Hedge Question

william duffer · 02-11-2010, 12:55 AM

I am looking to plant a three foot high hedge it will go across the front lawn and up the driveway, altogether about 40 feet. I live in the southwest it will need to withstand 100+ temps and upper 20s in winter. So I guess what I am looking for is a hardy hedge bush that will mature to roughly 3 feet. Any Ideas.

sdsester · 02-11-2010, 08:01 AM

If you are out west, the Sunset plant guide is one of the bibles for choosing plant materials. Also check with your local nursery and find one that will stand behind their plants. Your ag extension folk will have ideas as well.

Given your hot dry climate? I would definitely consider installing a drip irrigation system for the new hedge. Such are inexpensive, plants and soils love the concept, and they make great water conservation sense as they draw in gallons per hour and not gallons per minute. Water goes deeply to stimulate drought resistant root systems and only where you need and want it.

Snav · 02-11-2010, 08:42 AM

I live in Arkansas - 105 in the summer and below 20 in the winter, lots of snow at times.

My shrubs were here when we moved in so I've identified them as a Japanese Holly - they're evergreen with small leaves and small decorative black berries (I might be wrong with my identification on this, though), which is great for a privacy-shrub - and seem to handle our weather very well.

Two years ago we cut quite a few of them back to remove our old storage shed and they came back rather quickly - and now they are an immense 10' high. But they can be pruned with a fair amount of ease. They're not like a Box which is very dense, they are loose and if left untamed the branches will get long and droop.

We liked these so much, and they handle our soil so well, that we've picked the seedlings that grew and planted them around the yard - we went from having a small area of a few trees to an entire privacy fence that's lined with them.

They're excellent and make it through the toughest heat, worst storms and heaviest ice.

IF these are not a Japanese Holly then I have no clue what they are

william duffer · 02-11-2010, 01:54 PM

I will look into the holly i really like the look of those. I will talk to a local nursery and see what they can get. I am landscaping the entire front yard so adding a drip system would be a great idea thanks.

GARRYOWEN

sdsester · 02-11-2010, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by william duffer

I am landscaping the entire front yard so adding a drip system would be a great idea thanks.
GARRYOWEN

I really like shopping locally and supporting independent business around me. I seldom buy anything at a box store. In this case box stores will have extremely low end but high profit margin drip irrigation components. The stuff, especially as much needed for a residence is cheap to start with so why compromise to the box store extent?

I should think there would be many irrigation suppliers around you though? If not, you may have to shop online. Nothing wrong with doing so but online companies do not give anything back to local communities any more than box stores do.

One thing to watch out for? If you are going to automate your drip system, make sure the elelctronic solenoid valves will work at the low flow rates of a drip system and that the timer will stay on or recycle to accomodate the extended watering times of the system. Some will not.

william duffer · 02-11-2010, 02:30 PM

I almost always shop local stores. Most of the locals aren't real big but they can order if necessary. I try to plan ahead just for those unexpected delays. Any ideas on Brand name systems that work well, I have heard about gravity fed systems, whats your take.

GARRYOWEN

sdsester · 02-11-2010, 03:05 PM

Gravity systems, driven from something like a rain barrel or storage tank on high ground, can work out quite well as drip does not require either the water pressure or flow rates of conventional irrigation. You still need minimums for both though so check with an irrigation company in your area or see if their is a rain harvesting company near. You might need to install a small irrigation booster pump that turns on and off with the automatic valve(s).

Also with gravity fed systems, the pressure will build in the line so you may want to invest in compensating emitters if you have long runs. The additional cost will be negligible for a residential application. They do have a small diaphragm in them that may, very rarely, need to be serviced. If you install flush valves at the ends of your lines (inexpensive spring loaded things that close when the line is pressurized and spring open when it is not) you shouldn't have major problems.

I would suggest since you are planning ahead? Google or Dogpile drip irrigation and look over the catalogs and design guides offered by many of the companies. You will get a good feel for what is available, costs, etc. Emitters come in also sorts of configurations from about .5 to 12-14gph. The drip, bubble and there are even some that work like mini-rainbird sprinklers. Stick within 1-4 or so for most things and stay as close to plain drippers as possible unless you have some plants that would welcome a nice mist early in the morning. Look for self-cleaning varities. I put a system in for a friend in Albuquerque ages ago now to handle all the hanging plants they put out each season. As far as I know, they have never had an ounce of trouble with it. They just flush it out completely a few times per year, tweak the timer and forget about it.

If you haven't, you might sketch out or otherwise scale your landscape to paper so you can minimize the fittings you will need and have an idea of how much tubing to order, etc.

william duffer · 02-11-2010, 04:34 PM

Am going to nursery now and will design it out within the next few days thanks for the info.

william duffer · 02-12-2010, 05:00 AM

They recommended a box wood or Laurustinus which neither I like as well as the holly that was suggested. They also have all I need for a gravity feed system. They have a large pot with a spigot attached to it they said would work great. With the control of the spigot and the adjustable valves it would be a great system. Thanks for the Ideas.

william duffer · 02-16-2010, 04:18 AM

OK I am tearing out the old grass this weekend and need a few questions answered if possible.
FIRST?: The grade drops from back to front is about 16 inches. I am going to level it out and put sod in but not sure how much is norm for a 25 foot run.
SECOND?: Through sand build up from high winds the grass has actually raised about three inches how far should I drop down below the concrete path so my grass is level with it.
THIRD?: I am looking for a non aggressive grass that can sustain well through the southwestern climate. I don't want it to wonder from its border if that make sense.
FOURTH?: Is there a soil or something that i should put down prior to laying the sod. Right now it is a lot sand.

I am sorry for the crude Sketch Up drawing: Any help Appreciated.