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By Jacqueline Cross (libellule) September 14, 2008
We have all seen them; winding lanes leading to huge estates and small homes alike. Entrances to homes that are planted with trees, shrubs and flowers tend to leave lasting memories.
Gardeners who are blessed with enough property to allow for a very long driveway are presented with new possibilities for adding color and interest to their outdoor space.
In the South, if you are able to purchase land with very old Live Oaks (Quercus virginiana) draped in Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides), you are off to a perfect start. Of course, this assumes you are able to construct the driveway under the oaks. Barring this, planting the drive to create an enchanting entry will take a little thought and some hard work. The end result will add a pleasing portal to your property that will bring happiness to the homeowner and a smile to many travelers as they pass by.
Live Oaks Photo by author.
The Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda), also known as the Southern Yellow Pine, can be found growing all over the southern US. This tree makes a nice border tree for the driveway. In the South, underplanting pines with azaleas is an unspoken rule. The acidic soil and dappled shade create perfect conditions for this shrub to grow happy and healthy.
Oak and pine trees are not the only choices for bordering the driveway. Before finalizing your choices, there are a few things to consider. Gather up a pad and pencil, clip the tape measure to your belt and head outside to have a look at the space you plan to border.
Things to consider before running out to the nursery to purchase plants:
How much space do you need to fill?
How tall/broad do you need the plants to be?
Do you want blooming plants?
Is there a particular color scheme you like best?
When and for how long will the plants bloom?
Do you need the area to fill in quickly or are you willing to wait several years to see noticeable results?
Research growing conditions for each plant.
Be realistic about how much time and care you can devote to this newly planted area.
Consider the cost of filling such a large area.
Using the tape measure, measure the length and depth of each side of the lane. Once you calculate the space you need to fill, it will be easier to decide how tall and broad the largest plants (i.e., trees) need to be. Remember, the trees you bring home from the nursery will grow much larger in just a few short years.
You may choose to grow trees that do not bloom, underplanted with shrubs that do. Another choice would be to grow both, blooming trees and shrubs. Whether you decide on all blooming plants or just a few, you will first have to settle on bloom colors. Do your research to find out the color, size, bloom season and length of time the plant blooms. Will your color choices be pleasing to the eye? Will they flow into the gardens near the home?
Many trees will grow several feet tall in a few short years. For example, Hybrid Poplar (Populus deltoides) trees are known to grow up to ten feet per year. Keep in mind, the faster a tree grows, the weaker its root system is.
Planting slow growing trees means the wait for a perfect, shaded canopy may try your patience. However, the trees will be stronger and live many years longer than faster growing trees.
Research growing conditions for each plant, from the tallest tree in the line, to the tiniest bulb below. You should invest in plants that have the same general needs when it comes to amount of water, soil and fertilizer. Light requirements will be a bit different due to the fact that plants will be set in 'layers'. The trees will shade the shrubs and the shrubs will shade the flowering plants below. Researching each plant will eliminate problems later.
Be realistic about how much time you are willing to devote to the newly planted lane. This will be most helpful when choosing which plants to purchase. If you are a hands-on gardener and regularly spend several hours each week outside in your gardens, then the choices are limitless. However, if you have less time to work in your gardens, you will need to choose plants that need little care. While researching each plant for growing conditions, make a note about how much care it will need over time.
Finally, the cost of planting trees alone can be shocking. For instance, we will look at a driveway that is one hundred feet long with trees spaced ten feet apart. That would mean you would need to purchase twenty trees, ten for each side. Now, if the trees were to cost $20.00 each, the cost for trees alone is $500.00. This does not take into account all of the shrubs, perennials, annuals and bulbs you will plant at the base of the trees.
Some good combinations for the southern gardener are listed below. There is no end to the combinations you can come up with. Why not try pink and white dogwoods together or redbuds mixed with white dogwoods?
TREES
SHRUBS
Crepe/Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
Reeves Spirea (Spiraea cantoniensis)
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Rhododendron (Rhododendron 'White Peter')
Grancey Grey-beard (Chionanthus virginica)
Glossy Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora)
Japanese Cherry (Prunus serrulata)
Plumleaf Azalea (Rhododendron prunifolium)
Pink Dogwood (Cornus florida f. rubra)
Alabama Azalea (Rhododendron alabamense)
Southern Sugar Maple (Acer barbatum)
Summer-sweet (Clethra alnifolia)
White Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Florida Azalea (Rhododendron austrinum)
Crepe (or Crape, if you prefer) myrtles, dogwoods, and redbuds--although small trees--look great in border gardens, especially flanking a walking path or driveway. All three trees can be pruned into lovely umbrella shapes and are easy to grow.
