Landscape help, please.

2 years ago

I am just not happy with my landscaping. I’ve been working on it for five years with, and without professional landscapers. I am in NE Ohio, zone 6. I keep getting the same advice, hydrangeas, azaleas, hostas and a line of boxwoods against the house. Ugh. I love color. I love Proven Winners. Let’s talk about the back. It’s 2 layers. One bed is raised, along the patio perimeter and is about 2 ft deep. The second area is lower, between the lawn and a back fence and is about 4 ft deep. Both get full sun except at both ends of the yard, where a single tree blocks some sun. I just planted 6 Proud Berries along the fence. Id love to put something purple in front of them and then, if there’s room, an annual along the lawn line. Or, maybe my idea is too linear and the plans should be in groupings instead? I’m in my 70s and would like to keep any deadheading to a minimum. Here are some pictures. I appreciate any help you can give me.

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Comments (11)

Gayle Retske
Original Author
2 years ago
Here are more photos
Sigrid
2 years ago
I don't quite understand what you mean by two layers. That said, I like Liatris. It will make a nice contrast in shape and color to your coralberries. In general, you want to focus on a rhythm, rather than lines. I might punch up the Liatris with a hot pink echinacea. For spring color, you can add moss phlox and bulbs. In general, I think you just need more plants.
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callirhoe123
2 years ago
Please yourself. Plant the things you like to look at. It's your garden after all.
Gayle Retske
Original Author
2 years ago
Sigrid. 2 layers meaning one area is elevated by the raised patio and the other area is lower and against the back fence. I’m going to check out your suggestions.
Gayle Retske
Original Author
2 years ago
callirhoe123, you are so right. I’m going to take a trip to a Proven Winner garden center in April and hopefully gets some colorful ideas!
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
You should be aware that Proven Winners is just a marketing company. They don't 'create' plants but just gather together selections - sometimes new introductions; sometimes older varieties - that they predict will be strong sellers and good performers. Many other plant distributors and nurseries sell the exact same plants.
PRO
Dig Doug's Designs
2 years ago
Here are a few suggestions:
kitasei2
2 years ago
If you really want nonstop color you should cram in annuals in all the bare spots. Choose ones that dont need deadheading, like wave petunias and impatiens. Having a rolling display of perennials and shrubs in bloom is tough. Foliage can provide some of the color you crave but in a muted pallet.
PRO
beesneeds
2 years ago
If you love color, then go for it, get color. Proven Winners is just marketing- kind of like how many seed companies can carry the same kind of tomato seed. It's the same kind of seed, just marketed by different companies. If you find something you like, it's OK if it's not in a Proven Winner pot- it's also OK if it is in a PW pot.
violetsnapdragon
2 years ago
I love the garden area in the last photo--do more like that!
floraluk2
2 years ago
Fill in all the empty spaces and plant in groups. Like pix 2 & 3. Not in isolated rows of blobs surrounded by mulch like pix 1 and 2.