This is my front courtyard and it’s not that exciting to me. I rarely ever spend anytime in it and when I look out my window it seems so bland. I’d love to spruce it up with so plants but I’m wary of snakes and packrats. Any ideas?
by superchuhi
Landscaping
49 Comments
Change the gravel to a color compatible with the house and add some large, interesting rocks that can be used as seating
I see a water feature somewhere.
And large colorful pots full of softer looking (get the help of the local nursery) plants!!
Add a fountain, power wash the stones, call it a day
It’s gorgeous! A trellis with bougainvillea on it would give color and shade.
I love these Paseos on this style home it makes for a private/intimate entrance. What a vibe!
Small fountain, more cactus, more places to sit, some overhead lights at night, drinks by the fountain!
Native plants
In addition to more plants, I’d get more modern chairs and put them under the windows, then put a fountain where the bench is
Lots of great suggestions, if you can find someone to do it cheap, they could do a plan for you and do a mockup of what the space could look like.
Have the American gladiators standing there with those big foam batons every time you come and go
I would change the rock to something more brownish, add some barrel cacti, and remove all the little statues, bench, etc. to make it cleaner and more modern.
Sentry guns.
Add a custom steel security door to help make it a private hang.
Thrift a crap ton of outdoor planters and get some succulents and drought resistant plants. Maybe a nice copper colored wind chime.
Slip or trip and take a header right into the cactus. Seriously though some basic stuff to add some color.
More cactus
Bigger benches opposite each other if you actually might want to use it as a place to sit, if not then the little bench is out of place.
Trellis and bougainvillea
Fog machine and lasers for the walk to and from the door.
I love Tucson. Hello Tucson!
humming bird feeders
Make an outdoor bakery oven…
More cactus like pachanoi, long spine Peruvian, and some bridgesii.
Close it in and make another room for your house. Probably not feasible but I always think how another room could have been made with a space like this.
To be honest, cats.
But a bench, small fountain, plants that can handle local heat, etc would also do
Color
Give the space a larger bench
Party
I’d be more concerned with the life of those asphalt shingles in AZ rather than upgrading that perfectly groomed space
Build a moat, fill it with carnivores and consider your house protected. /s
Hammock and read all day
An open trellis over the walkway, with a grapevine maybe?
Rattlesnake breeding.
If it were me, I’d redo that walk so that it curves, then put a mesquite tree in the curve. I love Tucson!
If it’s within your budget, maybe a open green house, where you have rafters that’ll help with shade; a water feature does sound good but I think a misting set up would be just fine.
Not come home drunk! I would absolutely try to catch my balance on that cactus. 😄 Hope your side door is safer!
Plant aloe, and any other succulent I can.
Snake Farm!
Water and feeders for birds.
Put a chair and small side table angled towards the opening and off to the right side for coffee in the am and a cocktail at sunset. Calm and beautiful.
Dense succulent garden, blossoming cacti, really cool space
Either add more cement to the sides. Or change the gravel color or and add black mulch and easy to maintain flowers
I live in a totally different area, 6b. But, I thunk some climbing succulents would be nice. Also, varieties height could be cool with some different sized planters. Something at the top for shade?
FullY stocked bar and a TV with ESPN
Shade mesh roof. Make a cooler space for shade plants. Won’t feel like Mars when you leave your front door.
I would visit my state’s Cooperative Extension Service website and search native plants. Rock reflects a lot of heat so keep that in mind. I would add native plants and remove the rock. Shredded natural cypress mulch would look good.
I would fill one side with fake tombstones of my haters
More cactus