Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: Planting Suggestions, 1 by alyrics

alyrics wrote:
Now now Guy
He's not George Ball, don't hurt 'im or 'er as the case may be - tee hee..

I agree on the gold anything plus purple barberry. The the avocado appliance and orange shag rug of our time. It only gets better when they add a blue spruce. It really dates the look.

But I rather like variegated euonymous and am glad to have it evergreen. I use it in 3 places that are difficult and have unamended soil. One planting has low growing green/white v. eu. with Patriot Hosta and hellebores in a wet dark shade area that gets a lot walk by traffic - which pretty much covers all the seasons. Another has it with forget me nots on a dry hillside and the 3rd is a 2-tone green one planted with leucoethoe and hakone grass. They're muted, no-care and can be interesting.
Shaved into a ball - well thats another story. Only microphylla boxwood should endure that.

KD - before you do anything, go visit some gardens, take some digital photos, go to the library and pick up some picture books. You can search on the net for the extension service that is nearest you for plant lists and descriptions that will thrive in your area. I think deciding on how much time you really want to devote to that space is critical to its long term success. There are plenty of low maintenance plant materials that look nice. Another item is standing back to take good look at your house and deciding what colors, shapes and heights will look good up against it. Digital photos can help a lot. I suppose you've got a good 45 days till fall planting season - will that be enough to do some research?