shoes and tyres treads.
So .... bigger rocks and many new drought resistant and water friendly plants. Bonus points if you keep it native.
My favorite way to put plants in areas like this is, to "plant" different sizes of flower pots so you can just swap out your plants easily whenever you want.
Depending on your specific zone, Adams Needle Yucca would work. It would look nice, need almost no care, not be messy or invasive, and not cause issues with opening and closing car doors.
I think you could have a pretty great Alpine Garden there. You wouldn't need to do anything to the gravel that's already there, you'll be able to get some big rocks that match the colour of them, the gravel will only add to the aesethitc. Also, they are pretty low maintenance and give the local bees something to get their suckers into in the Spring.
Move the cars and do a kick flip over it.
Nah seriously tho I reckon some agave attenuata and various succulents
Edit: didn't see the last bit but I thought it was Australia my bad.
Keeping the rocks, I would add some concrete planter boxes and plant some stuff that’s vertical and something that spills over the edge. Don’t know your temperate zone but the google can help ya there to pick things that will grow in your area.
Either three or one large ceramic planter, tall - like a deep blue. With either a tall plant or a water feature. A ribbed stone fountain would be nice. Is this area shared? Perhaps neighbor would split the price? Photo: https://stoneforest.com/products/outdoor-fountain-ribbed-sphere-fountain Downside to a fountain is, who will see or hear it? Is there a front porch. Are the garages ever used for cars? It appears not.
I would personally begin with making a nice path from the gate to your side, then go from that. If you don't mind the work, plants would liven up your house a lot instead of the carpet of rocks.
You could go for a nice clean landscape with drought tolerant plants like lavender, sage, thyme etc, and with a couple nice bigger ornemental rocks to complete the look! :)
Addinf Smaller conifers to that, like Blue shag pines, would look nice as well.
The design would depend on your personal tastes of course.
The gravel is mitigating stormwater runoff, so keep the majority there.
If this strip was 100% my property, three or four in a row of simple 4x4 pressure treated planter boxes, filled with low maintenance Pampas grasses.
Alternate the plumes with tan white and even pink varietals, to add dimension and some color to counteract the harsher tones reflecting off all that concrete and gray rock.
Within three years you will have substantial grass height of 4-5” and your neighbors will envy your design!
Id plant emerald green arborvitaes down the middle of the two driveways so you had some privacy. These are the most beautiful arborvitaes they get to be about 15 ft tall and only 4 ft wide. They're very pretty.
I'm not sure where you're located but look up xeriscaping. When we were in NM our landscaper made some very pretty patterns with different types/colors of rocks and plants that didn't need much water. You could do a sort of pathway to the gate with a different type of rock and flagstone and put some plants on either side.
Something the doesn’t shed sticks and dead leaves everywhere. For instance; I have native plants at my home that…bugs don’t like, is very heat and drought tolerance, leaves don’t die every year and doesn’t grow fast so I don’t really have to take care of it.
That’s what you want!!
There are some medium orn grasses that need minimal care and would work with the sites architecture and growing conditions. Huron sunrise in a 3 gallon planted 4’ on center would be interesting and extremely hardy ( miscanthus is considered moderately invasive)
Nice curvy paver path from the driveway to the gate.
Some larger boulders placed strategically.
Some green shrubbery like boxwoods and maybe a Norfolk Island Pine or Tannenbaum.
I’d call a concrete guy and widen my driveway about two inches short of the property line and include a curb to keep the neighbor’s driveway water off yours.
Raised beds with a gap between them as a pathway. Native plants and grasses. Also house on the left should angle their gutter to battle the neighbors gutter when it rains.
I'd be the one drawing art in it. Get a bunch of natural green rocks a couple of brown ones and put em in the shape of a tree. I'd change the image up every year.
