TrailGaiter

We have been building a new deck in our back yard. The steps were hubby's idea...I wanted wood steps, but we had all of these materials already from a previous project (the concrete blocks and pavers) and he wanted to try them. I guess they're ok.... there are a couple of gaps he plans to fill in yet...this deck project isn't quite done yet, he needs to fill in the gaps in the steps, and we need to finish the spindles on the deck railing, then it's done! The framing is up, and the skirting around the deck finished, as of yesterday!

So, I want to plant something on each side of the stairs. Obviously I'm not going to be able to mow there in those corners....so we're going to mulch up against the deck....what should I put in that spot?

I'm in zone 5, Madison, WI. I'm in love with tropical looking plants, but I know I'm very limited on that. Any tropical looking plants that are suitable for zone 5? (I planted some cordylines, basjoos, a couple of canna bulbs, and persian shield this year). I love the Yucca colorguard, but haven't gotten my hands on any, and don't know a lot about it.

I'm not overly picky....but I'd love ideas on what kind of shrub or something anyone reading this might think would look good planted in these corners. The back of the house faces south, it would receive a lot of sun....Hmmm...I'd even wondered if some clumps of basjoo would look good there, but if it grew, it may cover the stairway. But I may get ahead of myself...as my basjoos now aren't growing very well yet. I should see if they grow first! lol

Thanks for any opinions!
Angie

sandy0225

I'd plant a basjoo on each side of the stairs, about 6 feet away, and put in some hardy hibiscus around that and then some annuals like daturas (they smell good in the evening when you're hanging out there), petunias, geraniums, ornamental peppers, etc for all season color. Maybe a couple of elephant ears to dig up for fall.

__________________
Sandy Burrell



Northern Tropics Greenhouse
1501 East Fuson Road
Muncie, IN 47302
www.northerntropics.com


specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~
check out our new online store at our website!

sunfish

A Deciduous fruit tree of some kind. It would give some shade i the summer and you could pic fruit right from your deck.Fill in aroud them with some anual color

TrailGaiter

Thanks for the ideas! I love the basjoo idea, I wasn't sure how to incorporate them here, was afraid they'd go over the stairs. But when you mentioned planting them 6' away...I thought, perhaps I could plant them on the ends of the deck....(still leaving room to plant something in the corner.) That would work out well, too, considering on the east side of the deck (right side of the pic) there is a rock wall, I couldn't plant anything there that has a large root system that would disturb the wall. The basjoo would be far enough away. Once I get it cleaned up somewhat back there, I'll take a pic for a better perspective! We have a piece of the old deck there yet....which I will recycle somewhere else...I will use that railing somewhere....I don't throw that stuff away! I'm thinking about using it as a "corner piece" in the yard somwhere, and planting some hostas inside it. Or bordering a corner of my strawberry bed.

Hmmm...hadn't considered planting trees in the corner at the stairs....I know hubby would like trees on the west side of the deck, it gets so hot there, he'd like some shade. So I think he'd rather have trees along the side of the deck....fruiting trees would be a neat idea!

The ideas are great, keep them coming!

orinoko

Depending if they won't bang against the stairway and framework,

Two Trachicarpus Fortunei palms is my suggestion but...Bananas grow quicker than 6" a year

Cana Lilies, they are tropical and grow quick and tall.

__________________
[url="http://flowersnpalms.com/lancalass/[/URL]