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Cottage Gardens

West Side Story

13 years ago

I'm having a hard time figuring out what to plant on the west side of the property. I feel like we need a windbreak, so I was thinking of a row of evergreens, but other than that, what can take having shade almost all day until WAM! the afternoon sun? I also have the issue of a large mature maple that sucks a lot of moisture and nutrients on that side, but I'm prepared to water and fertilize. What would you recommend for such a site? What do you all plant on the west side of your house? Thanks!

Megan

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Comments (4)

craftlady07
13 years ago
I have a cherry tree near the southwest corner of the house and maple tree at the northwest corner of the house (the cherry tree is in the picture, the maple is not, it's just to the right).
I plan on extending the bed down around the trees, but I have to work my way down little by little. Thanks to the Cherry Tree this area is mostly shade. I have 2 leucothue shrubs, 2 azaleas, Toadlily, 3 Bleeding hearts, ajuga, Burning bush, Pulmonaria (lungwort), Brunnera, and some daffodils.

{{gwi:676157}}

~Andrea
newbiehavinfun
Original Author
13 years ago
Beautiful! I love your bleeding heart alba -- I thought they were fussy but yours look great! And I'm going to have to get some brunnera as I love blue flowers and it's so hard to find a true blue. Thanks for sharing!

Megan
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flowerfairy_1
13 years ago
What about a row of grasses. They tend to take adverse conditions and provide a lot of movement and interest.
dainaadele
13 years ago
I have a "hell strip" on our west side between the house and the driveway. Gets the same no-sun-then-wham senario. My rules for that area were that I did not want to baby it, watering rarely (when in near drought). I have had sucess with low growing sedum, iris & asiatic lillies. All three have thrived there. On one corner I have hardy mums that manage ok, but I hit that area with the hose when I water my front beds.

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