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Other Landscape Design Design Dilemma

Shrub suggestions please!

3 years ago

Wondering what you think should go in this spot (circled in red) on the North East side of my house. I live in Michigan Zone 6a. I had a a small Alberta spruce in this spot and decided to remove it. I felt it was a little too columnar or triangular for this spot, especially since there are 3 triangular peaks at the top of my house. I am thinking something that is less dense and a little wider than an Alberta spruce as well. I have some annabelle hydrangeas I planted this year (they have not flowered this year, hopefully next year) along the East side of my house. I really love annabelle hydrangeas, and was thinking to just add one in the spot I need, but I’m not sure-was hoping to get some alternative ideas. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Also, I do not want a large tree, I have so many other trees on my property, and I am concerned about roots growing near my house. Thanks in advance for your help/ideas!

Comments (12)

cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
3 years ago
Not in your zone, so no suggestions, but wanted to bump this for you.
PRO
Dig Doug's Designs
3 years ago
Ideas:
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If you have most of the whole area under the pink boards to work with you can do a nice mixed planting with one tree not large-growing enough to interfere with the pipes and various shrubs. Put the tree in front of the tallest part of the neighbor's house, as seen from where you took the above picture. Choose shrubs that correspond with the outline of what will become the new bed. Put smaller-leaved and -growing kinds in the more narrow parts of the bed and bigger-leaved and -growing in the wider sections. If the chairs being up against the fence indicates there are times when you want to sit out there but it is too hot then you would want to erect a shade structure, as suggested, so you can start having a pleasant outdoor room right away - trees take years to produce a substantial pool of shade. A good place to see trees there is the Capitol campus. Although most of the collection is large-growing kinds, including some now spectacular examples there is also a perentage of smaller-growing ones represented, including citrus trees. Where one that catches your interest is not identified pick a representative twig and take it to an independent garden outlet to see if they know what it is.
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show a picture that explains everything you're talking about. State what you think is the problem, and your objectives, rather than just what you think the solution is. And say where you are located.
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HU-64531067530
Original Author
3 years ago
I love this Doug!! Is that a rose of Sharon? Also what are the other plants? The lime green along the side? The ones under the bay window? And the purple around the tree?
PRO
Dig Doug's Designs
3 years ago
Yes, that is a Rose of Sharon. The dark green shrubs are Soft Touch Holly. The light green shrubs are Lime Mound Spirea & the purple is Liriope spicata.
HU-64531067530
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you so much! I am going to do this! Only thing I am thinking is that the rose of Sharon might look a like empty-like a pile of sticks in the winter. Do you suggest any evergreens for this area? Or should I try to stay with the rose of Sharon?
latifolia
3 years ago
How about a rhododendron?
houssaon
3 years ago
How about an Oakleaf Hydrandea?
Terraced Front Garden · More Info
Šophia Carney
3 years ago

Princess Flower
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
3 years ago
Not in Michigan, Sophia.
PRO
Dig Doug's Designs
3 years ago
Here are some more ideas:
missenigma
3 years ago
Do you want an evergreen or are you OK with a deciduous shrub on the corner. Everything presented to you to date is deciduous. You'll have a barren corner all winter. Take a look at Hinoki Cypress. There are many varieties that reach all different sizes. I love their irregular shape and branching.

I planted a Jade Waves™ Fernspray False Cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa 'MonYur' last year in this new garden bed I'm working on. It's slow growing; reaches 6 to 8 ft. tall, 3 to 4 ft. wide.

Here's another variety Slender Hinoki Cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gracilis'

Another gold version, Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Fernspray Gold' Hinoki Falsecypress
missenigma
3 years ago
Weeping redbuds would fit your spot nicely as well. Weeping redbuds will generally not grow much taller than the height to which they are staked. When they come home from a nursery, they have usually been staked to about 4 to 6 feet tall. Even though they are deciduous they have structural interest in the winter.

Ruby Falls Weeping Redbud Tree Cercis canadensis 'Ruby Falls'

Here it is in the spring . . .

There's variety called vanilla twist that blooms white. But the leaves are solid green.

For variegated leaves there's whitewater. I'm not sure what color this blooms.

Golden falls is lovely as well.

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