I realize there is SOME transplant shock happening ===>>>> that could be the understatement of the century ... lol .. water deeply.. and let them NEAR dry in between.. and live with the resulting shock .. future life is in the growth points.. and even if the shrub loses every leaf [not advised] .. if those points remain green and viable.. the shrub can make it ... but it aint gunna be pretty .. lol ... i dont understand what kind of TIMELINES you have.. that make planting in the wrong season imperative .... i dont understand.. why you couldnt hold your stock until about 9/1 .. it can be done as you are doing it.. its just that you and the plant are stressin' .... but i also understand ... ya gotta do.. what you gotta do .... if this is being done professionally.. then i presume you have warranties.. and you should follow the landscapers directions ... if you are doing it yourself.. i suggest that you move that timeline FOR PLANTING back about 6 weeks in z5 ... arent there other things that can be done within the plan ... that can be moved up to do now... that do NOT involve planting??? and then move back the planting of large stock .. from the worst 2 months of the year ... good luck ken ps: gardening is more of an ART.. rather than a science.. and forcing yourself into a 'process engineers' time table.. is the crux of your problem .. those hippie gardeners.. are more of.. 'oh whatever.. it will get done.. when it gets done' .. lol .. rather than step 27 part b, subsection 5 dictates planting of shrub #246 at 3:57 pm on 7/17/11 ... whats more important.. the plan.. or the plant??? pps: the difference is between .. what CAN be done.. and what SHOULD be done.. and what should be done.. is to transplant in the PROPER SEASON ... and then it becomes much more stress free .. for both you .. and the plants... ppps: new post if you want ideas how to hold over stock for a month or two ...

First I see nothing wrong with the side plantings that a nice trim wouldn't fix up. The taller arborvitae or whatever that is would look spectacular ringed by some pygmy crimson barberry (or depending on your taste, goldens too) - give them space to spread out. I'd front the existing side foundation plantings with something lighter in color- perhaps some nandinas (fire power, not gulfstream) or perhaps a nice low-growing mopping juniper in a nice golden or chartreuse color, then front it like others said with some liriope- but with the lighter shurbs in front I'd go for the darker unvariegated type, planted en masse- or to be a little different a line of daylily would be grand too- something reblooming to extend the season. I'd plant the area where the gutter extends with a triple grouping of giant hosta (behind the tall evergreen and barberries as a nice transition between front corner and side). Is that your gate? If so, I'd install a nice set of slate or other stone at sod level to define the area. If not, I'd just cut the sod from your edge of the property forward to the front corner of your home and plant something low to the left of the forsythia there which I'm glad to see you've let grow out and haven't slaughtered in to a ridiculous looking top-heavy shrub. Less grass to worry about. Another nice plant is spirea. I like little princess or lemon varieties- they are a nice, rounded plant, flower profusely (no scent, but fun color) with good foliage color (deciduous) and tolerate most conditions both in soil and light. As for your Jap maple, I've underplanted mine with narcissus and blue hostas- one follows the other so in early spring when it's budding out we have the nice burgundy leaves with the bright yellows underneath, then when the narcissus is done the hostas sprout up a deep blue green. It works and I love the contrast. I have three varieties of Jap Maple- two weepers, one upright and they all have companion plants. I have a line of Burning Bush I've paired with low growing junipers and book-ended with abelias-they are blasted with morning sun and have shade in the afternoon and love it and get quite red in the fall.

Kael, I see from the prior thread that you didn't want to participate in any dialogue and come to agreement on any ideas. When the OP is like that the thread just dies, as yours did. You just wanted someone to cough up names of plants and away you go! Here's some: Rose bushes, ornamental grass & hostas. How's that ...?? I can feel you're getting angry now. OK. I'll stop being mean. I don't generally cough up names of plants (except once in awhile.) I offer general suggestions about layout (which I know you already know about) and then I leave it up to you, the homeowner, to convert the ideas I show you, if you agree with them, into the form of a plan from which you will do the actual planting work, or have it done. Other than that, though, there's not a place on the internet where you can go to have someone do free landscape design for you. This is a place where you get help, not free work. After I help you with the layout, you could trot my drawing over to one of the other forums, such as "Shrubs" or "Perennials" or the regional forum for your area, and ask anyone there what plants might be used to make the plants shown in the drawing. On another subject, your porch railing would look infinitely better if you'd paint it white.

I am thinking Im going to go somewhat symmetrical for ease of a newbie like myself. The only two I might not have match are the outer corners because they have drastically different sun light (left corner-full sun, right corner-partial/full shade). Unless I can find a variety that can take full sun and full shade. I did a little a quick mockup with colors to represent varieties. I looked up the varieties you mentioned gardengal as well as started looking at the site you mentioned. My favorites are the Pieris white Cascade but I worry that it is posionous (small kids) and the Osmanthus Burkwoodii. I do also love the gracefulness of the Loncicera Lemon Beauty and my neighbor has one I often admire BUT I worry it tends to lean more Japanese-PNW garden where I would really love more of an English garden with PNW suitable plants. I do like the Mahonias but I think it would work better in my back garden where I plan to have Hostas and ferns and think it would mix in quite nicely there. A came across Viburnum Tinus which I like as well. And as mentioned I think the Osmanthus Burkwoodii would be quite beautiful and I like it is fragranced. would these be better than a Mexican orange blossom or rhodi? Would they mix well with hydrangeas? sorry for my incredibly long post.