How can I give this place some curb appeal (picture)?

Question

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b18/bripat911/hays1758.jpg

We've already ripped out most of what you see in the picture, except for the ground cover along the right side of the house. We are planning on removing that as well, but don't know what to put in its place. What should I do to this place??

Answer 1

Depends on your interest but there is a very good garden resource for you in Las Pilitas a garden nursery that specializes in native planting materials for California.

http://www.laspilitas.com/

http://www.laspilitas.com/classes/landsc...

From your picture I would think the seating on the porch would be nicer for the bank to be planted in low but undulating shrubs of different types. Ground covers don't have to hug the soil. Planting with different heights adds visual appeal plus this would hide parked cars from view,  stop dust from passing traffic and buffer some sound. I would incorporate a ceanothus that offers showy blue flowers but watch for the shrub size at maturity because many get very large. Look for a small or trailing form in the culivar.



Other native plants with a gorgeous fiery floral color are  California Fuchsia or a Spice Bush.

http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/701.htm

http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/127.htm

Ceanothus

http://www.laspilitas.com/groups/ceanoth...

http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/186.htm

Bush anemone

http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/134.htm

Fuchsia-flowered Gooseberry Ribes speciosum  if you can offer some shade in the afternoon. Warning this has thorns!

http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/585.htm

Manzanitas become garden art with their contorted limbs and peeling rusty red bark. I even have one that does well in the winter wet in Wash.

http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/43.htm

Answer 2

seems like it

Answer 3

I'm a tree fan, so my inclination would be to plant a pretty tree - like a flowering crab, for instance - and have a small garden around/underneath it with some complementary plants.  It looks like you need some color, so I'd lean towards colorful flowering plants.

Much of this, of course, will depend upon where you live!