For a water feature they have the solar pumps. The area is so pretty. I like what you have done with the area. I would move the shurbs since they are not doing good and do some hardscape so your water feature is a good idea.

I do not have an idea for a replacement shrub. Maybe check the shrub and conifer forum and see if they have some suggestions.

Goatsbeard (aruncus) might do well there. They get about 6' tall, have tall astilbe-like plumes that also look great in the winter.

Thanks guys - I'm still torn about the water feature. Its right in the corner and from the angle from the fire pit, it woudl be completely hidden, plus water source and electrical are quite far away - it would have to be tall to support that corner.....might have to squeeze it in closer to the shed.

Goatsbeard is an intriguing thought.....I have a lot of astilbes in the garden right there too....my husband loves the flowers. I thought Goatsbeard was a little tough to control though??

I was also thinking Cimicifuga. The foliage should get to about 4' tall with flower spikes up to 6'......I'd prefer something with winter interest though (since that corner is clearly visible from my house throughout the winter).

I wish my goatsbeard was tough to control! Imo, it doesn't spread enough (gets about 2' wide here). Dave's Garden has a few reviews. (I'd leave a link, but that web site has been marked as spam here, and as such is blocked).

Cimicifuga (now Actea) will work and the spent blooms last almost through December for me. Any conifer will eventually outgrow the spot (they don't stop growing). Before trying another conifer you may need to figure out why the Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald' are failing. How long have they been there, how were they planted and watered, etc. Arborvitae are usually pretty tough. And be aware that 'Emerald' would want to be 15 feet high and 3-4 feet wide some day (and keep growing from there).

tj

What about Rhododendron? They are fuller, gorgeous when they bloom in the spring, and nice dark shiny leaves all sumer, and hold their leaves even in WI winters. Mine get no direct sun.

I've got the cimicifuga in another area of the garden....I think for most of the year it's just too short :) I really like the idea of the rhodies though.....My little one is just coming into bloom and I fell in love with the purple ones at Canada blooms this year.

Tsuga - I think the arborvitae really are struggling because of the lack of sun plus they got a lot of snow mold in the first winter. I'm looking at them now and they just aren't looking healthy. I am so hesitant to try with them again (I don't know if it's because I didn't wrap them in the winters and so their branches got broken or if they really just don't like the snow). If you look at the pics and look at the fence, you can see the snow line pretty clearly just above the lower crossbrace. I would be very happy if I could keep these and just grow the foliage to cover their now bare legs....Do you think if I put some kind of structural support around the branches, they could regain their vertical shape? The photos were from last season and the damage is substantially more this season....and it's on both (the one on the left doesn't look so bad.)

Ontario should not be a problem for them. Thuja occidentalis grow up into the zone 3 snowbelt of Wisconsin where young plants that size are buried in snow, not sure if 'Emerald' is any less hardy. Look for plants with a single leader and snowload won't be an issue. It is all in getting them established with proper watering and planting. Root care is everything, teasing them out before planting, checking for moisture 2-3 inches down with your finger. Judging from the pix, there is enough ambient light for them.

Yup - did all of that.....These are not new plants from last year - they're now 4 years old....I'll take a picture in the morning....the one on the right looks about the same as last year and the one on the left is looking much sadder.

Even my local home nursery lady was surprised, but suggested that the black cedar or white cedar might be a good option for replacement if I do decide to go that way.....I'm not so worried about the snow mold because I've planted in front of them to hide their "legs" (my neighbours evergreen did something similar, although it's not an emerald cedar). I'm more concerned that they are no longer pyramidal in shape and seem to be flopping at the tops. (The one on the right in the pics doesn't have the top lopped off, it's just flopped over)

Have you added any soil? Cedars HATE to have their roots buried. Try scraping off some soil and giving them a good soaking (emeralds like their water), see if they perk up.

Black lace elder are supposed to be shade tolerant, not very big (for an elder), and can be pruned for size. Very striking leaves, like a japanese maple. I haven't had mine in a year yet, so I can't tell you how successful they are, but elder are pretty tough.

Any advice for a TALL and DEEP SHADE tree/shrub that is also truly DEER PROOF?