Got a green thumb? Help!

AlexDaGator

Founding Member
The Hammer of Thor
Lifetime Member
Jun 19, 2014
12,701
31,635
Founding Member
Had two small holly trees in the front yard in two separate little islands set well out from the house.

The holly trees never looked good and were basically blown over by the hurricane.

I cut them down a while back but it’s high time to pull the roots and plant something new.

Anything I plant is going to get lots of sun and wind.

Any ideas? Maybe palms? Or small flowering trees? Would love some color.

Can’t get too big. The holly trees were probably 15’ tall with a trunk radius around 6”.

I live near the Space Coast, inland though (no salt fears).

Thanks!


Alex.
 

Blacklabgator

Lurking Member
Lifetime Member
Jul 7, 2014
3,083
4,166
Crape Myrtle,

We have 6 planted around our house and never trim them all the way back. They are probably 12 feet tall now.
 

AlexDaGator

Founding Member
The Hammer of Thor
Lifetime Member
Jun 19, 2014
12,701
31,635
Founding Member
Crape Myrtle

Love them in bloom but hate those months when they are bare. I’m torn on those.

Do they bloom enough to outweigh the bare months? I’m not sure how long they bloom and how long they’re bare.

Alex.
 

Blacklabgator

Lurking Member
Lifetime Member
Jul 7, 2014
3,083
4,166
Love them in bloom but hate those months when they are bare. I’m torn on those.

Do they bloom enough to outweigh the bare months? I’m not sure how long they bloom and how long they’re bare.

Alex.

Yeah, they are bare here in N Fla. about 3 months out of the year. But they are very pretty when in bloom. Ours prob bloomed for 3 months.
 

crosscreekcooter

Founding Member
Cunning Linguist; RIP
Lifetime Member
Jun 11, 2014
11,023
12,243
Founding Member
I always liked dogwoods, both pink and white, slow growth. Easily trained
flowering cherry
red bud, nice blooms grows vertical faster than dogwood or cherry
if you want quick growth (2' yr) and added privacy maybe a Leyland cypress-green year round
I never cared much for magnolias, pretty blooms but it seems the damned huge leaves never quit
 

Concrete Helmet

Hook, Line, and Sinker
Lifetime Member
Jul 29, 2014
22,046
23,178
Does it have to be a tree? I'm a tree hater so I'd go with maybe Gardenias surrounded by Crotons because they are very hardy and you can't beat the color splash effect. I have a bed at my house where we took out an Oak tree and I planted a Gardenia in the center put 6 Corkscrew Crotons which only get about 2.5 feet tall evenly in a circle around it and then planted these yellow schrubs, can't remember the name, in between the Crotons and left room for some annuals like King Coleus in between the other plants. It looks pretty damned awesome if I say so myself.....Mulched it in and everyone who comes to our house comments about that bed.
 

g8r.tom

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Nov 17, 2017
3,375
4,291
We have this out front and like it.

http://kanapaha.org/portfolio-view/wong-chuk-bamboo-2/

wong-chuk-bamboo-for-sale-gainesville-fl.jpg
 

bradgator2

Founding Member
Rioting
Lifetime Member
Jun 12, 2014
9,507
24,940
Founding Member
We wanted some palms when we did our pool, but like Theo, I was worried about cold. I put in Sylvester Palms because they can take it down to 18. I freaking love them. This is a pic of a full grown one:

Sylvester-Palm-Field-Grown.jpg
 

bradgator2

Founding Member
Rioting
Lifetime Member
Jun 12, 2014
9,507
24,940
Founding Member
Or, you could put in some ligustrums. No color really (some very small white flowers), but easily shapeable. I think most of shaped Disney plants are ligustrums. I have several I have shaped like an umbrella, like this:
Ligustrum-shaped.jpg


I also have some Sweet Tea Olives which I love. The most incredible smelling plant God made. I dont let mine get this big:

Teav-Olive-White-Osmanthus-Fragrans-500x750.jpg
 

TheDouglas78

Founding Member
Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Jun 12, 2014
16,292
14,719
Founding Member
Confederate Jasmine is nice, palms depending on the how much you want to trim to keep them looking nice, might want to stay with shallow root. Stay away from Birds of Paradise if it is close to the house, the root clusters grow, and about 25-30 feet become a pain to trim.
 

Okeechobee Joe

Lost Ball in High Grass
Lifetime Member
Oct 5, 2014
7,088
16,032
Crepe myrtle is stunning when in bloom. When not in bloom the bark is pretty if you keep the side branches trimmed properly. There are a lot of youtube videos about how to trim crepe myrtles. Also the crepe myrtles look good with outdoor lighting shining up into the tree at night.

That palm tree that brad posted in a picture above looks like a winner.
 

Theologator

Enchanter
Lifetime Member
Aug 11, 2015
8,248
15,806
Does it have to be a tree? I'm a tree hater so I'd go with maybe Gardenias surrounded by Crotons because they are very hardy and you can't beat the color splash effect. I have a bed at my house where we took out an Oak tree and I planted a Gardenia in the center put 6 Corkscrew Crotons which only get about 2.5 feet tall evenly in a circle around it and then planted these yellow schrubs, can't remember the name, in between the Crotons and left room for some annuals like King Coleus in between the other plants. It looks pretty damned awesome if I say so myself.....Mulched it in and everyone who comes to our house comments about that bed.

Pic?
 

Concrete Helmet

Hook, Line, and Sinker
Lifetime Member
Jul 29, 2014
22,046
23,178
I haven't been able to re mulch or plant the seasonal plants(Fireburst and Coleus) yet due to recent injuries but here's what it looks like without them....
IMG_0794.JPG IMG_0795.JPG IMG_0795.JPG
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Help Users

You haven't joined any rooms.