Two questions:
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Do you suggest planting any trees to line the driveway? If so, what kind and how close to each other? Both sides of driveway? I am partial to the looks of dogwoods and the male ginkgo.
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Anything I can plant to the left of the driveway? I was thinking some sort of fruit tree or berry bushes but would have to be ok with some limited sunlight.
For context, this is the entrance to the farm. Wooded hillside on the left, river on the right. Driveway runs East to West leading to the old farmhouse. The mountain to the left tops off about 100' higher in elevation than the driveway. I could cut another 4-5 feet of brush off of the right side but then will be getting into the trees that line the river bank.
The entrance is pretty enough for me but the wife has mentioned adding something to it so I thought I would inquire from the powers to be…TIA
by Recent_Vanilla4442
33 Comments
What about blueberry bushes? Plant a few every year. Harvest if you want or do a u-pick to earn some extra cash
Enjoy the hell out of it lol
I wouldn’t want trees very close to the driveway. It looks nice until you have to get something big down it, then it’s a real pain. Plus they grow limbs that fall, hang, and need trimmed
The blueberry idea is good. Maybe interplanet with some elderberry or lilac if you’re looking for flowers as well.
And a side note about ginkgo trees, they can randomly switch to female. Not common but it can happen apparently.
MX jumps and tables? Seems nice as is. Some open space is nice if a storm comes and knocks the trees over the roadway.
If you get appreciable amounts of snow where you are, remember, if you’re plowing, you need someplace for the snow to go.
Leave as is. It looks great and adding stuff to it just adds to complexity of care.
For limited sunlight, why not plant rows of gooseberries and currants? Just leave enough space between the rows to run a mower up every now and then for access and you’re good to go.
Put down a very long row of local wildflowers. After about 3 years they might seed themselves. If you run over them….well it’s ok as well
1. Try planting some nut or berry trees you and your family can enjoy.
2. Blueberries, elderberries, fig, pear, peach, have fun and mix it up!
3. Pepper in some flowers for your wife and family to enjoy as well as the pollinators
If it were my driveway, I would probably put some berry bushes and small variety fruit trees like peaches and maybe dwarf tart cherries on the left side, further from the driveway. I wouldn’t want to crowd the driveway too closely in case I’d ever have a need for a wide vehicle or heavy equipment to come down the driveway.
Move the driveway so it is a straight shot to the house. Widen it to two care widths. Stone markers 3 feet high spaced 50 feet apart 20 feet off driveway. Plant a robust local hardwood between each marker. Build a four board fence 20 feet behind the markers.
You and the family should build it
Would it make sense to put up an electric fence and graze something there? My BIL got sick of mowing a little area about the size of this that couldn’t be used for hay, so he just set a ram out there to graze and got two birds stoned at one time.
A palisade and sentry tower. A few heads on pikes to dissuade the Norsemen.
I would do a wildflower mini meadow. It looks pretty green there, so you shouldn’t have to water the flowers. Attract pollinators. Can sell cut flower bouquets here and there, or bring some into the home. And if you ever need a big truck to be able to access the area, it only crushes a bit of wildflowers instead of hitting a fruit tree or berry bushes.
A big 20foot wooden gate with a draw bridge entrance with torches on the top
Lavender would be nice. Especially if you have bees
fruit trees and bushes
Other than planting native wildflowers, I would keep the option of having the space. Snow removal, retired family with a motorhome, well drilling rig, big equipment, ice storm, etc etc. If you plant trees, I would want 10 ft clearance as that’s a narrow driveway. Then another 20 ft to the center of a mature crown (as an example) and you’re kind of into the existing trees.
Line it with crap myrtle
Where do you live? What’s low-maintenance and beautiful for me might be needy and scraggly for you and vice-versa
Shore, plant a field of mint there why don’t ya
That’s awesome. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Beautiful!
Personally, I would put down a few half-barrels, and maybe pu the blueberries in those.
That way, if you every need to move the berries and use that spot, you can just pick up the barrels and make way.
A nice wood arch/gate over the drive sure would look nice!
But it’s awful pretty as is.
As a delivery driver that drives the bread truck size vans, please be careful with having trees line your driveway. They’re often times put far too close to the edges of the drive, making it next to impossible for bigger trucks to get down without breaking limbs off. It’s not an issue when they’re planted far enough off the drive that they have room to grow!
For me personally, I wouldn’t plant anything. Just clean up what’s there. Cut back or thin out the brush on both sides. Clean up the mowing – looks like it’s mowed w/ a brush hog versus a finish cut mower. I like the two strip look w/ grass in the middle, so all I’d do there is bring in some frush gravel.
Great setting, BTW.
Apple orchard, but not too close to the driveway. You need a buffer zone in case you ever need to get a wide load down the driveway and for drainage.
Looks fine. Fruit trees or berries. I would never mow that much grass. Grow hay or wild flowers.
Sunflowers! Mainly just because they are my favorite other than any legit reason.
Since it’s far away you want plants that would work best in Zone 4 &5 with little care, watering and less susceptible to wildlife. I would go for some perrenials based off your needs/wants. More pollinators, extra food, materials, medicine, etc. Then consider needing to get large equipment in for construction,trees, etc so leave room near the road.
Paw Paw trees can tolerate some shade. They tend to be a little finicky, but that could be a fun fruit to add!
If you decide on planting trees, might I suggest you plant something that will be of financial benefit down the line, maybe not for your kids, but perhaps your grandkids. Planting a high value hardwood like black walnut, white oak, or something to that affect would be something you offspring could use for income down the line
I’d leave it alone. That view is gorgeous