The roses hedge will look beautiful! What color do you have in mind?

For now it's going to be the roses I don't know where to bury yet haha. Those include white roses and very light pink which I think will be a good contrast against the red shed!

Forsythias often look messy, like in your last pic. They probably won't grow higher. Then do root very easily. The branches to the left in your last pic has almost at the ground. When they reach it, which they will do in the summer, they will root and you will end up with a huge mass of forsythia, which is, admittedly, quite pretty in the spring, but ho-hum the rest of the year. I had a mass of forsythia abandoned by the previous owners which had gone from a row of plants to a huge mass, 4 plants deep because the tips had rooted, grown up and repeated the process.

I love that biggest strawberry tower Kali! Can you tell me where you got it from?

Judi - yes it's the Garden Tower 2 (Google Garden tower Project). It was a bit pricey but we'll worth it,.I do wish I spent the extra money on the rolling caster set. It also had a middle tube for worms and compost that I removed. EXCELLENT product and very high quality. Mine is about 4 or 5 years old.

@elenazone6

What magic app did you use to come up with this beautiful inspiration? :)

Artist, don’t even get me started… I’m using the paid version of ChatGPT now, and honestly, I wish I had it last year when I hired a designer to redesign my garden space.

Oh, waow. So it must be purchased.

You can try the free version — I’m just not sure about all of its capabilities. In my case, though, it’s the best $20 a month I’ve ever spent.

“What magic app did you use to come up with …”

forsythia and the wall of roses in full bloom simultaneously?

In Massachusetts.

Kali,

May I respectfully suggest that you take out the forsythia, and replace them with roses. You'll be glad you did. Replant the forsythia at the woods edge beyond the cement former garage floor slab.

You get 3 weeks, 4 max., of bloom (mid/late March to mid/late April....plus inevitable intermittent frost damage, putting a big dent to the show), with the forsythia, and about 22 weeks of bloom from roses. Roses require more work, for sure. Forsythia are carefree, but for the rest of the year, after the bloom is over, you have a weeping shrub, a green haystack!

Moses.

Wow love the design inspo pics! Super cute!

Moses - that's a very good point, plus I just know I will end up having tons of roses and nowhere to put them so may as well use the space!

When someone reads a design suggestion and argues phenology instead of composition, it says a lot — none of it flattering.

Well, I must agree with the comments on the forsythia; I don't think it will be ideal for an arch, and it's bloom period is not long. But Kali, I like your idea of using what is already there; if you rip them out and start from scratch, it's going to take a while to look like something. Might it be possible to make a long-term sort of plan? for example, put some clematis in amongst the forsythias,letting them use the shrubs as supporting structures. Once they get off to a good start , you might want to eliminate say, one or two forsythias. As time goes on and you get used to your new environment, you'll probably start having a clearer idea of what you want your garden to be. If you've just moved in, you're probably a bit under stress-how can a person guess in advance what they want -and what their space needs? By all means put up an arch if you want! but I don't think forsythia can really be used as a climber. Put up the arch, leave the forsythias in place, for now-and let it all sink in. "Half the fun is to plan the plan", lol! Best wishes on you new home and garden.

You will have to let me know how your Garden Tower 2 does. What brand are the other two? I think I am up to 8 Greenstalk Vertical Planters now. I really love them so far. I'm mostly growing herbs, lettuce, bok choy, and flowers. The deeper ones (10 inch deep pockets) have bush green beans. I started strawberry plants in twelve of the shallower 7 inch pockets..I may have to move them to deeper pocket planters, we will see lol. They are doing well though.

It looks like you have a nice space to work with and a nice handy garden shed nearby! It will be fun developing that area. I love the forsythia!

sultryjasmine - I love the garden tower 2 - such a good investment. It's been so good for herbs or small plants. Can't wait to see how others use it as well!

I'm not sure what the other 2 are - just some brand off amazon - haven't used them before and they seem pretty decent for the cost.

Bart & all - really good points about the short bloom period of forsyhtia. I like the idae of slowly edging them out over time, so it's not barren. When I had gotten my old house I went "scorched earth" and things looked rough for a couple years haha. You're certainly right, planning and experimenting and changing things over time is half the fun! I'm sure I'll change my design about 10 more times before it's all said and done.