Needing easy maintenance plants for full sun area in my yard?

Question

I have a small patch of dirt in front of my home and whenever my husband and I plant anything there it dies. We are starting to think we have black thumbs. We buy the plants that say they are good for full sun but it gets very hot here in the summer. Way over 100 degrees. We have changed the dirt and mulch we use and have tried almost everything. Could anyone let me know of some plant species that would work and look attractive? Or if there might be a problem we are overlooking.
Thanks!

I live in Northern California.

We plant them with whatever the directions the come with say to plant them. Also we have been to many nurseries as I already mentioned and that did not help. I noticed one of my neighbors having the same problem. They just planted some new bushes and like ours did last year, they are already dying. I am wondering if it isn't the soil. Last year we dug up a huge part of it and put in fresh and healthy soil. Still the plants withered from the heat.

Answer 1

I know how frustrating that is -- we have a long narrow patch that I call "the dead zone" because I haven't found the right plant to thrive there yet.

You might try geraniums. They grew everywhere when I lived in central CA (which often got over 100 in the summer). Rosemary would probably do well also. Also bouganvillea, although it's a climber.

Also, try this article on heat-loving plants (very different from simply "full sun"): http://americangardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/heat_loving_plants

Answer 2

I have a feeling it isn't the plants, but the way you are planting them or watering them.

Go to 2 or 3 local nurseries (you are nor obligated to make a purchase) and ask them for recommendations. Then ask how to plant what they suggested and how to water the plants correctly.

You could be planting to deep (a common problem) or you might not be taking the plants out of the good soil they have been growing in , or perhaps the roots continue to grow in a circle eventually choking the plant to death!

Depending on your soil type, you may be over watering or under watering.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Not sure where you live, but you could try Ice Plant. It does okay in dry conditions, and is more of a ground cover. If you put in a sprinkler system you could grow anything you want. You set it to come on automatically at a certain time each day, or even more than once a day. That way you could have some pretty flowers to enjoy.

Answer 4

Roses love full sun. They are a very hardy plant and last for years. Prune them down in late fall and they just pop up in the springtime. I tryed many plants in my yard before I planted the roses and they do very well. And as the other person said, Gerainums do well too.

Answer 5

Have you tried Daylilies or ornamental grass? I have an area in front of my home between the road and the side walk. It is in full sun and only gets watered every 2-3 days. I have a mixtue of Variegated Lirope ornamental grass and the oldfashioned orange daylillies. And all are doing fine down here in the florida heat. I do know daylilies do their best in bright full sun.

Answer 6

Verbena, marigolds, & petunias love finished solar & are so colourful. I planted 3 Verbena flowers round my lamp submit some months in the past, & they took suitable off & are useful & finished & have spread almost everywhere in the lamp submit on their own. Alyssum & Phlox are large as a floor conceal & can take finished solar besides. Hosta is offered in a pair colours & can take the solar besides. attempt planting a Crepe Myrtle tree, as they arrive in a lot of colours & are so incredibly. in simple terms make confident you take advantage of the perfect fertilizer & dig the hollow deep sufficient & wide sufficient at the same time as planting it. i'm getting all of my flowers at Lowes, because the flowers at domicile Depot stink.