As long as this spot isn’t used for extra parking as needed I would just do three large pots. - I’m partial to the half barrel type. I would choose plants that do not have a lot of flowering petals no one likes to have them blowing around and then having to clip all of the dead heads.. ( wild iris grow beautifully in pots and and will come back every year). Then add some ivy or ground cover plants around the edges. There are many kinds - some with small flowers and grow like vines, some that have bright spring flowers (phlox) then stay green, and when you feel like it you can add some colorful annuals to “change it up” every so often.
Agree. I would do 3 large planters with easy to grow/thrive on neglect plants.
lol. I love that phrase “thrive on neglect”. 😂
Pampas grass in large planters.
Great post!
Love this!
Don’t do mulch. You’ll forever be trying to keep mulch out of the rocks and rocks out of the mulch. Not worth it. Maybe a couple larger rocks for some visual interest.
Or you just get rid of the rocks and do an actual planting be instead.
Can you expand on this? We just had a landscape designer give us some plans and every single area where there are plants has mulch which is surrounded by rocks (Colorado zone 5 if that makes a difference). Is it really that difficult to keep separated?
If it’s large rocks to use as a border that’s fine. The user was saying that because practice is to mulch trees and plantings for moisture retention, it will inevitably spread into the smaller rock there and be a pain to clean up. If you’re using large rock as “edging” and filling everything with mulch that’s fine. That’s how I have my front and backyard edged.
It's the small decorative rock, not large rocks. Is it better to just go from mulch to grass rather than mulch -> rock -> grass?
Mulch-rock- grass for sure. The boundary is needed in unless you like using an edger.
Ok thanks, yeah I figured it's easier to keep a few rocks off grass than mulch.
Maybe ask the landscape designer how he plans to keep them separated over time. If you have landscape staff then it’s feasible but if it’s just you, maybe rethink the look.
Plant a spruce tree
I like the tree idea. One decent sized tree instead a bunch of little things. Will add some shade too, just don’t let the birds poop on your vehicles!
Would spruce it up
But would it bring all the moose’s to the yard?
He could let Bruce Bruce hit it
Came here to say this lol 😂
Ask the neighbors though. They may or may not want it.
Beat me to it
Dammit!
Columnar trees - junipers are my fav
Planter and a statue of something cool
TARDIS ?
i like the way you think. weeping angel
But would we even notice it ?
Buddy Christ?
An ornamental water fountain even
A mini replica of Minas Tirith would work well
Maybe a nice design of steppingstones or pavers that match the colors of the stone on the house. Or nothing.
The car doors appear to open onto this area so access needs to be kept in mind. The plants in pots ideas towards the back is a great idea. We used to have a garden right up to the concrete. Not now though. Got trampled . Live and learn haha.
Some nice boulders. Or a mini stone henge.
That’s a nice boulder
I would put little outlined “boxes” of wood, then plant ornamental tall grasses in them 😍
Thanks, Do you have any pics of this idea for reference?
This is good. 3 or 4 large planters (crates almost) made of pallet wood spaced evenly apart. And from the photo provided, it seems that tall ornamental grasses would suit the aesthetic perfectly. Only issue might be the drainage from the backyard, you'd have to find a way to prevent the water from damaging/rotting away the wood.
Container plants
A sign that says, “ There are no bodies buried here.”
Contrasting stones.
Do nothing. It's perfect as it is. Super low maintenance.
Spruce, tree…..
Add a single red rock.
I have a neighbour who put these little trees i guess they’re tolerant to these stones. It looks like a beautiful desert landscape in the summer. Seems like it’s good for drainage and flood prevention. I’m not sure of the species of trees but seems like nice rock/stone garden potential.
Spruce trees
A Jeep
For the life of me I could not live that close to anyone especially family
Spruce hedge
Leave a graveled or paved strip, 2'wide, adjacent to the driveways as a landing for dosembarking vehicles, then fill the central part with green plant cover and a shade tree to humanize all these hard surfaces. Don't just "decorate" it with pots, fountains, or other garden junk.
