Hi, I am just starting out on landscaping my yard. I still don't know too much about plants. I am wondering what kind of bush or anything else I could put next to my arbor (between the arbor and nieghbors driveway) to give my privacy and be low maintence (no weekly trimming) pruning is ok. The arbor has morning glories that fill it in. Anybody have any suggestions? Other suggestion are also welcome.
it looks like a pretty sunny area, is it full sun?
Yes that side is in full sun all day (south facing).
A lilac bush works in your hardiness zone and can grow quite tall. Rhododendron bushes also come highly recommended and works in your zone. They are both flowering bushes, both bloom in the spring. If you look into Rhododendrons they are usually evergreen. Don't get the deciduous.
This message was edited Jun 29, 2009 10:45 PM
Hi AH....are you talking about a line of shrubs going from the arbor to the back, or just from the arbor to the side? I love rhodies...but they're mostly part sun. Lilacs, rose of sharon, wegelia, are all full sun...I got a new abelia called a fragrant abelia which has proven very hardy, it gets little flowers that smell like lilacs, but in the fall the leaves turn red, which is a bonus here in MA. Pieris japonica....I guess it depends on whether you want evergreen, flowers, fall color....
Hi Thanks for your suggestions. How about a picket fence the color of the arbor and a flower bed in front of it. I dunno. Guess I am also looking for crub appeal too. I'm so confused.
This message was edited Jul 3, 2009 8:14 AM
I think a picket fence is a great idea, it can be as tall or short as you want to make it, and you can put a curved bed in front of it and just plant for 4 season interest....
Well I've done a little work on it. I put a little fence in and a flower bed in front. In the bed i put a japanese maple in front center and two Stella D'Oro on either side.
Don't you also want something running perpendicular with that small fence so you block more of their driveway? Just a thought. And, while the Japanese maple is small now, those grow to be very tall...may want to move it in a few years before it's too entrenched.
oh that's pretty! you could put a climbing vine on the arbor, it will fill the gap between the arbor and fence and then go across the arbor. I would paint the arbor & fence all the same color.
And, while the Japanese maple is small now, those grow to be very tall...may want to move it in a few years before it's too entrenched.
Well this is the finished bed. I have two Stella De Oro daylilies on each side; in the middle I put Petite Delight Bee Balm. Growing on the arbor I have morning glories. In the middle is my Bloodgood JM. I do realize that the JM will get big so it might get moved to the middle of the front yard. Also on the back side of the fence I put 3 Snowcap Shasta daisy plants. The little pink flowers my wife and daughter picked out and I dont know what they are, they told me they were annuals so I put them in different spots.
I can't see the little pink ones too well, they might be celosia. It looks very nice!
A word of warning with the morning glories, they can spread and get somewhat invasive. I planted them once and my husband still curses at the mention of them, they got in his lawn. I love that bee balm!
Hi Lynnie,
I know that morning glories are very invasive but I like them so much I just pluck out the little ones when I see them. Do know of something better to plant there that will come back every year. It is such a small planting area for the arbor so anything planted will end up in places i dont want. My wife said no roses on the arbor because of the thorns on them. Afraid the kids in her daycare will get hurt walking through the arbor.
Thanks Lynnie it is celosia. It say that it is an annual so thats good. The home depot that my wife bought them from had them in the perenial section. grrr. That is why i dont like buing from places like that. I can plant other fillers in the spring.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/132111/
AHRichard, try the clematis forum. There are many colorful clematis that would love that arbor. They like their feet in the shade and their heads in the sun. I use a small flat rock to shade the roots of my clematises.
I love clematis, too. AHRicard check out this link for flowering vines in zone 5. I like to use this as a starting place, it helps me narrow down my choices. On the left there's a drop down menu for zone, sun exposure, etc.
http://www.naturehills.com/catalog/vines.aspx
I have to add this one because it mentions honeysuckle, hydrangea, etc. Ther ea re a LOT of choices.
http://www.northscaping.com/InfoZone/IS-0137/IS-0137.shtml
This message was edited Jun 14, 2010 7:52 PM
and one more with thornless roses. last one I swear lol
http://www.rose-gardening-made-easy.com/thornless-roses.html
Thanks for the links I'll look through them.
Hey does anybody know how to keep cats from doing their duties in flower beds. GRRrrrrrr poop every where
Just an update pictures. Been away for awhile and the weed got out of control. Added Blushing Knock OutŪ Rose between the Stella De Oro daylilies.
This message was edited Jul 9, 2013 3:07 PM
This message was edited Jul 9, 2013 3:08 PM
Pull the weeds and add mulch. Cover the soil and fewer weeds will grow, and the ones that do will be easier to pull.
Install landscape weed control mesh and rubber mulch. That requires removal and amending each time you wish to rearrange the plantings. The cat won't like it much.
Just found your thread! What a great job!
I agree with Diana_K, Pull out the weeds, maybe spread a bit of compost, and mulch, mulch, mulch! You can also sprinkle some Cayenne pepper in the bed! Cats(grrr) don't care much for that.
edited to "fix" unknown symbols that 'appeared' erroneously. Tech. glitch?
This message was edited Nov 28, 2013 8:24 AM
This message was edited Nov 28, 2013 8:25 AM
Cats also dislike chicken wire or the like, and cocoa shell mulch. Too much for their tender little paws to be subjected to , I think, at least in their un-humble opinion.
My flowers grew up through the chicken wire just fine, yet it helped while things were filling in.
Good luck; this is one of my biggest peaves as well.
Firstly check the proportion of carbon and nitrogen in your land and select the place where sunrays should reached..also take care that water drainage should be proper...Go here http://oceansrg.weebly.com for more detail.
Your daylilies are coming along nicely. Pull the weeds and do the mulch thing (make sure the mulch does not have a weed inhibitor that will kill the good plants if it is laid too close) and add some paving blocks in front of the black edger a couple of block levels high to add more curb appeal and hide the black edger. White star jasmine grows fast for arbors and smells heavenly down South so you would have to check your area for compatability, but as long as the roots are protected they grow back fast every year and never have to be dug up and are not as invasive as wisteria but their leaves also turn red in winter for a beautiful effect. Stick to no more than 3 different flower colors in a small area too avoid becoming "too busy". You can always divide the daylilies once they are established for "continuity of color". The fence needs "something' to add interest. Maybe some hangers for hummingbird feeders or some stain to jazz the color up a little and still not be "labor intensive". Keep up the good work....
