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Landscape Design

Need help backyard ideas?

8 years ago

Behind my garden and on the side of it Between the rocks in the woods I am trying to figure out something low maintenance easy to grow to spruce up instead of weedwacking all the time. Maybe a type of bush, tree to plant. Criteria is deer resistant, and all shade or shade, part sun, full sun behind the garden. I put a very small Lilac bush that will take a few years but any other suggestions? Thanks

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Comments (6)

PRO
Yardvaark
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Are you talking about on the slope proper? If so, why not a groundcover? You could kill weeds, install mulch, and once the weeds are under control, begin installing groundcover. You didn't say where you're located, which would be good for getting plant recommendations. As for shrubs, if you're in an area where it grows, some Aesculus parviflora could look quite good there. Various Hydrangea would be a possibility for color over a long period.
xxnonamexx
Original Author
8 years ago
Sorry, yes the slope of the hill, I kill the weeds, Mulch it would need a lot and an issue with the mulch is it ends up sliding down the hill. I live in Lower Westchester N.Y. 7a. I think some shrubs would be better to last longer and really liven up the woods. I love Hydrangea and was wondering what would work on the hill in the woods. This is more of a shady area, and Hydrangea might not make it.
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I see one bumped out bed (next to the neighbor's house) that looks like it would be suitable for a small tree (the kind you make from a large shrub -- burning bush for example.) Other than that, for low budget landscape improvements, I'd take every bare spot of ground and plant annuals. Some can come from already blooming bedding plants that you purchase at any home improvement store or Walmart. Others can come from seeds. Obtain information from other forums about which annuals are easy to grow and put out a good show. I've been promoting corn lately as it qualifies as a handsome, fast solution, if one needs something tall and narrow. It can also make a hedge. Annuals will fold at the end of their life span (one season) but they provide a cheap way to buy time while you are planning your permanent landscape. For that, you ought to start working on a base plan, which shows all the permanent features of the area in map form. (Keep it as simple as possible.) Use copies of it to explore/brainstorm various ideas. Since you have a large amount of concrete, consider some LARGE planters ... especially low ones. It is better to you fewer large planters than a bunch of small planters, which require much more maintenance and don't put out as good a show.
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junco East Georgia zone 8a
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Consider Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica). It is rated for zones 5-9 and sun to part shade. It will eventually spread into a wide clump. In my garden it thrives in all kinds of light even though it gets better fall color in more sun. Callicarpa americana, Clethra alnifolia, Euonymus americanus, and the Aesculus suggested by Yaardvark would all contribute to a lovely woodland garden, and they are all at least zone 6. Then you could look into adding ferns to tie it all together.
PRO
Yardvaark
8 years ago
The tree trimmer mulch is pretty good about staying put on a mild slop, which this looks to be. How are you going to plant anything without mulching and dispensing with weeds? At least to start. I think whatever you plant IN the woods will be spindly and lackluster. The potential is what you can plant at the EDGE of the woods.
xxnonamexx
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks now I need to look around for a nursery that carries these plants. I wonder if I should wait for fall planting or its ok to plant this time of season? The mulching will be alot of work maybe I can plant and mulch it next year. The weeds I will weed wack with a trimmer for this season.
PRO
Yardvaark
8 years ago
eradicating weeds takes a while. It would be good to start on that & mulching and then plant later once weeds are under control.

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