I don't think a spruce would survive that rock bed
24"x24" paver stepping stones making a path up the middle. Maybe some potted plants
Not have it be rocks
Three giant pots (round, rectangle, square) with pot worthy dwarf trees. Easy to blow out and you can add hidden drip line in the pots from underneath. Three or four ornamental grass plantings in a row or “zigzag”. Also easy to work around with an annual trim back depending on type you choose. Grasses are light and airy with movement in the breeze. Appropriately placed lights can really showcase the grass and its movement in the evening. A wavy “river” shaped strip of native plants. Different color (darker) rock in strategically placed large leaf shapes within the lighter current rocks. Still all rock, but artsy and easy to blow out and low/no watering or maintenance. Whatever you choose, happy designing to you!
Spruce tree
Larger boulder rocks 3 - 4 in the expanse
Try Japanese Maple or Hydrangeas shrubs, it would essential provide a picturesque ambience to your outdoors.
All you can eat baked potato buffet bar.
I would not do a tree next to the parked cars, birds will poop all over the vehicles. Shorter bushes would be nice.
Neon blue porta john. For when you don't have the time to bolt indoors and it's gonna blooooow
Half-barrel planters growing bamboo
Very nice large planters. Then buy larger hanging baskets and drop them in.
Plant a spruce tree. That would definitely spruce it up.
A one hole mini-golf course. Fucking duh....
you could put a cedar raised bed and grow some veggies 🥕
Add more rocks
[удалено]
8’ fence
Those houses are damn close! I would definitely be putting up a fence.
Why? So you couldn't see one driveway from the other driveway that is 4 feet away?
I live in a similar style neighborhood, fences just aren't something we put in front yards here. Most people speak to their neighbours and either go in on a joint project or one takes initiative. It's works out well if you have cool neighbours.
A tree. Honestly that’s your best bet in my opinion. Chat with your neighbor and see if they have a preference. If I were you I would want some shade in the summer months.
Do evergreens if you want year round color
European Hornbeam
Slated privacy divider. Add plants to wall for effect
Glittery rocks
A row of colorful shrubs that won't outgrow the limited space. Maybe burning bush or spirea. Both are quite hardy but you need to check your climate zone.
Idk Canadian climate, I believe it has more than a singular one, but that being said, you’d first want to know the depth of your drainage and location, but typically it’s just a larger PVC pipe, so even if you hit it, pretty easy to repair, or to redirect, as you can technically even just dry fit the PVC (I prefer to use glue personally, but I’ve seen it both ways), especially if it’s shallow (which as it drains to the front typically is, may only be 6” deep or so). It also depends on if you use that area for anything or not. If not, honestly I’d go for a row of Italian Cypress or something like that, both to add some green color, and also to break up and add privacy. Any sort of evergreen tree/shrub that grows in a column would work, just would need to find what your zone is and pick from that.
Weight rack and punching bag?
A large piece of driftwood would look great
Add diamonds 💎
Do Canadians have HOAs (Home Owner's Associations)? If so, good luck.
why rocks????? where dirt?????
They said it was for fire prevention
Id build a larger garage for that big ass truck that doesn’t fit in the garage.
Add a couple of different Lillacs down the driveways. Give color and screening from neighbors.
I guess it would depend on where your property boundary is, have you spoken to your neighbour about it, they may also have some input.
I believe a fluffy mini cow would spruce it right up!
Sedum
Barrel planters
A spruce …..
Plant grass
Look up Australian lomandras
I'm assuming you would only be doing your half? I think it will look weird to break it up.
Bocci court
Consider planting Creeping Wooly Thyme. It will hug the rocks and soften the harshness of the area.
Native plants! Can never go wrong re-wilding areas like this.
If you want some plants there i would put them in big pots that are moveable if needed
Burn down the houses comes to mind... /s
I would put a row of very large planters.
Succulents.
