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Landscape Design Shrubs

a re-do of a front-yard bed - some suggestions on what to plant

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

Hello folks,

I am considering a few shrubs (2 or 3?) and possibly a grass for a re-do of a smallish bed that is right out of my home. Z5, full sun, well drained, neutral soil. I am curious as to how big some of them ultimately get as I don't want them to overwhelm my front windows. I am considering a V carlesii (perhaps in the middle of the bed anchoring it, and I am going to move a fothergilla Mt Airy from my non-prominent spot in back yard (that's 3 or so years old and just doing "ok") and possibly a Henry's Garnett sweetspire also in the back yard although I am close to giving up on this shrub as it isn't performing great (likely due to my climate). I am also thinking about a grass (likely a Huron Sunrise Maiden Grass as I have a. few of these in the back). Will the carlesii overwhelm the spot? I've read they are slow growers but could eventually attain 10' or more. If so, can size be controlled with pruning?

What else could I consider? I do like the idea of a combo of shrubs with good fall color, and/or good flowering. Another one I've considered is a hydrangea like Quickfire or firelight. Those both have good flowering abilities (and long season) and decent fall color.

Below are the pic of the planting site. It used to have a big juniper and 3 globe arborvitae which virtually blotted out any sun from coming into the basement window you see in the pic. I want that sun to continue to shine through that window (especially in the winter) so whatever I plant I want to take that into consideration - though some shade (or dappled light) is fine in the summer months.

I'm open to any suggestions! Thank you for any assistance!

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Comments (5)

splaker
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I should add that I want to plant the grass right in the spot next to my door pictured in the LAST photo behind the juniper this would give me some relatively quick privacy from my neighbor.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
foundation plantings are planted to hide the foundation.. not on the foundation ...

you have a lot of lawn there ... you need to bifurcate your project ..

at the house.. in the existing bed.. plant some pretty.. flowers.. no more than a foot or 2 tall ... or grasses.. i dont care.. what ever makes you happy ....

then... as to the view from the street ... come 6 to 10 feet into the lawn .. and plant some nice shrubs or conifers out there .. so you can let them grow to their usual performance.. instead of try to grow a 6 foot shrub in a 3 foot bed... against the foundation ...

remind us where you are.. big city name.. z5 is about half the3 US and wildly divergent ... as to both summer and winter heat ....

dont try to do everything is the small bed ... besides.. what do you use all that lawn for anyway???? .. make your design 3 dimensional ... rather than two D to close to the house ...

ken
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splaker
Original Author
3 years ago
north of Toronto.. it should appear on my label... I guess it doesn't?
splaker
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Thanks... I'm not entirely clear as to what you mean by this:

"then... as to the view from the street ... come 6 to 10 feet into the lawn .. and plant some nice shrubs or conifers out there .. so you can let them grow to their usual performance.. instead of try to grow a 6 foot shrub in a 3 foot bed... against the foundation ..."

Here are other angles - from that window where the bed is - there's a red oak on the left (closer to the street) a very small Emperor Japanese maple and (unfortunately!) a Norway maple on the right (city tree). I am considering moving that Japanese maple.. Not sure if it's in the "right" spot. yes, lots of grass, but that oak is going to get big one day, the Norway is already decent size and I suppose the Japanese maple will get to 20'+ feet and wide too at some point..

I've considered moving the Japanese maple between the Norway and the corner of my house (basically about 8or 10' from that grand caravan)
splaker
Original Author
3 years ago
I should add that I also planted a very small concolor fir (archers blue) that is apparently very slow growing and doesn't attain a great size. It is 9' off my foundation wall - see pic below...

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