Suggestions for shrubs for Z5 well-drained sandy yard in partial shade

8 years ago

We just purchased a neglected ranch and I am seeking some suggestions for shrubs to plant in the front yard to define it and provide a bit of screening.

We removed some overgrown yews in front of the entry. We will be replacing siding next year with something off-white; the brick will remain.

I was thinking about a row of shrubs set about 10 feet from the street, and about 15 feet from the front of the house. Another pic:

I welcome all suggestions. Thanks!

Featured Answer

NHBabs z4b-5a NH

8 years ago

I live in central NH, and probably have similar soil (though perhaps finer in texture) since I have fine sandy acid loam. My property is geologically new soil, on the site of a glacial lake, so very little organic matter (and virtually no rocks, unusual for this part of NH.) I am going to respectfully disagree with Ken about the organic matter. I typically add about 6 inches of well aged manure to the entire bed before planting to provide some organic matter and help with moisture retention and mix it in with a spading fork. Then I plant shrubs not adding anything specifically to the planting hole, and mulch well with a layer of cardboard topped with 5" of so of loose wood curls (commercial mulch would do the same thing) that probably weather down to about 3". This helps keep moisture even and weeds down. I usually also edge with the big box store black plastic edging buried to ground level and place a line of bricks inside for the mower wheels to run on to keep out grass. I've done this with my shrub borders and it has worked well with little work, though I do renew the mulch every 2-3 years.

My suggestion would be a staggered row of mixed evergreens and several of one type of flowering shrub either sprinkled along the length or in a solid row along one side to give you an ornamental yet functional hedgerow. A full-sized cultivar of Hydrangea paniculata such as Limelight, Pinky Winky, or Quickfire (blooms early July until hard frost) or else Physocarpus/ninebark would work well. In my shrub bed both are healthy, bloom well, and provide long season interest in full to mostly sun. Some other alternatives for part to full sun include some of the PJM family of rhododendrons, Hydrangea arborescens such as Annabelle (needs afternoon shade), or Kalmia/mountain laurel. The only maintenance I do on my H. paniculata and arborescens is a once a year trim of the old blossoms, and I do even less on the ninebark, mountain laurel, and rhododendrons. My evergreens are a mix of Fat Albert blue spruce (probably too large for your use here) and two types of Thuja occidentalis, Sunkist and Techny, but you may want something a bit smaller. This mix is low care, blocks sight relatively well after about 5 growing seasons, and has spring or summer flowers (depending on which of the flowering shrubs you use) and a mix of winter colors.

This photo includes several of the plants I mentioned: Coppertina ninebark on the left, a rhododendron, Quickfire Hydrangea (in fall colors - it starts blooming white), Fat Albert blue spruce, and immediately behind the Hydrangea are Thuja Sunkist on the left and Thuja Techny on the right.

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Comments (8)

sequoiadendron_4
8 years ago
From what you said, it sounds like you're looking to plant a hedge row in the middle of your front yard?
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
It looks like your grass is struggling a bit, so I'd start with a soil test to see if you need to add anything. Most states have soil tests available through Cooperative Extension or the land grant state university. They will be far more reliable than test kits from a garden center.

If you add information about your general location (New England is quite different soil than the Rockies) we can make some informed guesses about what might grow well in your zone 5.

How wide is your yard?

Are you thinking a mixture of shrubs or all the same kind?

Do you have a height in mind; are you looking to create more of a tall hedge to create privacy or block the sight of traffic or do you want a lower row of shrubs?
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mabeldingeldine
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for the replies. I'm in mid-coast Maine, about 5 miles from the coast. I will get a soil test. I can tell the soil is extremely sandy, and needs organic matter. Several trees have been removed, and nothing done to replenish the soil, so I imagine it needs humus and nitrogen. Judging from the successful evergreens in the area, Im guessing the soil will be acidic, but the soil test will confirm. Close to the house it is quite shady, which is partially responsible for the struggling grass. There was also a large layer of leaves left on the lawn in the year it was empty, which effectively killed a lot of the grass.

The front yard is about 25 feet deep, road to porch. I would like a low hedge to provide some screening from the street. I need to set the hedge back from the road as winter snowplowing will pile a deep, heavy layer of snow on the edge of the yard -- there is no sidewalk on my side of the street.

Thanks again!
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
I can tell the soil is extremely sandy, and needs organic matter.
Several trees have been removed, and nothing done to replenish the soil,
so I imagine it needs humus and nitrogen.

==>>>>

first.. sand is one of the best soils .. for drainage ... a lot better than clay ...

second ... it does not need organic matter ... for anything in the tree, conifer or shrub families ...

it does not need replenishing ...

and as you note.. the soil test will tell if it needs nitro ... which none of the above will ever need ...

i ask you to consider where you are ... 5 miles from the ocean ... ma nature does not grow suburban lawns out there ... except at high cost in money and labor ...

your easiest solution ... is to get rid of the lawn ... [what do the other houses on the street look like in re lawn?]

and the same as to shrubs, etc ... look around you.. as you drive around... and see what ma nature favors ... and i am going to bet it leans toward conifers ...

its fine of you want to develop some beds for flowers and such ... but first determine if that will only amount to feeding the deer ...

in other words.. i am thinking you need to step outside your preconceptions of what you want to do ... and look for easier solutions to landscaping this property ...

in other words.. step outside your box ...

i wish you luck ...

ken
mabeldingeldine
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Ha ha, Ken, I am NOT necessarily aiming for a lawn or or even flower beds, got those at home. This house is a rental property to which we plan to retire in 5-6 years, but in the meantime, it needs to look presentable for tenants and fairly low maintenance.

My garden at home are clay-loam so I am stumped with this new soil make-up.

As for the neighborhood, it is mostly lawns in a kid-friendly neighborhood near an elementary school. Lawns with flower beds are the norm, with a few vegetable gardens here and there. Got that at home, too.

I am happy to step outside my box, just need some ideas for something that will give a bit of screening and will be low maintenance. Oh, and deer are not a problem in this neighborhood.
mabeldingeldine
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks Babs for this very helpful response! That photo is lovely! I like the suggestion of mixing in some flowering shrubs amidst evergreens. I recall seeing somewhere a low hedge of bushy mixed evergreens described as a caterpillar hedge, perhaps that is what I will aim for. Also, great suggestion about the brick combined with the plastic edging! I will be giving that a try at my home gardens.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
A low maintenance ground cover like pachysandra or one of the spreading Epimediums might be good as well along with mulch to keep weeds down.

Suggestions for shrubs for Z5 well-drained sandy yard in partial shade

NHBabs z4b-5a NH

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Suggestions for shrubs for Z5 well-drained sandy yard in partial shade

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