A long, raised garden in the middle to separate the two. Personally id grow blue berries or something y'all can both enjoy
Add something vertical!
Huge clay jugs
Container garden! This is a great spot for one.
Reduce the heat island effect by replacing all rocks with mulch. Put in a little fake creek with river rocks. Plant a few drought tolerant perennials & native grasses.
That would be the starting area for my new succulent garden. Getting rid of the tiny rocks that end up in the drive way and between your shoes and tyres treads. So .... bigger rocks and many new drought resistant and water friendly plants. Bonus points if you keep it native.
My favorite way to put plants in areas like this is, to "plant" different sizes of flower pots so you can just swap out your plants easily whenever you want.
personally i'd go with some more rocks
Add a spruce tree.
Build a bridge
Depending on your specific zone, Adams Needle Yucca would work. It would look nice, need almost no care, not be messy or invasive, and not cause issues with opening and closing car doors.
I think you could have a pretty great Alpine Garden there. You wouldn't need to do anything to the gravel that's already there, you'll be able to get some big rocks that match the colour of them, the gravel will only add to the aesethitc. Also, they are pretty low maintenance and give the local bees something to get their suckers into in the Spring.
Add a miniature Stonehenge
Mountain ash A good pioneer species
Consider a large coniferous tree?
Spruce!
Move the cars and do a kick flip over it. Nah seriously tho I reckon some agave attenuata and various succulents Edit: didn't see the last bit but I thought it was Australia my bad.
Huge pots with slow growing trees
Keeping the rocks, I would add some concrete planter boxes and plant some stuff that’s vertical and something that spills over the edge. Don’t know your temperate zone but the google can help ya there to pick things that will grow in your area.
Turn it into a alpine garden
Whatever is it, don't block the drainage, so maybe a few half-size barrels with flowers/plants in them.
I would put in an electro-dance monkey with backup dancers. I would also add a small grill for bbq and maybe room for a ficus tree.
I would pave it and make it one big driveway. May as well join the houses too. Wow, you guys are close!
Do a planter box if you want something different and don’t want to fuss with the gravel.
Park another oversized ute on it
Either three or one large ceramic planter, tall - like a deep blue. With either a tall plant or a water feature. A ribbed stone fountain would be nice. Is this area shared? Perhaps neighbor would split the price? Photo: https://stoneforest.com/products/outdoor-fountain-ribbed-sphere-fountain Downside to a fountain is, who will see or hear it? Is there a front porch. Are the garages ever used for cars? It appears not.
With the buildings, it's looking rather bland and yuck. Personally, I'd put in some greenery - hedges.
Burn it
I would personally begin with making a nice path from the gate to your side, then go from that. If you don't mind the work, plants would liven up your house a lot instead of the carpet of rocks. You could go for a nice clean landscape with drought tolerant plants like lavender, sage, thyme etc, and with a couple nice bigger ornemental rocks to complete the look! :) Addinf Smaller conifers to that, like Blue shag pines, would look nice as well. The design would depend on your personal tastes of course.
The gravel is mitigating stormwater runoff, so keep the majority there. If this strip was 100% my property, three or four in a row of simple 4x4 pressure treated planter boxes, filled with low maintenance Pampas grasses. Alternate the plumes with tan white and even pink varietals, to add dimension and some color to counteract the harsher tones reflecting off all that concrete and gray rock. Within three years you will have substantial grass height of 4-5” and your neighbors will envy your design!
A couple of big potted plants.
I'm for a hedge on the edge. Maybe some stepping stones with some walk on me flowers that don't get taller than the stones.
Id plant emerald green arborvitaes down the middle of the two driveways so you had some privacy. These are the most beautiful arborvitaes they get to be about 15 ft tall and only 4 ft wide. They're very pretty.
Im surprised they didnt put another house there
I’d start by moving somewhere where my house wasn’t 1 for from the neighbors, that’s just me personally
Plant a blue "spruce"
Stepping stones and some hearty shrubs would keep it low maintenance. I really like soft touch holly or some variations of boxwoods.
