Need Ideas


  #1  
Old 10-21-07, 06:54 PM
X
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Need Ideas

What can I put here?

http://picasaweb.google.com/xray3289...71711133766306

How about this area?

http://picasaweb.google.com/xray3289...71934472065714

What are these things? Please help me replace them...

http://picasaweb.google.com/xray3289...72011781477058

http://picasaweb.google.com/xray3289...72024666378962


BTW, we are in zone 5.
Thanks in advance!
 
  #2  
Old 10-22-07, 06:40 AM
T
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In the bed by the garage, I'd want nothing that would block the view from the house for security reasons. Drought tolerant perennials in a variety that provides a splash of color throughout the growing season would be good. Drought tolerance is very important in order to conserve water. Too, because the bed is located beside the driveway, which stores and reflects heat, plants in that location would tend to be more thirsty.

In the bed in front of the house, the hydrangea, which will grow large, will eventually block the view of the entry. For security reasons, this is not good. Thieves tend to seek out homes with blocked views of entries because they are less likely to be seen by passersby and neighbors.

You have a nice mix of plantings in the view of the area behind the area in question. As these mature, some may have to be removed after outgrowing their space and competition for moisture, sunlight, and nutrition becomes a problem. It is good to mix up plantings in beds to provide a variety of color and excitement as these seasons change. Same conditions as above adjacent to driveway and the need for lower growing species. A mix of drought tolerant perennials and evergreen plants can provide year round excitement. Your local Cooperative Extension Agent can provide you with a list of annuals, perennials, and shrubs that do well in your area.

Before deciding upon what to plant, research to learn the demands of the plants as well as height at maturity and space accordingly. You do not want overcrowded beds due to competition as indicated above. You do not want underplanted and boring beds, such as at your entry.

I am on dial up and do not get a crisp enough picture for your plant identifications. Newt will be along shortly.
 
  #3  
Old 10-22-07, 03:22 PM
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Hi Xray,

Some really great advice from Twelvepole. I second what she said.

As to your questions and pictures, I'll start with the last ones first as those were easier for me. They appear to be some type of salvia, possibly something like Salvia 'May Night'. Is this what they looked like when in bloom?
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/new...iaMayNight.jpg

They should have been deadheaded and cut back by half after blooming. It would make them look more tidy. They tend to be drought tolerant once established. My recommendation to replace these is below.
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/new...3/jun0308.html

From your comments, and looking at your pictures, I get the impression you like 'tidy' plants that don't need alot of fussing with as to deadheading and removal of leaves, stay compact, etc. If I'm wrong just lmk.

I'm also thinking these front beds are part sun of 4 to 6 hours.

It appears that the two beds you want to plant are on either side of the driveway, so I would suggest you use some of the same plant material to make a cohesive look. The first bed to the left of the driveway would look great with the hardy Geranium 'Rozanne'. It blooms in my daughter's zone 6/7 garden from the end of May until hard frost. It's the longest blooming perennial I know of and stays tidy. You could probably put 2 or 3 plants there as they spread to about 3' wide in a soft mound. Here's some pics. In the first pic it's spilling out over the edge of the border on the curved corner.
http://www.sandfrauchen.de/images/ge...gz_13sep06.jpg

Here's a close-up.
http://www.sandfrauchen.de/images/ge...lu_04aug06.jpg

Then transplant one of the coral bells to the bed in front of the Geraniums and closest to the driveway. Even though the leaves have a similar shape, the color contrast should make the coral bells pop and blend with the shrubs there. If possible I would still add the one coral bells. That will give you some continuity for the eye to follow.

Another option for that bed would be to move the hydrangea to that bed, closer to the lawn area and add the Geraniums towards the driveway with the coral bells in front of them. Something tall at the outer corner of the house would be helpful and give balance to the house.

I might suggest some re-arranging of the second bed on the other side of the driveway. You don't say what variety of hydrangea you have planted and how tall it will get, but if it gets over 4' you might want to move it either to the other bed across the drive, or to the right in it's current bed, closer to that large rock. I would group 3 of the coral bells closer together for a stronger statement. Sort of like the 2 small evergreens you have to the right of the hydrangea (maybe junipers), so their leaves almost touch at maturity. Maybe put them at the corner where the walk and driveway meet in a 'V'. Then consider something a bit taller that will have strap-like leaves such as a lower growing ornamental grass. Maybe some dwarf evergreen shrubs (see below). Then add the hardy Geraniums in a group of 3 in a 'V' configuration, where the lawn and driveway meet in the lower part of the picture. The yellow flowered plant can be an accent between the coral bells and Geraniums.

The hardy Geraniums would also work to replace the Salvia you don't like.

With all this, and you being in zone 5, we haven't added anything evergreen. It's a long winter. Maybe this site about foundation plantings would be helpful. Generally the dwarf selections work well near a foundation. They tend to grow slower and don't get as tall. This site talks about the fundamentals of foundation planting.
http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/pages/g00003.asp

There are many varieties of narrow leaved evergreens that could be possibilities, with some having needles that have a blue or green or yellow color. Some change colors in the winter and get a deep plum or purple color that might look good against your house color. Again you will have to choose carefully for the dwarf varieties. Even some of the dwarfs that only grow to 3' or so can grow to 15' wide!