Underplanting this area is the most fun of the entire project. Let your imagination run wild. Choose plants that do well in shade, as well as plants that will bloom through the seasons. Keep in mind that you will see this area every day as you come and go, so make it pleasant to travel through.
Happy Gardening~
All photographs courtesy of Morgue File, unless credited otherwise.
About Jacqueline Cross
I'm a native Floridian...feet planted in the shifting sands of northwest FL. but my heart strings are tightly knotted to the hills of Tennessee.
I live my poodle, Minnie Pearl, Zsa Zsa the cat who runs the whole show and a new addition, Kitty Belle.
I'm a writer, gardener, quilter, cross stitcher, soapmaker and nature lover. Mother to 3 wonderful daughters & Nana to 6 perfect grandchildren.
I also write for Suite101 and was promoted to Feature Writer in the vegetable gardens section in 2008.
Posted by Noturf (from Marquesas Islands
(Polynesia (French))) on September 15, 2008 at 8:02 AM:
This is an informative and useful article. However in Puerto Rico and USA, most people do not consider any of the factors mentioned
before planting anything. Here there is a FICUS epidemic! Everyone plants them as in hedges, believe it or not. The other plague is
Palm Trees in any imaginable context, without regards to aesthetics and perspective. Congratulations.
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on September 15, 2008 at 10:37 AM:
Noturf,
Thank you for your comments.
We have palm trees all over my area also. Many of them look out of place.
There are, however, many beautifully planted drives here in my area. Lovely live oaks, draped with spanish moss and huge azaleas at their base.
Nice photo :-)
Jackie
...
Subject: Great article
Posted by beclu727 (from Dacula, GA) on September 14, 2008 at 11:54 AM:
Jacqueline, Thanks for the interesting article. We have a long driveway (compared to most nowadays.) It has both pines and hardwoods on either side, but mostly pines. Your list of shrubs has given me some good ideas for underplanting. Becky
...
Posted by davis1676 (from Disputanta, VA) on September 14, 2008 at 10:25 PM:
I sure needed to read this article. Although I'm not deep south, most of the trees & shrubs you mentioned grow well here. Presently we don't have anything planted along the drive other than the pine tree forest on both sides with a large swathe cleared for just what you're talking about. Thanks for all the tips & things to think about before I get going. Organization & planning is not my strong suit. You've given me some great ideas & I look forward to getting started this fall, after I thoroughly plan my plantings. Thanks so much! Great article.
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on September 15, 2008 at 1:24 AM:
Davis1676,
I'm glad the article helped.
I look forward to seeing pictures of your driveway when you get it planted.
Jackie
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Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on September 15, 2008 at 1:26 AM:
Becky,
Looks like you have a some good ground there to plant. I look forward to seeing your pictures too. :)
Jackie
...
Posted by ascholz (from Summerville, SC) on September 15, 2008 at 8:36 AM:
Jackie,
This article was perfect timing for me! We have a long driveway that has a few very mature dogwoods along side it but not in any particular order. You have given me some great ideas for plantings between the dogwoods to border the whole drive and also the entrance to the driveway. Thanks!!
...
Posted by HollyAnnS (from Dover, PA) on September 15, 2008 at 9:40 AM:
Wonderful article, even though I do not have a long driveway to plant. It was an interesting article which will give many other gardeners a new look at their old driveways.
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on September 15, 2008 at 10:42 AM:
ascholz,
You are so lucky to have mature dogwoods already in place. They are some of my favorite trees for bordering a drive or fenceline.
I'm glad you found the article helpful.
Your place looks lovely.
Jackie
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on September 15, 2008 at 10:43 AM:
Thank You, HollyAnn :-)
...
Posted by EFGeorgia1 (from Lizella, GA) on September 18, 2008 at 8:31 PM:
Jackie, loved your article. Good ideas for long driveways. Mine is lined with dogwoods and azaleas.
Elaine
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on September 18, 2008 at 9:31 PM:
I bet it is beautiful, Elaine. Those are simply the two most wonderful plants to line a drive...in my opinion. ;-)
