Advice on Front Yard Bed Design

last year

last modified: last year

Hello,

I’m looking for advice on designing a garden bed in my front yard with a plant-driven approach. While I have an affinity for conifers, I’m open to incorporating other plants like hostas and groundcovers. With conifers, I’m especially drawn to thoughtful layering of colors, textures, and heights to create year-round interest. I'm located in zone 6b (Massachusetts).

The bed is peanut-shaped (about 31 ft wide and 11 ft deep) beneath two large sugar maples, with three Gold Mop Cypresses already established. I’d like to replace some of the existing shrubs and perennials (such as daylilies and catmint). The area is mostly shaded, though some spots receive up to about three hours of sun. I’m open to your ideas for plants that will create layered interest, complement the existing trees and cypresses, and thrive in a mostly-shade setting.

Thanks,

Erik

Featured Answer

einportlandor

last year

Your biggest challenge could be finding plants that will thrive under those established maples with their extensive root systems. Dig down a bit and see if you'll be able to make planting holes big enough to add decent size plants. Don't be too quick to take out the plants that are already doing ok until you're sure you'll be able to successfully replace them.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

littlebug Zone 5 Missouri
last year
In what part of the world is this bed located? Wales? Texas? Seattle? Stockholm?
Anonymous Gutierrez thanked littlebug Zone 5 Missouri
Lyn Nielson
last year
I'd tidy up what you have and add some color, like azaleas.
Anonymous Gutierrez thanked Lyn Nielson
Related Professionals
Redding Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Norfolk Landscape Contractors · Coos Bay Landscape Contractors · Jackson Landscape Contractors · Torrington Landscape Contractors · Champaign Landscape Contractors · Salem Landscape Contractors · Willmar Architects & Building Designers · Harrisburg Architects & Building Designers · Phoenix Interior Designers & Decorators · Roanoke Architects & Building Designers · Portland Architects & Building Designers · Newburyport Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Redding Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Dickinson Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
Sigrid
last year
What I notice is your plants are dwarfed by the two trees. I'd try to add some height. Rather than hostas, which are not native, although they are very rugged, if you don't have deer or slugs, I might try ferns. While many ferns require a lot of water, not all do. Christmas ferns are evergreen.

I'd go to a site like Monrovia and scroll through the evergreen options --- use filters to narrow down your choice. This will show you evergreens of different shapes and sizes and colors.

Plant Catalog Online - Complete Monrovia Plant Catalog

You can also scroll through Houzz pictures of evergreen gardens
Our work · More Info

Pocket Garden · More Info
Anonymous Gutierrez thanked Sigrid
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
last year
Some inspro
Anonymous Gutierrez thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
Anonymous Gutierrez
Original Author
last year
@littlebug Zone 5 Missouri: Closer to New England than to Wales or Texas. Zone 6b, under sugar maples.
Anonymous Gutierrez
Original Author
last year
@einportlandorGood point. I am able to plant here. The 3 Gold Mops Cypresses are doing well and established in the bed.
tracefloyd
last year
last modified: last year
I agree everything is dwarfed by the huge trunks, you need some understory trees like Japanese Maple and Dogwood, and then the Azaleas mentioned and tall Hydrangeas.
partim
last year
Native plants can sometimes be better, in tough conditions like dry shade or shallow root spaces. Grasses can add great texture, and some change color in the fall.

This may give you some ideas.

https://www.gardenia.net/guide/great-north-american-plants-for-shade-in-new-england

I see that bottlebrush buckeye is native to your area. My neighbour has one (thriving but not native here in Toronto) and it is a gorgeous shrub, both foliage and bloom.
HU-980306522
6 months ago
Designing a shaded front yard bed like yours (Zone 6b under sugar maples) is really about working with dry shade + root competition + layered structure rather than fighting it.
enajasereht
6 months ago
I'm on Cape Cod Massachusetts and I have a shady spot too. My climbing climbing hydrangea loves it there. It's just starting to leave out.