Landscaping Idea Help

21 years ago

Hi, everyone!

We've pulled all of our 25 year old shrubs out of our front yard. For those of you that came for the Late Summer Get-Together last summer, all of the shrubs that surrounded the front yard and up by the house are GONE! All we have left are the trees - a white ash, a flowering crab, and a white birch. We had crushed rock under the shrubs that had sunken into the ground so my husband took a skid-loader and has removed all the rock and most of the black dirt from those areas. We need to bring in more black dirt and replant grass and plants.....only not around the whole yard this time!

What I need help on, is ideas for flowering shrubs. DH says he's sick of just seeing green. Nothing too large and more of them that rebloom throughout the summer or bloom more continually. The area gets mostly shade in the AM and part shade in the PM. Any great ideas? I want to plant some perennials in that area, too. More ideas?

I'll appreciate any suggestions to consider. Thanks, guys and gals!

Sherry

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Comments (4)

doucanoe
21 years ago
Viburnums are good in shade and I believe many hydrangeas are as well. I am no shrub expert, however. I put in two Viburnum "Blue Muffin" and two Hydrangea "Annabelle" last summer in shady areas. So far this spring they are looking good, can't wait until they bloom!
Linda
leftwood
21 years ago
There are many very good "new" cultivars of weigela out there now. The dance series with names like Rumba, Polka, etc. have larger flowers and are more floriferous than old cultivars. But you still need at least half a day of sun for them to bloom satisfactorily. Viburnums don't rebloom like weigelas, but they do have showy and useful fruit. And there are always shrub roses. Clove currant is a favorite once blooming small shrub. I just love that strong clove scent from the showy drooping racemes of yellow flowers. Good for dappled shade too. You could also try Carolina Allspice(Calycanthus floridulus). Not edible, infact poisonous though. Really, once blooming with just a few now and then in summer, but good for high shade or part shade, or sun.

Rick

Calycanthus floridulus, flowers just opening
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Julie
21 years ago
Hey there!
What alot of work you have accomplished! You didn't run into any more bees did you? I have heard that Nine Bark, Choke Berries, Winter Berries, Nanny berries, Dogwoods all fair well in part to low sun- but all probably more green than you might like-
I am curious what you did with all of those bushes, I was so impressed with the color of their berries when I visited last summer! Are there any more peices left that might grow?
If you want, I have Anna Belle Hydrangia, if you are interested- we could exchange at the swap.....
Julie
selkie_b
21 years ago
Choke and Nanking cherries are lovely - and with the Nanking's I believe they are also edible :)

Be careful that the vibernum you choose is not invasive - I have somehow got one here that is, and I'm having a heck of a time getting rid of it from among my other plants. Also, though thorny, ornamental currents are really pretty :) and as Julie said, if you'll be at the GW Swap - it's at my place and you can take a look around and see what I have.

-Marie