I posted in the fence thread about planting jasmine along my mailbox and possibly along my side fence. But I’ve started getting ads for large outdoor artificial plants. Things like 4-foot agave, 6-foot palms and the like. It occurs to me that for a relatively small initial investment, I could save a lot of time and money on care and maintenance while improving the look of my property. Does anyone here have any advice on this matter? What are the downsides to these plants? They would be close to my house and 40 feet or so from the road, so I’m not worried about them looking fake. And I don’t have to worry about them being on the shady side of the house. Any news is welcome.
From a practical standpoint, they’d probably shriek “fake!” to anyone remotely knowledgeable about plants who saw them, and would probably degenerate and look crappier over time due to exposure to the elements.
If low-maintenance real plants/shrubs aren’t your thing, maybe consider some nice statues? Figures of Mary and saints were popular with Italian families where I grew up. There’s a place not far from me that currently offers cement Bigfoot, Darth Vader and others if you don’t want a religious display.
I think in 8 years I’ve spent maybe $100 and as many hours maintaining the landscaping vegetation at my house. And no, my house does not (normally) look haunted. Personally I think fake plants, and ANYTHING that spends time outdoors, looks worse than bare ground after a couple years. Meaning, I think your plan might work as long as you commit to replacing the fake plants every couple years or so. Spending the same money, just differently and maybe you prefer replacing stuff to maintaining stuff (which is totes understandable).
They do have much nicer, more realistic and sturdier artificial plants than the ones you buy from the home goods store, including ones intended for outdoor use, but they also don’t count as a “small initial investment”.
I’ve been fooled by topiary going in boutiques and the like.
Thought it was real. It looked real. It felt real.
It wasn’t til I saw a shop owner toting two large ones out to place beside the doors with out any trouble before I realized they were artificial.
Also, the Lil’wrekker watered a fake cactus in her bathroom for 2 years before we told her it was artificial.
I’m not sure what an artificial plant would look like after many months out in the weather and elements.
But, hey. It’s worth a try.
Maybe AstroTurf lawn too?
Hey, these beauties made of polyester are only $80 apiece. Just clean 'em with a cloth if they get dusty.
For that price I’d want adjustable trunks to create the illusion of growth, and faux coconuts to further impress the neighbors.
Well, I’ll shop around and see what kind of expense I’m looking at.
In my experience they tend to look very dirty after not very long. Real plants don’t accumulate dirt, but fake ones generally do; they’re a long way from maintenance-free IMO if you want them to stay looking good.
Personally I just find them depressing anyway. Fake nature.
Even the most realistic fake plants will start to break down, introducing bits of plastic into the environment. Generally not a good thing if you can avoid it.
A couple years ago I bought an artificial grass plant. It’s about 5ft tall and quite real looking with bulrushes. I bought it for indoor use so can’t speak to how it would stand up outdoors. As I recall, it was around $150, so not cheap.
I got it from Wayfair. Not my favorite place to shop, but they had what I was after when others didn’t and delivered without issue, so no complaints.
Why don’t real plants get dirty?
Leaf structure, of various kinds. As they rely on light being able to pass through the top layer (mostly) of the leaf for photosynthesis, stopping said top layer getting all gunked up is essential, especially for plants with longer-lived leaves that aren’t going to get shed regularly. Although the exact method varies by plant/environment they typically have basically non-stick cuticle layers covering the top leaf surface that are very good at stopping dirt from sticking. Stuff comes off leaves in rain very easily, if it sticks at all.
Attempts to recreate the same non-stick effect artificially wind up looking weird and shiny.