I once owned a Zone 6 property such as you describe. Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) thrived in this situation. A beautiful tree. Also, American holly had self-seeded on raised hummocks and grew into very large trees. Try the holly using the 'swamp planting' method planting them on an elevated pile of soil. High bush blueberries planted on the edges should be happy. And, if you have any interest, a corner could be set aside to grow a collection of various types of Primroses which I found loved this type of adverse soil.

Deenoel.... OMGosh...would I LOVE that yew!! I have a back lot line with a string of maples and it is SO difficult to get anything to grow there 'well'. I've tried some hollies and I have some hydrangeas outside the drip line of the tree and I have to say that hydrangeas need a LOT Of water near trees like these. If you wanted to try a white hydrangea, I would go for the 'Annabelle' which has done the best for me. I would plant it as far from the trunk as possible and plan on watering when it doesn't rain, at least 2 inches of water a week. I picked a small one up at Rainbow Mums for $11. two years ago and it is a 3ft x 3ft shrub this year. Yews are very slow growing, but if you do a search of which shrubs will grow in Dry Shade, which is what you have with maples, you will find very very few plants that will thrive. It would take about 10 years to get a yew that size or longer. If it is not to your liking, perhaps you could trim it back and plant something near it that would liven it up for you. It is a great screen and backdrop for other things you might like to try. At the very least, I would try filling in the other areas you are working on first, trim the yew back and think about it another year, and see how the other shrubs/plants you try do. I do have a Cornus 'Ivory Halo' growing near one of my maples and it is doing pretty well. This year it looks the best I have seen it and we have had all that rain, so I am thinking that might be the reason. pm2

hi, thanks. i have daffodils in some areas, but it was too hard to dig holes for them. the mulberry are fruitless. all but one or two have to come out since it will be in the way of backing out. so any bush is out since it is only 4 feet or 3 feet from fence with driveway inbetween. driveway is to left. i actually began thinking of woodland phlox and columbine. but digging a hole is not an option at this point. my hands are really bad now. it comes and goes. wasn't arthritis but dr. thinks from the bone spur and pinched nerve in back. the area has some filtered sun. but if a wooden fence goes up then i don't see any sun reaching area until maybe late afternoon. not sure. yes, shade comes from the south, the right.

Your choices here in the PNW are not exactly limited :-) Pieris, rhododendrons and azaleas, skimmia, aucuba, winter daphne, sarcococca, Viburnum davidii and camellia will all tolerate significant shade although may not bloom heavily if too strong a shade. If only partial shade, your list will increase dramatically - Nandina, lonicera nitida, Mexican orange, the boring box and Japanese holly, euonymus, etc, etc, etc............. Any good local nursery should have a full selection available in the next few weeks, if not already in stock.