Can you show us a picture of the area?

The word 'row' always worries me outside a vegetable garden.

This picture was taken before I added a row of heucheras in front of the hostas. The gap between the tree and the hostas is where I'd like a shrub or perennial. The perennials beside the trellis have also been removed. The plants on the other side of the bench belong to the neighbor.

So are you looking to put something between the tree and the trellis?

tj

Yes...it's 5 ft long and 4 ft wide. Thanks.

I am still unclear where you want the shrubs - basically right near the tree trunk, between the hostas and the trunk? If this is the spot, you will find it difficult to get anything started there that will have healthy growth IME. Established maples have lots of thirsty, dense roots, and an established maple will outcompete just about anything newly planted. If you are thinking about outside of the hostas, farther from the trunk, look at Diervilla lonicera and D. sessilifolia which IME do fine with a fair amount of shade and dry conditions. Just don't use the white-variegated one which I think would look strange with the white variegated hostas.

Hi NHBabs, I took this picture two weeks before I added heucheras in front of the hostas, so that space is taken :) Hostas and lilies were thriving in that (now) empty spot, but I wasn't a fan of the look so I dug them up. tsugajunkie z5 SE WI, a local nursery has fothergilla gardenii blue shadow...very excited to see how this turns out. I'll plant it farthest away from the roots (in Spring), near the trellis and fill the space up closer to the roots with a large planter with annuals or garden art (urns etc). The previous home owner liked prairie and informal gardening, but my husband I like conifers, and a more formal garden style so I'm in the process of transforming our yard.

Conifers? Did you say conifers? If you're on the east side of Iowa look into either the Bickelhaupt Arboretum in Clinton or the Dubuque Arboretum for great conifer ideas.

Let's see, smaller, upright conifers for shade, hmmm, what might I suggest...

Tsuga canadensis 'Bennett' (not mine, the rest are)

My smaller 'Bennett' with friends...

Tsuga canadensis 'Dawson'

Tsuga canadensis 'Lewis'

tj

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI, I like the Tsuga canadensis 'Bennett' a lot. This is perfect. Our local conifer place is Evergreen Gardens...I live in central Iowa, but I'm from Northeast Iowa so I can plan a trip to both of those arboretums. Thank you.

Sharlene