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Foundation Plants - Maryland 7b

last month

I need new foundation plants for the front of the house. What is currently there is very short in the back. They are Yew bushes. Anything I’m put in front of them looks awkward since they’re so short. I’m not sure which direction I need to go. I like my Japanese maple and my hydrangeas. I am considering moving the crêpe myrtle on the right. Any ideas out there please?

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KW PNW Z8
last month
Yews? Are they the short green plants against house - maybe 2 of them on each side - one close to front stoop & the other towards each corner of house? Do you know the botannical name / type of yew & how long they’ve been in ground? I’m asking bc there are so many kinds of yews & more often the type used as foundation plants are overgrown & need a good trim.

Do you have any pics of this area in spring or summer? What are the 2 conical shaped shrubs on each side at end of walkway? A type of boxwood? Why are you considering moving the Crape Myrtle - the tree on right I assume?
Holly H
Original Author
last month
They are boxwoods in fact, either side of the front stoop. I will get the names. The crêpe myrtle is not an elegant crêpe myrtle. There are different types and I was knew what I was doing and I think I want a different type of quit Myrtle or a weeping cherry. I just don’t know.
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Comments (4)
Northraleighguy, We just moved from Zebulon to Colorado. While I'm learning about completely different plant material, I would love to weigh in on something that is more comfortable! First, if you have the space, I would recommend you widen your bed to 8 ft. You will have more room to layer, rather than have a single row of shrubs and small trees. By the time you plant 2-3 ft from your foundation, there isn't much room for things to grow. While Aronia arbutifolia is a wonderful shrub, it spreads by suckering, so consider whether that would be a problem for the space. Likewise, Ptelea trifoliata has a very wide spread and, while it will tolerate full sun, prefers more shade. I've listed some things that worked really well for me in full sun. Whatever you do, use multiples of the things you choose. Chionanthus retusus 'Tokyo Tower' - wonderful, narrow, small tree. Will not get too wide for your bed, even if it's just 6 ft. - available at Taylor's, New Bern Ave. Osmanthus fragrans - Mine grew much faster than the literature says. I hand pruned some of the taller growth a couple of times each year to keep them at 6ft. They were bushy shrubs about 4 ft wide. Cedrus deodara 'Feelin' Sunny'- I found these at DeWayne's in Smithfield. They will stay around 2 ft tall and spread up to 10 ft at maturity. However, it's very easy to keep them narrower. Pinus parviflora 'Blue Angel' - Very slender, quite slow growing to 7-8' tall x 3-4' wide - Atlantic Garden Center Rosa 'Belinda's Dream' shrub rose - Witherspoon Roses in Durham Perovski atriplicifolio 'Lisslitt' - Yes, I know Russian sage can be overdone, but bees and butterflies absolutely love it. Spiraea japonica 'Gold Mound' - Taylor's - Beautiful, fresh spring color and gorgeous fall color Ilex cornuta 'Soft Touch' - for small evergreen fillers and contrast, especially if you use any conifers. Cercis canadensis 'Ruby Falls' - a weeping variety with purple leaves - outstanding! Of course, it's also a perfect place to grow rosemary, if you're so inclined. My apologies for not suggesting more natives. Have fun! Keep us posted on what you decide to do.
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diggerdee zone 6 CT
last month
Have the plants in back reached their mature height? Can you move them to the front (or even around the sides) and maybe put in some other evergreens that get a bit taller - some appropriately-sized rhodies, hollies, pieris? Maybe a chamaecyparis or thuja?

:)

Dee
Holly H
Original Author
last month
Hi sorry I have been remiss in responding. It was suggested that I MOVE forward the dwarf yews and replace with one of the following: yellow or red twig dogwood OR scuba roxanie. This was from an in person consultation
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katob Z6ish, NE Pa
last month
imo a solid foundation planting is only needed if you have an ugly house foundation, and yours is not ugly at all. You only need a few things like the boxwoods to scale the garden up to the house when everything else is dormant. Although small now, those yews will grow quite large unless you trim trim and trim every season, and if you look around your neighborhood I'm sure you'll see that few people have the time to do that and end up with oversized lumps and meatballs in front of their house.

The brick of your house is great, your walk is awesome, I'd bring the garden out and frame the walk as well so it's not lost in the lawn and the whole yard becomes a frame for your entry.
lovetogarden
last month
You have a forward slopping roof, so you have to be careful with what kind of plant you put there. If you get any snowfall, it can come off the roof and break the plant. That happens often to Rhododendrons. Azaleas not as much because their limbs are more flexible. I can envision Azaleas there.
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Doug Lockwood, VSLD Certified (zone 8)
last month
Here are a few suggestions:
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