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Landscape Design

Front Yard/Porch

8 years ago

I have a 10' x 17' space to fill in front of my newly rebuilt porch. Because I have so much color in front in the spring and summer, I thought I'd focus on evergreens and have a winter/early spring garden. I want to transplant a dwarf Colorado blue spruce (3' x 5'), put a dwarf conical shaped (Alberta Spruce?) tree behind it, and add a boxwood, Arctic Fire red twig dogwood, dwarf barberry (Orange Rocket?), and boxwood.

Thoughts? Any suggestions in place of what I've chosen?

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Comments (8)

l pinkmountain
8 years ago
Some crocus underneath it all and you're good to go! It'll be real boring in the summer though, so I might sub out the barberry or one of the boxwoods for a small flowering shrub. Shrubby cinquefoil or cotoneaster might work. I've had good luck with a small clethra or magic carpet spirea staying in line, but YMMW.
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lucyd_58
Original Author
8 years ago
A few feet away is an Easy Does it rose, Strawberry Vanilla hydrangea, two fairy roses, and an unknown red groundcover rose, so there's plenty of color all summer.
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Mike Larkin
8 years ago
it would be easier if you provided a photo.

Also I am confused on what you are asking - " I thought I'd focus on evergreens " Does that mean you want to add more evergreens to your planting?

I want to transplant a dwarf Colorado blue spruce (3' x 5'), put a dwarf conical shaped (Alberta Spruce?) tree behind it, and add a boxwood, Arctic Fire red twig dogwood, dwarf barberry (Orange Rocket?), and boxwood -

However in this sentence you suggest adding two deciduous shrubs. Also not sure if you want to move the dwarf spruce into the new bed or out of the bed. Photo would help here.

BTW I would never plant a dwarf Alberta spruce, unless you like spraying it with chemicals every time it get spider mites. Do a search on the forum - problems with dwarf alberta spruce.

Finally how much sun/ shade does this area get.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
FYI, spider mites are extremely easy to control on DAS if you hose down the plant periodically. The mites dislike the humidity the showers create. No need to spray with any chemical!!
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littlebug zone 5 Missouri
8 years ago
You have given a list of SIX different types of plantings, which apparently is in addition to several different kinds of roses and some hydrangeas. That's a whole lot of different stuff.

If it was me, I'd repeat what I already have and maybe add ONE or a maximum of TWO new types of plantings. Like three or four dogwoods or three or four barberries.

A picture would help.
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lucyd_58
Original Author
8 years ago
Please see the various photos I submitted right afterward my first post.
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littlebug zone 5 Missouri
8 years ago
I don't see any pictures. :(
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lucyd_58
Original Author
8 years ago
They're in the post titled "Follow Up." front porch/yard photos
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