Stumped choosing plants in front of my retaining wall!!!!

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

Hi Everyone,

I have been trying to make decisions about the two small beds in front of my retaining wall for quite awhile and I just can't seem to do it. What you see in the pictures is my start...but I'm only happy with a bit of it.

On the left side, I moved the Nandinas to the far left and made them a group as they were originally spaced out on the right side. I like the grouping and their height helps soften the harsh transition from my neighbors wall to mine. I really don't want to hide the retaining wall too much as it's the only part of the original landscape I picked and I do like it.

I want to remove and replace the Campanula Bellflower ground cover on the left. I don't see purple in my color scheme (I should also relocate the row of Liriope Big Blue I just planted to my backyard..ugh). Plus, I don't think the campanula is doing anything for the rock....but I have no idea what to use.

On the right side, I relocated and made the grouping of lilies as they were also spread out and randomly placed on both sides.

I'm not liking my Barberry Concorde in a row and I really don't know why I put creeping Juniper where I did (Wiltonii) and I am happy to take it out. I feel like I should take out the Juniper, and then make groupings with the Barberry, the Dwarf Mugo Pines (maybe add a third), and whatever else could fill out that side. I was thinking about Hakone Grass Aureola.

I put some Wooly Thyme behind the rock on the right. I guess I thought it would eventually spread and soften/complement the stone.

I welcome any thoughts, ideas or criticisms you might be willing to share.

Kim

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Comments (11)

suedonim75
3 years ago
You have an amazing house, I love the color.
mazerolm_3a
3 years ago
Hello, I agree with the previous poster, your house is beautiful and I love the landscaping. I’m not a professional, only an avid gardener, so take my advice with a grain of salt! :). I think you’re on the right track with wanting short plants so that the wall is exposed. I also like your plant choice, I have many of these in my garden beds. But I think that you have too many varieties in your 2 new beds. If it was my garden, I would probably add a couple more rocks/boulder, mass plant thyme on both sides of your staircase since it seems to perform well. I would leave the nandinas, plant one barberry at the other end of the other garden bed and relocate all other plants. I think it would complement your house and existing plantings.

That’s just my opinion, I hope it‘s helpful and hopefully someone more experienced in design will chime in!
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Embothrium
3 years ago
Look at what nearby garden centers have now and choose from that. Rather than coming up with something beforehand only to discover afterward you can't buy it locally at this time.
emmarene9
3 years ago
I'm surprised you'd want anything as tall as the Nandina. The wall is quite attractive so I would not want to hide it. I think I would fill both sides with creeping Phlox or a Geranium that does well in your area.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
hi again ...

i am thinking .. but not sure.. everything is linear right to left ... so i would plant plants to continue that theme.. tall to short right to left ...

but i dont understand the second pic.. with the 3 large shrubs jammed in there.. as they dont appear in the other pix ... could you take a full pic of the whole.. maybe from across what i presume is a street ...

i guess what i am thinking is all the symmetry .. and then all of a sudden we have a 30 degree angle sidewalk interrupting the rest ... finish what you are responsible for .. and make the city sidewalk its own issue .. like you finished the job you started.. ... im not sure i am saying what i am trying to mean ...

ken
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Dig Doug's Designs
3 years ago
some ideas: the larger shrub is dwarf Pomegranate
kimhaber1
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks everyone, The Nandinas, the lilies and the Campanula were in the beds before I started. I'll attach the "before pictures." I never loved it. It's hard to explain my objections....too choppy, random and the nandinas covered the center of the wall.

I moved the nandinas to the corner because I like groupings better and because of the sharp transition from the neighbors wall to mine (hoping to soften the look). I attached a close up of that. I moved the lilies and the Agapanthus to the right to form a grouping (these could be relocated to other parts of my yard but I have no place for the nandinas).

I am adding my current (very draft) design. I should probably move the lilies out of it. I need to decide on ground cover. I'm liking the Wooly Thyme but I'm wondering if something darker green and a bit taller would be better.

Thanks again,

Kim

"Before" left side.

"Before" right side

Current Nandina, Dwarf Mugo Pine, and Barberry Concorde grouping.

Very Draft plan.....?????

Kim
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
3 years ago
Beautiful house and wall. First thing I would do is bury those boulders partway, so they look like they belong there and have been there forever rather than just plopped on top of the ground. I would add a perennial bed with flowers to round out the shrubs you have. They would be airy and allow the wall to stand out while not being too short.
Christopher CNC
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Don't hate me. The only plants I like are the campanula and wooly thyme. I think a purple/blue color scheme would go great with your house. The nandina and barberry are boring big box bushes. Your house deserves better. Nandina has been ruined as a landscape shrub anyway. The common species is called Heavenly Bamboo implying an open gracefulness. It is a lovely plant. All the new cultivars that are coming out look like they have been run through a trash compacter. Not a fan.

The beds are not all that large. Keeping things simple will give it more impact. I want to keep the rocks and campanula as is. The campanula looks happy and is doing a good job with the rock. No need to bury them deeper. It is far too easy as is for plants to make them disappear.

In the left side bed: replace the nandina with a small hydrangea - oak leaf 'Ruby Slippers', 'Wee White' arborescens or maybe a nice lacecap macrophylla. Sprig in some more campanula in front of the hydrangea on the far left corner. As a center drift running from the wall down to the sidewalk the Hakone grass would work, but I would rather see a flowering perennial. Things that come to mind are Stokesia, Salvia leucantha, a perennial chrysanthemum or my preference Aromatic aster, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium. That's it. Hydrangea, perennial flower, campanula.

In the right side bed: repeat the hydrangea next to the steps. Plant the Wooly thyme in front of the rocks, not above, filling the whole far right corner. Above the rocks and a jump to the left plant a Bird's Nest Spruce. The Mugo Pine's more upright and faster growth and size will hide the wall sooner. Sprig in some campanula below the hydrangea on the right of the steps. Fill as needed with the chosen perennial. That's it. Hydrangea, spruce, perennial, thyme and campanula.

Now that I have done a purple color scheme, what is your color preference and I can try it again?
kimhaber1
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you Christopher, I just looked through the plants you suggested and I really do love the combination. I wish I could come up with combinations like that so quickly. I definitely want simple. And you're right....I wish my nandina's were prettier. But I love Barberry Concorde. I'm not a color expert but my neighbor is and she pointed out that warm colors bring out the shades in my wall really well. And after taking a closer look, she's right. Hence the green, burgundy, yellow combination I've been dreaming about. Maybe I could continue my plan but take out the nandinas and replace with a hydrangea??? Let me attach my inspiration photos/garden. I want this garden. The last picture is actually my house. I want to show of the Pacific Fire Vine Maple I just planted.

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Christopher CNC
3 years ago
Well I still prefer the Hydrangea (white) and Bird's Nest Spruce over the Nandina and Mugo Pine. Keep the barberry. It functions like the perennial flower as far as the space used.

Some bold yellow groundcovers to replace the campanula are Juniperus conferta 'All Gold', sedum 'Angelina' and Creeping Jenny. The Creeping Jenny will want the most water to look best.

An additional red accent perennial could be sedum 'Autumn Joy' or more red 'Red Cauli', something like that.