By adding a focal point to the space in front of the garage. The tree-form vitex (left) and Texas Mountain Laurel (right) were not quite enough of a focal point. The vitex blooms once briefly in early spring then goes dormant through the winter months and the evergreen Texas Mountain Laurel doesn't quite fill the gap. The Agave ovatifolia also needed a silvery friend to connect silver foliage from across the yard.
That's where this Bismarck Palm comes in.
Palm trees need a wide planting hole, look at all those rocks that had to be dug out.
Palms are very drought tolerant so check the planting level to make sure it isn't too deep.
We filled in around with a sandy loam top soil mix, watered it in slowly, and mulched to keep the roots cool. Our current brief respite of a few partly cloudy days and somewhat cooler summer will help too.
It holds the light like a catcher's mitt and connects the silvery foliage from around the yard, including the sages on both sides, and numerous smaller plants like gray santolina. Cold tolerant in our zone, it should do well with just a bit of protection in the first few years.
It also plays well with the palm next door
Shares nicely with the Agave ovatifolia
The patterns and contrast of foliage add interest to the area
There's the focal point, it has plenty of room to spread out and should grow above the roof line within a few years. Palms don't provide a lot of shade so the perennials in the bed below will continue to get sun here too.
The spot in front of the garage now feels like it has a focal point and the silvery plants are better connected. Besides all that, I've always thought a palm tree would look nice there.
