Mail box area/ don't know what to do

[POL01]

wow...I am really excited to look up all these ideas...let's see how I put it together though Once the weather breaks this is going to be my first job!! I can't wait to show you guys the pics when they happen..I will owe it all to you!! Thanks you guys soo soo much! You don't know how much I have struggled...and being new to really planting and gardening, it has been tough!

 

[thistlebloom]

I like all the ideas everybody has given you. Just wanted to add one thing, if this is an area that the snowplows will pile snow on when they do the roads, you will maybe want to stick with annuals, or herbaceous perennials that die all the way back in winter. Anything with a woody stem would likely get damaged. I know on my road we feel fortunate when the plow leaves our mailboxes upright!

Another consideration would be road salt.

 

[so lucky]

Also, if you live on a busy highway, there will be a fairly large amount of exhaust blasting your plants. You know how dirty the ground/gravel looks next to a highway. A lot of that is from car exhaust and diesel dust. So, you might want to lean towards the hardier annuals, like has been mentioned here. It's tempting to get some rather exotic things to plant, but I would save them for where you can provide a better growing environment.

 

[897tgigvib]

Oh yea, some places do still use that road salt. If your area does you might want to put up one of those low decorative looking fence things.

Always listen to thistle! She is smart and good!

 

[Jared77]

Here in Michigan road salt is a fact of life but only on the main roads. Otherwise they just plow. Are you planting all around the mailbox or just at the ends and behind the mailbox?

 

[ducks4you]

Also mix with geraniums. They are really tough--just don't like a frost.

 

[seedcrazy]

I never saw what sun or shade this area gets. I'm in Central Ky (zone 6) and our summer heat/humidity is a killer. If this is full sun I'd go with a mix of perennials/annuals and one would be the coneflowers (SO many types out there) mentioned above, LOVE it. You could even get dwarf ones for the edge or a profusion zinnia, they are small and bushy and just so pretty. Or gaillardia blooms til the frost kills it here. Perennial phlox is really pretty too and will be nice and full and it also stayed until winter killed it. Also if this is out front of your house, what is the color of your house and trim, then you can make sure you don't put something that clashes. There are quite a few rudbeckias that are beautiful too, I love the Cherry Brandy Rudbeckia and some of the annual ones like Cherokee Sunset, Chim Chimnee, Gloriosa Daisy. I love all flowers though. LOL