New House - Landscaping Ideas

[dwiens]

Hey all, happy Friday. I noticed this forum today and wondered what all you thought of this idea.

I am currently building a new house in SE Nebraska, near Hickman. I have a large lot but the one down fall is that the back part of the yard is going to be sloped upwards pretty good. So I got an idea the other day. I was thinking of using retaining blocks to stair step the slope and divide the slope into 2-4 different sections. one being for flowers that my wife enjoys, one being a garden and the third possibly being planted to native prairie flowers. http://www.stockseed.com/mixes_produ...ay.asp?pid=468

What dimensions would I need to allow for a reasonable sized beds. In other words, how deep would each "step" need to be in your opinion? I was hoping to be able to grow tomatoes, jalapenos, some spices. Any other good ideas on what to grow???

Oh yeah, I am also toying with the idea of planting Buffalo grass. Very low maintenance but I am also putting in sprinklers and I think the two defeat the purpose of the other. Thoughts?

Dana

 

[bbq bubba]

Depend's...................where is the smokehouse???

 

[cowgirl]

Hi Dana, Happy Friday to you too.

I'm not sure if I follow what kind of set up you are talking about, but I like to make beds about 4' wide......or at least small enough that I can reach the middle of the bed from each side without walking on it.

Makes for easier weeding of the actual bed.

What ever you do, good luck and take pictures.

Also, grow lots of peppers.

 

[triple b]

And where is the smoke house going to be located?

 

[dwiens]

At this time there have not been plans or ideas made for a smokehouse. Just my ECB. I have talked about upgrading but the wife says I need to master the cheapo first. So thats why I have you guys

Cowgirl, what I was trying to describe was this:

imagine your yard with a slope going upwards. taking this slop and stair stepping it, using retaining blocks as the face of the next step up. so my thought like you said 3-4 feet deep? would probably work. my top step would probably be the deepest and be the native prairie flower bed. Does that make sense?

 

[cowgirl]

That makes sense...it also sounds like it would be beautiful!!

 

[dwiens]

At this time there have not been plans or ideas made for a smokehouse. Just my ECB. I have talked about upgrading but the wife says I need to master the cheapo first. So thats why I have you guys

Cowgirl, what I was trying to describe was this:

imagine your yard with a slope going upwards. taking this slop and stair stepping it, using retaining blocks as the face of the next step up. so my thought like you said 3-4 feet deep? would probably work. my top step would probably be the deepest and be the native prairie flower bed. Does that make sense?

 

[bbq bubba]

I think your looking for the home and garden's thread!

 

[dwiens]

Thats kinda why I put it under Home Gardening - Flowers.

 

[cowgirl]

But, but, but...it IS in the garden section. I'm confused.

 

[dwiens]

me too......???

 

[homebrew & bbq]

Dana, it seems to me that a lot depends upon how much space you have to work with and how much total drop you're talking about. I would think it would be a good idea to figure out what height would be comfortable for you and/or your wife to work at without a lot of stooping over and then size the steps between beds accordingly.

Besides the depth of the bed, it might be a good idea to include a walking space along the back side of the beds so you can get to the one above and do maintenance without tearing up what you have planted.

 

[dwiens]

Homebrew great thought, adding additional space on the back side. I was wondering how I would work on weeding and picking. That would work great. I think from the bottom to the top of the hill is about a 10' rise. i dont know the run length though.

 

[mrgrumpy]

What about astroturf and gravel... that would leave more time for smoking and building the smoke house... just a thought.

 

[vlap]

How about some palm trees and banana trees? A few coconut trees as well... Oh wait.. Where are ya?

 

[cowgirl]

lalalalala....I'm not going to listen to this Vlap.

I have lots of sage and yucca.

 

[dwiens]

yeah we are a balmy high of 35 and 3-5 inches of snow. ugh!

 

[vlap]

Put that palm inside by a window and it will give you a tropical feel ;) Turn up the heat, put on some jimmy buffet and fix yerself a margarita and forget about that white stuff outside