Plants for Awkward/Difficult Spots?
marcommom
4 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (21)
marcommom
4 years agoRelated Discussions
dwarf shrubs for difficult spot
Comments (11)The Purple Diamond Loropetalums are supposed to be just four feet by four feet. I have one, but not for long enough to comment. Loropetalums should do extremely well in your sun exposure conditions. Another consideration would be Camellia Sasanqua, Shishigashira (rose blooms) or Hot Flash (red). It would do well in your conditions and is very easy care. It stays low, but gets somewhat broad. My six year olds are about three feet high and five feet wide. I think I have selectively pruned them once. They start blooming in October and usually go well into December. Their only fault is that open blooms will be turned to brown mush by freezes. Nevertheless, they are handsome and any blooms that time of year are a joy. Encore Azaleas would also do well there. Mine are on the eastern side of my house, but about a dozen of them are at the south end, so they get hot sun nearly all day long. They bloom twice yearly, with the heaviest bloom from August until the first freeze. I'd recommend that you buy for foliage quality first and blooms second, as they are highly variable from one kind to another. I would recommend Harbour Belle Nandina. They are very dwarf (2 x 2') and are beautiful. They berry too. (Nandinas can be invasive in some areas, so take that into consideration.) Firepower has gorgeous winter foliage, at least in sun, does not berry, and is very attractive all year. Similar size to Harbour Belle. Don't forget boxwood. The Koreana varieties are slow growing. Mine only require pruning once a year, or, they are quite lovely shrubs when grown in their natural form too. They do well in shade or sun....See MoreWhich rose should I plant puzzle: climber in a difficult spot
Comments (4)If the sun isn't that great there, I'd think you would want to stick with less double flowers as they require less light and heat to form and open. They don't last as long as more double flowers, but they rebloom faster, usually earlier and later than heavily petaled types, too. You might also want to look at shrubs which grow large and can be trained as climbers instead of a traditional "climber", to keep your eventual size controlled. Most "hybrid musk" types should work about as well as Lyda due to their shared genes. If you want things which are readily available, it sounds like a perfect situation for types such as Sally Holmes and Icebergs. If you're willing to start with smaller plants and grow them into what's needed for the spot, check out hybrid musks available from the specialty sources of your choice to see what looks interesting. Many of them will eventually grow into fairly large plants with rather thick wood, but they will produce flowers as they do and can be pruned to keep them in check. Good luck. KIm...See MoreHelp for difficult spot
Comments (5)Whoa, are they predicting 90? I hadn't seen that, but wouldn't that be typical? Thanks Carla and @Deep_roots for the suggestions. Carla, I already paid a guy to take out more than 200+ feet of half-dead privet that lined the entire fence line. It really is a pain having to get back to ground zero. I had considered putting in a few more cypress to balance off the pathway, though I really like the azalea idea--rhododendrons too. We were looking at the area again this morning and are now thinking about putting in a stone border so we can level the slope while also adding a good 6-10" of soil over the top of these roots. I know azaleas and rhododendrons like a raised bed and would companion with the redwoods well. That is really a nice idea. I love the redwoods behind the wall because when I look out my bedroom, I feel like I'm in a cabin in Tahoe. I would love to expand on that woodsy atmosphere. I'll have to double-check their sunlight requirements, as my only concern is that they'll want more shade than the spot provides. Hmmmm, maybe a reason for getting that pergola up sooner than later. LOL Thanks for the ideas! You two have got me thinking! I know you all would!...See MorePlant Suggestions for Difficult Spot
Comments (7)Hi, gardenweed. Thanks for your suggestions. Turtlehead sounds like a good possibility. I see that it likes moist soil, but do you think it could handle the drier summertime conditions that I have in that spot? I'll look into the possibility of irises too. I can get those at local nurseries, whereas it would be more difficult to get my hands on the C. obliqua seed. River_crossroads, thanks for the info about salvia. I was already considering adding Salvia patens âÂÂBlue Angelâ (Gentian Sage) or Salvia farinacea âÂÂVictoria Blueâ to my garden in a different spot, but I hadn't considered it for this problem area. Just yesterday I was looking at a blog that lists flowers that are native to the province of Buenos Aires, and I saw Salvia guaranitica, which I find really attractive. I don't have a seed/plant source for that one though. I live in a small city on the coast, and the choices available at nurseries here are quite limited. Plus, shopping online for plants and seeds isn't really an option here like it is in the US. I'm going to check in with Rolando though and see if he has any advice for me. His site is great. Thank you for the tip!...See Moremarcommom
4 years agobtydrvn
4 years agobtydrvn
4 years agobtydrvn
4 years agobtydrvn
4 years agolaceyvail 6A, WV
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoctgardenguy (Zone 6)
4 years agonandina
4 years agol pinkmountain
4 years agobtydrvn
4 years agomarcommom
4 years agobtydrvn
4 years agobtydrvn
4 years agobtydrvn
4 years agobtydrvn
4 years agoMarie Tulin
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agonandina
4 years agol pinkmountain
4 years agomarcommom
4 years ago
Related Stories
ATTICS14 Tips for Decorating an Attic — Awkward Spots and All
Turn design challenges into opportunities with our decorating ideas for attics with steep slopes, dim light and more
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Verbena Stricta Tolerates Tough Spots
With its subtle beauty and long-lasting flowers, this pollinator pleaser is a boon to wilder areas
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Callirhoe Involucrata Wakes Up Hot Garden Spots
Give a dry and sunny garden a jolt of violet-pink color summer to fall — and watch bees and butterflies flock to the nectar
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Arbutus Menziesii
This drought-tolerant West Coast native tree thrives with minimal water in difficult garden spots
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES6 Fantastic Ferns to Enliven Shady Garden Spots
For long-term interest with little upkeep in challenging conditions, ferns might just be your garden's new best friend
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Comptonia Peregrina
Though not a fern, sweet fern sure smells sweet and thrives in tough spots where many shrubs and ferns cannot
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESDo You Have This Invasive Plant in Your Yard?
Garlic mustard is spreading across the U.S. Here’s how to spot it and what to do
Full StoryNATIVE PLANTSGreat Design Plant: Hydrophyllum Virginianum
This reliable, shade-tolerant native plant provides spotted foliage and clusters of pink flowers in eastern U.S. woodland and shade gardens
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Sunrose Dazzles on Dry Slopes
Abundant blooms and attractive foliage make this plant a welcome sight in sunny, well-drained spots
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Axminster Gold Comfrey for Sun or Shade
Plant this perennial for bold color that will light up shady spots, sparkle in the sun and add interest from spring until fall
Full Story
Dig Doug's Designs