Nancy Whalen
The Weldon House
Here's the updated planting quote for the Weldon house with your picks locked in: a Little Ollie hedge along the front sidewalk (we'll pull the hibiscus and weed cloth first), root flares on the two ash trees, autumn sage around the ash trees and along the south facing wall, one yellow bells on the north wall by the patio, and mulch around the backyard. The oleanders and the shrubs along the front of the house are in good shape, so we're leaving those as they are.
Front Sidewalk Hedge
Front yard, replacing the hibiscus
Hibiscus isn't the right plant for this strip. It needs more water and attention than a rental yard should ask for, and it rarely looks its best along a hot sidewalk. What we want here is easy, low maintenance, green year round, and good looking from the street.
We're going with Little Ollie. It's a dwarf olive that naturally holds a tight, rounded shape, stays green all year, and takes very little care. The run is about 50 feet, so we'll space them about 3.5 feet apart, which comes out to 14 plants. At that spacing they'll grow together into one clean, continuous low hedge.
Little Ollie
Dwarf olive, naturally round, 4 to 6 feet if left alone, easy to keep lower. Evergreen, fruitless, and very low maintenance.
Before planting, we'll pull out the existing hibiscus and the weed cloth in this strip so the new hedge goes straight into open soil.
Ash Tree Root Flares
Back yard, 2 trees
Both ash trees could use a root flare excavation. The root flare is where the trunk widens out into the main roots, and it should sit right at the surface. When it's buried, soil and moisture sit against bark that was never meant to be underground, which invites rot and slowly stresses the tree. We dig down by hand until the flare is fully exposed again, then leave it clear so the tree can breathe.
Once it's done, keep it that way. If soil or rock ever creeps back against the trunk, a strong stream of water from a hose will blast it away without damaging the bark.
Around the Ash Trees
Back yard, small shrubsThree autumn sage here: one between the two ash trees and one on the outside of each. That fills the line and softens it without crowding the trees or the walkway. Autumn sage stays compact at 2 to 3 feet, so it won't get too tall or too wide for this spot.
Autumn Sage
Compact, 2 to 3 feet. Small red, pink, or purple flowers spring and fall that hummingbirds love.
South Facing Wall
Back yard, along the sour orange hedge
Along this wall in front of the sour orange hedge, some of the firecracker plants have died, but the ones still alive look great. There's no need to pull them. We'll fill in the gaps between them with 8 autumn sage so the whole line reads full again.
This spot faces south and takes the hot afternoon sun, and autumn sage handles full sun and heat well. Using the same plant here and around the ash trees ties the backyard together, and the sage flowers pair nicely with the red firecracker blooms.
Autumn Sage
Compact, 2 to 3 feet. Small red, pink, or purple flowers spring and fall that hummingbirds love.
North Wall by the Patio
North facing, larger shrub
This north wall by the patio seating gets afternoon shade, and a little more of it in winter. One yellow bells here adds some height and color and softens the corner by the seating area. It puts out bright yellow trumpet flowers from spring into fall and brings in hummingbirds and bees.
Yellow Bells
Bright yellow trumpet flowers spring through fall, 6 to 8 feet. Lush green leaves and a magnet for pollinators.
Mulch Around the Backyard
Back yard perimeterWe'll mulch around the perimeter of the backyard. Mulch keeps the soil cooler, holds moisture so your plants need less water, and breaks down over time into the living soil they need. Rock does the opposite: it bakes in the sun and radiates heat back at the plants. Two cubic yards covers the perimeter.
Any weed cloth under the rock in these areas should be pulled before the mulch goes down. Fabric keeps the mulch from ever reaching the soil, so it can't build anything underneath.
Your Raised Garden Beds
Back yardThe two raised beds are a great setup. A few things will make them grow a lot better:
- Fill them right. Use a quality raised bed mix, not bagged potting soil. Arizona Worm Farm has a great one, full of life.
- Top them off every season. Raised beds settle and the soil gets used up. Add 1 to 2 inches of compost each time you replant.
- Water on drip. A drip line or soaker line on its own valve keeps the beds evenly moist, which matters a lot in our heat.
- Plant in the right season. Fall is one of the best times to grow vegetables here. My Maricopa County planting guide lays out what to plant and when, month by month.
Your Planting Quote
26 plants, installedPlants, Planting, and Tree Work
Every plant goes in with native soil and a little compost in the hole, compost on top of the soil, and mulch over that. As a fertilizing client, everything we plant here comes with a 90 day warranty.
The irrigation looked to be in good shape. If we find anything that isn't working on planting day, we'll let you know so your landscaper can fix it.
50% deposit to schedule: $1,575, with the balance due when planting is done.
Text us to get scheduled