hey

if you are going to hang around.. next to your name.. add big city name ..

cypress do not live in my z5 MI ...

ALL size estimates are at 10 years... twice as big at 20 years...

if google pulls up the right plant.. its going to be way too big for your spot ...

what about abies lasiocarpa compacta ???

presuming you are in the right z5?

you really need to be in the lower DWARF range.. if not mini.. for your space ... if no one else can link you to annual growth rates.. i will do it tomorrow ....

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

Hi ken!

I'm in lower west michigan.

I was thinking dwarf cypress...I didn't clarify. We built a couple of yrs ago and decided to do our own landscaping and I've regretted it! I've just not been great at the design. I had a 'plan and plant' gal come out but I'm not sure I was sold....

Anyway, I just need flow here and love evergreen and very simple woodland type perennials...nothin' Victorian. I'm all about hearty!

Hence the reason I'm hoping a dwarf tree will flow here?

I like your link. Any suggestions for something that's a touch less Christmas-tree- like?

You have 2 more upright plants there... I would keep the rest round globe shaped or ground covers. I would also add a mix of color... something bright yellow, something blue... maybe a lighter green, etc.

I would suggest:

Pinus mugo 'Carstens' - It's a green globe shaped pine that stays very small. In the winter it turns bright yellow.

Picea pungens 'St. Mary's Broom' This is blue and will go nice with the yellow one above in the winter.

Juniperus horizontalis 'Mother Lode' - to put in the front along the boarder somewhere. It'll create a nice yellow carpet.

Those are just some of the more common rare conifers... pretty easy to locate. There are better more rare varieties, but I like to keep it easy and simple.

Along with these yellows, blues & greens I would add some red plants such as heuchera midnight rose. Add some daylilies, maybe some other ground covers and you're set. Don't be afraid to mix the colors... you want a little of everything =)

How much sun does this spot get? Seems shades by the house...if so, you might have trouble with blue andÃÂ yellow conifers. I think your idea for dwarf cypress could be a good choice. Maybe consider Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Curly Tops'.

If its gets good sun, then I agree with Rick, get some blue or yellow in there. But I'd go for an upright weeper Picea pungens 'The Blues', staked for upright growth. Eventually it might outgrow the space, but it would make a bold statement for many years

Oh my...I wish I had the knowledge you all have on conifers. I seriously love them but have a long way to go in learning names....

This area receives dappled AM sun and then late afternoon sun from about 3 on...

I googled each suggestion...wonderful ideas! I started a post in the design forum but folks didn't like the rocks I put out front bc they didn't match my house;).

Anyway...back to the trees...your comments are a huge help. I think I was getting bogged down on thinking I need to rearrange the overall look...I'm hoping it all turns out...

Do u have an online source you might suggest? Otherwise ill head to my local nursery...here in the Midwest things are starting to be pretty picked over.

it isn't so much the color of the rocks, it's how they're arranged.
A bit contrived in my minds eye. You never see rocks in a line in nature. Also they're going to make edging the lawn more difficult.
Where is your walkway? Over on the right beyond the picture? Your line of rocks leaves me confused as to where it is. As it is, it leads up to an abnormally high step with no door in sight. A picture from further back might help.
Try quarry rocks and build an outcropping where the flower bed comes to a point. Round rocks are associated with water. Randomly placed, or in a row, doesn't work landscape design wise.
Plants come later.
Mike

i have around 500 conifers..

i wish i knew.. precisely.. what you peeps are talking about.. when you generally speak about cyress ...

this aint greece ... nor the Med.. be specific with latin.. and you will get much further in your education ... if you start collecting proper names...

there are some wonderful collections in SW MI ... find them.. and visit them in person .... seeing is believing...

ken

I asked a few questions in the design forum...here's a pic from far away there...thanks, Mike...the lined up bushes and boxwood in the island will be pulled...too uniform, I believe...

This post was edited by ajc9 on Thu, Sep 5, 13 at 9:01

Ajc, Just some food for thought....I just removed an Ap 'Viridis, from my garden that was 12' in diameter....They can be pretty,but they will put on some size when they get settled in.

Al

Heres what your in for with your Veridis. She will take up some room.

Al

Where are you at, more specifically?

I would go with a couple C. obtusa 'Chirimen' near your 'Fernspray Gold', and a combination of A. koreana 'Icebreaker' and P. orientalis 'Tom Thumb Gold', interspersed with with some Hakonechloa selections. Pretty sure Gee farms has all the conifers I mentioned, and they're in the midwest (they ship, too).

ajc9, your new picture and the ones on the landscape Forum give a much clearer picture. Thank you.
Hinokis, Chamaecyparis obtusa, 'Gracilis', get big over time.
Here's one of mine that's about 30 years old.
Mike

I too was confused about the layout of that area until I saw the bigger picture of the entire house. In my opinion, the problem is that the porch area needs to be enclosed, so it doesn't feel like one should enter there. But you don't want to block the view either, I was thinking that a cable porch railing might look nice.

Also, that japanese maple appears to grow quite large. You might want to consider just moving that over to the center more and than adding some of the dwarf or mini conifers that unprofessional suggested.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cable Railing

I'm not a grassophobe, but I'd be tempted to pull out the narrow strip of grass and expand my plant options. The small shrubs planted in a perfect straight line could be "rearranged," allowing you to paint a nice picture using a variety of plants (not just conifers). you've got a beautiful home, but that area in front could really pop with a bit of imagination. Besides, it looks like you've got plenty of grass. :)

I'd have to agree with Basic - Take that small strip of grass out and plant you a nice large bed.

For example... the far left of you house under the large triangle. You have one small single window. On each side of the window you have the opportunity to plant some nice larger vertical growing conifers surrounded by smaller ones. Then over to the right a bit before you get to the pathway, in front of the bench you can plant a nice center piece vertical conifer... then surround that with a bunch of smaller conifers, ground covering spruces, ornamental grasses, etc.

Hey all...sorry for abandoning this thread! Busy week...

Your pics are just gorgeous. I've decided I'm becoming obsessed with conifers:)

We pulled all the rocks from the left side...sooo much better! My dad is coming today and we are going to move the maple out a bit. It's about three feet away from the porch...not quite enough room...

Haven't pulled the strip of grass from the garage area. The more I look at it, I think ya'll are correct there...it's kinda like a landing strip and looks a bit odd..

I'm hoping to head over to Gee farms...didn't even know about it until now. Looks like a Mecca for conifers...nice!!

Thanks again...super helpful all!