What should I plant???

8 years ago

Hi! I live in zone 7 and this is the back patio entrance to our home. We use this entrance daily and not the main entry door in the front of the house. This is a shady spot, 3 hours of sun at most in the evening. I had boxwood trees but they did not grow and eventually died. (I may not have amended the soil correctly and they were mature trees that I relocated). I could try this again and hope to have more luck? I’ve read that boxwoods can do well in shady areas but open to other options as I am at a loss! Each section next to the steps is a 4x4 box.

Let me know your thoughts! Thanks

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

8 years ago

In your zone I'd consider sweetbox, Sarcococca. Extremely tolerant of shade - even dry shade - evergreen and flowers in winter with not very showy but intensely fragrant, small white flowers. Fragrance by the primary entry is always a good thing!!

I'd opt for one of the taller growing varieties, like S. confusa or ruscifolia. Gets to about 3-4' and as wide (sometimes wider) but is easily pruned to whatever size you prefer.

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Comments (18)

littlebug zone 5 Missouri
8 years ago
Are you talking specifically about planting only in these 4x4 square spots? So, they are shady except for 3 hours in the evening? How are they for water/rainfall? In other words, how much of the spots are NOT under your roof eaves? A shady, dry spot can be hard in which to keep things alive.

If it were me, I'd try hostas, if there is enough moisture. They'd much prefer to be out from under the eaves. Or you could set a BIG pot in each spot, out toward the outer edge, if you are committed to watering them often. Hostas can live in pots.
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Rebecca Wofford
Original Author
8 years ago
little bug, yes but I'm open to ANY landscape design/advice you observe! it does not get too mushy with water, just shady and around 4-7 it gets some sun but not harsh sun.
Rebecca Wofford
Original Author
8 years ago
to answer your question, about half of the area gets rainfall
Rebecca Wofford
Original Author
8 years ago
gardengal, love the idea of the fragance factor!
Reece C
8 years ago
Rhododendron would be beautiful there. There are many varieties. We had 3 planted on the North side of our previous home, they did great. They got a couple of hours of AM sun.

We have one that is more of a small tree form at our current home that is partially under an overhang.

I love that they are evergreen. BTW, I'm in zone 7, too.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Unless a very dwarf form, rhodies will not fit in that area! And need a bit more sun or at least stronger light to offer much of a bloom.
Reece C
8 years ago
Gardengal48 My rhodie in the second picture does not get any direct sun and blooms beautifully. Perhaps I have a variety that is found here in the NC mountains that get little to no direct sun?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
It is not so much a case of direct sun as it is more light/brighter light overall. And they will get much too big for that location, overwhelming the entry way. Most rhodies (other than some very dwarf forms that really want almost full sun to thrive) get considerably wider than tall, so will rapidly encroach on the stoop.
houssaon
8 years ago
Mountain Laruel? Ferns?
Beth H. :
8 years ago
I'm looking at those rows of brick that are a diff color. I'm assuming it's from the roof run-off? I notice you have rain gutters but do they overflow? do you clean them often to keep them free of debris? all that extra run-off w/dirty roof water will do a number on anything planted in those corner beds.
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Dig Doug's Designs
8 years ago
some ideas:
Rebecca Wofford
Original Author
8 years ago
Dig doug, I like the window planter idea. Thanks!
Rebecca Wofford
Original Author
8 years ago
Beth, thanks for pointing that out, it rainfall heavy from the gutters and my husband is going to install gutter guards to minimize that problem but I wonder if that contributed to a black mold type that affected the boxwoods that were planted there and eventually died? Because the surrounding boxwoods did not get affected.
Rebecca Wofford
Original Author
8 years ago
I’m definitely doing window planters (thanks Doug) and I like rhododendrons so will see if they work out there (once gutter guard is placed). I’m planning to redo this brick patio as you can see it has bulged out of place over the years and will extend it to the gate. Should I placed anything in between the window and gate once the patio is extended there?
Lisa G.
8 years ago
Bummer about your boxwoods, I love them and they're easy. I'm in zone 7, too. How about woodland tobacco for evening fragrance? Also, you can't go wrong with hostas (get a variety of sizes), they're the garden gift that keeps on giving once they establish. Agree on the rhodies...they're great but can get pretty big. What about a dwarf variety euonymus or aucuba? I've had the larger full size versions of both and they seemed pretty bomb proof (and interesting) in a semi-shaded area of our yard. There are some seriously cool shade-loving begonias out there that look great with hostas. Also, we have two small oakleaf hydrangeas on one side of our house that seem to love it there, they only get a few hours of direct sun in the a.m. But they're not necessarily that small. Have you thought of eventually building a portico over the entrance? You could cover it in columbine, among other things.
latifolia
8 years ago
Gutter guards keep debris out, but I’m wondering if the problem is gutter pitch. In your photo, there’s no downspout in the corner, which suggests the gutter should be pitched away from the corner, so the water flows away. If that isn’t the case, the water flows over the edge of the gutter. Ask me how I know. It’s an easy problem to fix.

You can power wash your stoop and it will look much better.

You do need to amend your soil, especially if you have heavy clay. It’s a big job, but easy to do. Spread a plastic ground cover, dig down a foot. Then dig down another foot. Add plenty of organic matter like peat and rotted manure. Add each pile of dirt back in, so the topsoil is on top. If you do the whole square, you are ready to plant anything you want without worrying about drainage.
Lisa G.
8 years ago
Rebecca, I don't know about you, but we live in zone 7b right on the Chesapeake so...you know...we live in a pretty swamp. Like latifoli said...clay, clay and more clay mixed with sand (which is the recipe for cement). I've had lots of problems with mildew and fungal diseases with certain plants, too. I was delighted to discover something that is genuinely, truly referred to as "dog vomit fungus" all over a patch of lily turf (liriope) in our yard. If you're seeing green, then you may (in addition to having some rain runoff issues) just have the usual problems that arise in damp maritime zones. What time of year did they turn black and die? It could've been "winter kill" which can happen to boxwoods. I think you should try for them again, they're so nice. Wanna know more about boxwoods than you can shake a stick at? Just google "Martha Stewart" and "boxwoods" and you'll be good to go. She's the queen.