Help with bed

19 years ago

I dug up the bed in front of my house today. I hate Japanese boxwoods. I also dug up an ugly crepe myrtle that also had a tree of some sort growing out of the same area--the tree's roots were far more difficult than the myrtle's!

It faces towards the north/northwest but the garage blocks most of the afternoon sun. I'd say it gets about 2-4 hours of sunlight a day.

It's about 12 foot long by 3 1/2 foot deep. It's also raised.

What should I plant? I really like Chinese Fringe Flowers, but was told they wouldn't last here. I had them at my house in TX and they always looked so good!

Here is a picture of the area-taken before I closed on the house. I really do not like boxwoods. And I pulled up the glads(?) almost immediately! I like them, but not like they were planted. I would like to consider replacing the crepe myrtle in the same location, but beyond that I'm stumped.

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Comments (3)

Okiedawn OK Zone 7
19 years ago
Are you looking for a smallish shrub that won't get so large that it/they block the view from the window?

Also, what kind of soil do you have? Sandy? Loamy? Clay? Is it well-drained soil?

Are you looking for evergreen shrubs? Do you prefer something with flowers or berries? There's lots and lots of options out there, depending on your growing conditions and what you want.

Dawn
jjsooner
Original Author
19 years ago
Yes, a smallish evergreen that doesn't block the windows would be great!
A friend recommended dwarf buford hollies as anchors on each side of the bed (not blocking the windows), but didn't have any suggestions for in between them.

There is a enough room for me to plant seasonal flowers for color in front of whatever I decide on.

My soil is well drained, and I really don't know what I'd describe it as! The previous owners did bring in soil, but beyond that there is clay. I had another bed I dug up and planted azaleas in last spring. They are doing great so far.
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Okiedawn OK Zone 7
19 years ago
Dwarf Burford Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii Nana') is a gorgeous shrub, and we have them here in our landscape, but it gets larger than most people expect. For some reason that I do not understand, Dwarf Burford Holly is often described as getting 5' tall and 3' to 4' wide. In reality, it easily attains a height of 10'-15' in height, and a spread of 6'-10'. It is dwarf ONLY in comparison to regular Burford Holly, which easily tops twenty feet in height and width. The Dwarf Burford Hollies we planted from one-gallon containers seven years ago are already about 8' tall and have spread 5'-6' wide, and are still growing rapidly. You can keep Dwarf Burford smaller with a LOT of regular pruning, but eventually your branches will be very thick, stubby and unattractive.

For a 'smallish' evergreen shrub, you can't go wrong with any of the following:

Dwarf Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) 'Stokes' gets about 3'-4' tall and wide. Dwarf Yaupon Holly 'Nana' gets about 3' tall and 3' wide.

Japanese Garden Juniper (Juniperus chinensis var. procumbens) gets about 2' tall and 5' wide. Shore Juniper (Juniperus conforta) gets about 1.5' tall and 4' wide. Carissa Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Carissa') gets about 3' high and 4' wide. Dwarf Chinese holly (Ilex cornua 'Rotunda' gets about 3' tall by 3' wide.

Compact Pfitzer Juniper (Juniperus chinensis var. chinensis 'Compact Pfitzer') gets about 4' tall and 6' wide.

For a somewhat taller shrub, Dwarf Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera var. pumila, aka Myrica pusilla) gets about 5'-6' tall and spreads just about as wide. Be sure you get it, though, and not the Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica) which can get 12'-15' tall very quickly, and eventually attain a height of 20' or more.

For what it is worth, I have both Dwarf Burford Holly and Southern Wax Myrtle and did my research carefully and chose them precisely for their mature height. However, I planted them in an area where I wanted tall shrubs that are more like small trees, and I am happy with them as used in that way. I wouldn't try to keep either of them small, though.

If you have any questions, let me know.

Dawn