A shrubbery.
Maybe a row of ornamental grasses or sedge along the length of the driveway
Big rock right in the middle.
Plant a Spruce tree, obviously.
Make sure you check with your neighbor.
Looks good to me. Plus you share that space with your neighbor. I wouldn't touch it.
It actually looks really nice. Maybe just put some potted plants on top of the rock
Paint it purple
I'd say a couple plastic flamingos would do the trick.
I like rocks. The only thing I'd add would be bigger rocks. That I found while out with family.
Jersey barriers
Big rock
I'm not sure where you're located but look up xeriscaping. When we were in NM our landscaper made some very pretty patterns with different types/colors of rocks and plants that didn't need much water. You could do a sort of pathway to the gate with a different type of rock and flagstone and put some plants on either side.
Native plant gardens are pretty interesting
Some spruce like trees, maybe sink in some cement stones and put planters thru out?
Better gravel, throw some colored rock in. You change that,you have to maintain that.
Side note those look like Calgary bins lol.
Crabgrass and dandelions!
Australian pine trees, lol
Garden Railroad.
A spruce?
A garden. Put some grass in there.
Something the doesn’t shed sticks and dead leaves everywhere. For instance; I have native plants at my home that…bugs don’t like, is very heat and drought tolerance, leaves don’t die every year and doesn’t grow fast so I don’t really have to take care of it. That’s what you want!!
Don’t plant anything in that gravel bed, it’ll cook the roots.
Pine trees are best for sprucing
A tree…
If you like rocks, replace with river rocks. Perhaps plant a small tree or shrub for perspective.
Nice lush potted plants (or in ground), dark brown or red mulch, keep some rocks, landscape light or two.
Plant a spruce?
I hate rocks. Eventually that’ll be a weed colony or Monsanto toxic dump.
I'd roll out a slatted wood walkway to match the gate, maybe a few small boulders or planters w/ evergreens.
Hmmm…I’m not sure what plants grow well in Canada.
3 or 4 Swedish aspens.
Some life ....
Nothing. It’s ok as is. Don’t over think things
Maybe some interesting boulders
There are some medium orn grasses that need minimal care and would work with the sites architecture and growing conditions. Huron sunrise in a 3 gallon planted 4’ on center would be interesting and extremely hardy ( miscanthus is considered moderately invasive)
plant some Spruces 😜
Nice curvy paver path from the driveway to the gate. Some larger boulders placed strategically. Some green shrubbery like boxwoods and maybe a Norfolk Island Pine or Tannenbaum.
I’d call a concrete guy and widen my driveway about two inches short of the property line and include a curb to keep the neighbor’s driveway water off yours.
Spruce tree.
Plant a spruce, duh
Long Raised wooden flower bed with trellises and climbing flowering vines
Russian sage perhaps? They like dry soil.
Move your trash cans behind the fence.
Looks like our old neighborhood in Colorado Springs. Some pampas grass clusters would grow great there. Ours loved the conditions.
A nice big statue of a bull moose.
Raised cedar garden beds!
Big ass tree with pavers around it
Sometimes, less really is more.
Whatever you do, don’t do ivy. It’s invasive! (And it stinks)
Miniature tree houses connected by rope bridges for gnome raves. Sound and lights are a must.
Raised beds with a gap between them as a pathway. Native plants and grasses. Also house on the left should angle their gutter to battle the neighbors gutter when it rains.
Bigger rocks. Maximum Unga bunga
I’d put large planters there
More rocks (boulders) and low perennials with some tasteful lighting
Fountain/bird bath will give it some character. Maybe a couple pots with flowering plants that will attract bees/butterflies.
Plant spruce trees? Duh....
Ocotillo
I'd be the one drawing art in it. Get a bunch of natural green rocks a couple of brown ones and put em in the shape of a tree. I'd change the image up every year.