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Need some landscaping advice for tropical smoking area

Rod

Rod

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I have a "garden area" outside my front door near the porch. It was filled with shrubs and really quite useless. I have since torn out all of the shrubs that were there, and want to re-landscape this area to be a cigar smoking patio with a tropical theme. My idea is to get a teak bench and put it near the windows, with a small pathway to the bench; most likely gravel with some stepping stones. The rest of the area should be filled with tropical plants and a fountain.

For the landscapers out there, do you have any idea's on what type of plants to buy and how it should be laid out? I purchased a few of the Tropicana plants the other day, so I will use a couple of those here...

It's about 15'x12'.

Here are some pictures of the patio to-be...

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Just plant some tomatoes. Maybe a few grape vines. Smoke some Toscani cigars. You could pretend you're an old Italian.

Doc
 
Just do some research on height and width of plants for the area you have so that you don't block windows or have them eventually growing too close to the foundation. You want everything to be a min of 12 - 18 inches from the siding and foundation to encourage air flow and discourage moisture build up assuming that the plants will need adequate watering. Water intrusion is the biggest enemy of any foundation or house, especially stucco or EIFS.

Plant the tallest to the rear with the shorter plants as you go out away from the house. Dense as possible for that jungle effect. There are tropical plants that are labeled hardy that tend to be affected less by drought, temp flucuations, and disease. They might cost a bit more, but definitely well worth it in the long run.

I don't have a whole lot of experience in tropical, but should convey close to the same with colder climate plants....... Think green border in the back and flowering in the front.

Here is a site with some pictures for ideas. http://www.monrovia....uery=moscheutos
 
Artificial turf for a nice putting green. Minimal matinance- trust me you don't want to spend 29 hours a week dealing with your yard!!
 
I think you're in zone 9a. You could look here http://zone9tropicals.com/ for some ideas. Allot of it depends on whether or not you want flowering, fragrant, large, small, etc. I would imagine you dont want to totally block out the window. I worked in landscaping for about 8 years. We have a crazy climate in MS, but allot of people want a tropical theme around their pools here. Even if it only last through the summer. I'm assuming you want things that are gonna stick around for a while. You also want to consider drainage and soil quality. I'm no expert, but I like to think I know a little. It looks like a great spot to hang out. What direction does this bed face? N,S,E, or W? Just because plants are "tropical', doesn't mean they can take direct sun all day.
 
Rod said:
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Click to expand...


Here's just an idea to get the gears turning. Some taller 'trees' or shrubs spaced out along your little brick border will help give the affect of privacy from your neighbors staring at you wishing you invited them over for a stick.... Just felt like playing, so if it sucks, so be it. :D

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Think about the drainage issue. Slope away from the house, then you can hose down the area and free it of ashes with no worry.

Would also recommend spraying the area with a grass and weed killer, let it work for three days, put down your tarp, sprinkler that with Preen ( keeps weeks from popping up) then set your rocks. Preen is really good stuff.

Forgot to say nice layout work there Set. Rod, see the round river rocks, will be more comfortable on feet and slippers than crushed gravel.

Edited cause I'd forget my azz if it wasn't attached.
 
Rod stop buying plants. First you need a plan. Too many home owners end up looking as though they home depot'd the yard. By that I mean there is one of every plant under the sun in the yard. It shows no continuity and looks thrown together. You'll be much better served by coming up with a game plan that you and the boss agree on first and then buying the plants to complete the design. You can put them in slowly to save money but if you buy plants according to the plan when your done it will look as if it was meant to be, even if it takes years to finish.

Also don't buy into the what's on sale at the nursery is the best plant for my house. Often the nursery is trying out product that is in fashion at the time and long term will cost money and headaches. Queen palms are a perfect example of this in Las Vegas. Every nursery sells them and they look good until the first hard frost comes and they die. Nurserymen won't tell you that!

Don't get into a rush here. There are many things to think of and if done right you can spend the money one time and enjoy for years. Get in a hurry and you can and will spend the years fixing your mistakes.

I would be happy to help you get this properly designed.

PJ
 
You should be able to grow Elephant Ear (choose a small, variegated one, the regular kind spread a LOT), draecana (dragon tree), dwarf banana, and Areca palm outdoors in your zone. Those alone will give you a nice variation in leaf size, color and shape and a very tropical feel. Once they're established you can fill in with ferns and caladiums in their shade.

Oh, and whatever you do, DON'T plant hibiscus. Those damn things need cut back every other week.

~Boar
 
Are you thinking of putting some shade via a pergola or does the sun stop where it is in the picture? I have a harder time enjoying a cigar when I'm sweating.

BTW, nice aloe plants! If you burn you fingers trying to nub your cigars you can always rub a little on your "owie".
 
My backyard is full of queen palms, kings palms, mexican palms, washington palms, sago palms and one huge canary island date palm. Palms do quite well in So Cal. :)

I'll post some pictures once my project is completed...
 
Have you got the proper paperwork for the Mexican palms? I hear lots of them have been relocating from Arizona. :sign:
 
If you hang out at a Lowe's, you might get lucky to see the guy from "Yard Crashers".

Whatever you do, just let us know when the first front yard herf is going to be... :thumbs:
 
I just realized that I never posted the finished product.  Well, actually I have a little more work to do still, but it's pretty much complete for the most part.  Here it is...
 
 
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