Taxus cuspidata ‘Dwarf Bright Gold’ can get large in 10 years.
http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...=1&sa=N&tab=wi

Lots of descriptive info on Japanese yews here. No pictures but you can always google any plant using the entire name. You can also click on 'Images' at google. These can be invasive in the environment as the birds eat the berries and spread them.

Taxus cuspidata--Japanese Yew
http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/modzz/00001435.html

There are also dwarf Arborvitae.
Thuja occidentalis ‘Hetz Midget’ - the last pic is several plants grown together.
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/p....asp?code=F940

Thujopsis dolobrata 'Nana'
http://www.bloomriver.com/home/br2/p...rata_nana.html

For a quite unusual arborvitae, try Thuja plicata 'Whipcord'. This dwarf selection has thread-like branches and an arching habit. It grows to only two feet tall by three feet wide in 10 years and is a favorite of mine for an unusual accent or grouping of maybe 3.
http://www.horticlick.com/p/thuja_pl...whipcord1.html

Several Thuja occidentalis to look at here.
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/p...?start=T&end=T

Cryptomeria 'pygmaea' has bright green leaves which turn bronze in winter. The form can be a round ball or cone. Grows to three feet in height and wide in 10 years.
http://www.botanypictures.com/plantimages/cryptomeria%20japonica%20'pygmaea'%2001.jpg
http://www.botanypictures.com/plantimages/cryptomeria%20japonica%20'pygmaea'%2002.jpg

Another gem.
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'PygmaeaAurescens'
http://www.atstecks.com/Merchant2/me..._Code=treevrod

One group of flowering broadleaf evergreen shrubs that comes to mind is Pieris japonica aka andromeda. There are many varieties with different heights, widths, colors of new growth and either pink or white flowers that resemble lily of the valley. It's sometimes called lily of the valley shrub or tree. There are several dwarf varieties that mature to different heights, all at or below 4'. Here's a sampling. Many were difficult to find pics or descriptive info on. Not all varieties are hardy to zone 5 so double check any that you like.

Pieris japonica 'Bisbee Dwarf', 'Bonsai', 'Pygmaea' (also listed as f. pygmaea) and 'Nocturne' are among the most common miniature forms, all of which feature leaves that are much reduced in size and compact, mounded heights generally under 2'. Couldn't find any pictures of this one.

Pieris japonica 'Bonsai' A choice introduction of a dwarf andromeda with small distinctive roundish leaves, ideal for bonsai and rock gardens. White flowers appear at a young age. It is upright growing and very dense. Here's a picture.
http://www.rarefindnursery.com/index...ct_id/2148.htm

'Compacta' is a popular slow growing, compact dwarf form that is said to only reach 4' tall but can grow to 8' in sun, flowers heavily with white blooms and is suitable for smaller shady landscapes.
http://cat.hollyridgeonline.com/imag...caCompacta.jpg

'Bisbee Dwarf' - white flowers, compact plant, leaves half usual size, red when young and is valued chiefly for its small, twisted leaves. A very compact and bushy dwarf, slightly larger than 'Pygmaea.' Glossy dark green leaves have a slight twist, and new growth emerges with a red tinge.

'Nocturne' is a dwarf, slow growing dense 2-3' "Andromeda" which blooms with large pendulous flowers in spring. The foliage is long and narrow, similar to its parent P. j. yakushimanum. An ideal plant for that small space or rock garden.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/c...-nocturne.html

'Pygmaea' - dwarf, to 3 to 4 ft high, leaves small and very narrow with white flowers.
http://www.kalmiopsis.dk/images/andr...ca_pygmaea.jpg
http://www.tinytreasuresnursery.com/...%20Pygmaea.htm

'Cavatine' - a selection of P. j. var. yakushimanum, compact, low growing mound; white flowers. A tight growing low mound with slightly upright racemes of white flowers blooming later than other pieris.
http://www.rarefindnursery.com/index...ct_id/3656.htm
http://www.tinytreasuresnursery.com/...20Cavatine.htm

'Debutante' - A compact shrub with a height and width of about 4 feet, white flowers that are erect instead of drooping.
http://www.plantpress.com/plant-ency...php?plant=6336
http://www.plantenkweker.be/index_be...Debutante.html

'Prelude' - P. j. var. yakushimanum, dwarf, 2 ft x 3 ft and has white flowers.
http://www.tinytreasuresnursery.com/...%20Prelude.htm
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/pijayp1.htm
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/pijayp2.htm
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/pijayp.htm

Pieris japonica 'Flaming Silver' will take 10 years to reach 5'. Click on 'Info' here too.
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/pijafs1.htm

'Little Heath' - A dwarf, compact 2' gem with dark green leaves that have silvery white margins and a pink flush when young. White flowers bloom in spring.
http://www.rarefindnursery.com/index...ct_id/4296.htm
http://www.tinytreasuresnursery.com/...eath%20Var.htm

Camellia Forest Nursery has an excellent rating at Garden Watchdog and carries three varieties. You'll need to scroll down.:
http://camforest.com/treepz.html


These sites give lots of descriptive info about different varieties of Pieris but no pictures at the first site.
http://www.greatplantpicks.org/evalu..._1-31-2001.pdf
http://cat.hollyridgeonline.com/a.html

If you decide to mailorder any plants, check their references here.
http://davesgarden.com/gwd/

I'd love to know what you think of these ideas.
Newt
 
 

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