Need suggestions

Okay, I have tons still left to do and this is purely a temporary fix, here is a picture taken a few days ago. I found the mums on a super sale. They will have to be thinned and some taken out, but for the instant effect I was looking for, they worked well. I took out 4 dwarf yaupons and put in 3 Lorepetlums. Everything is still a work in progress. Eventually, I want to widen the bed down the path a little and actually reshape the path a little. Add some river rock along the sides to be the border, etc. This list goes on and on. For now, I need suggestions on what to put in when I pull out the waxleafs that are in the back. I considered adding double knockouts in the back because I think the colors would contrast well against Lorepetlums, but I am concerned that they will not get enough sun with the large oak tree blocking a good bit of the sun. Not exactly sure who much sun that spot gets, but I know it is not anywhere close 6 hours. I can move the lorepetlums to the back and put something else in front, but I do want it to be evergreen, even if it doesn't have a tremendous bloom season. I also considered putting hibiscus in the back for the great blooms, but then first freeze they will totally defoliate.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

I would think that Knockouts, even there was enough sun would probably get too big and block your windows.
I would definitely widen the beds. You'll have more space to play as the plants get bigger.

lol There will always be something yet to be done. May as well just get used to it...


There are different varieties of hibiscus that are more or less cold-hardy. I've got some in a big pot on a south-facing wall that don't usually lose their leaves until late Jan or early Feb. Other stuff is already leafing out by then, so it's not a big deal.

Speaking of big pots... With the mums and the jack-o-lantern pot, it seems like you like to change things up a little with the seasons? You might find a nice container that goes with the house, then swap a flowering shrub (in a plastic liner) as the seasons change. Stash the non-flowering ones in a less visible spot for the rest of the year. After you've made some of the other changes in the yard, you can decide if you want to plant one of them permanently.

I'd tend to agree to think about blocking the windows, but I think the knockouts might be ok if you were discplined about pruning. Or maybe on the side and something small in the middle. It also strikes me that you're planning the yard very much from the point of view of the street. Which is lovely for the neighbors and passersby, but probably not the way you usually see it. I'd go inside and look out the window, and try to plan something that works for the people inside, too. So maybe you don't have shrubs all the way across the bottom directly in front of the house. Maybe they're pushed out a little, so that there's a little secret bed for the people inside to look at.

Beautyberry is kind of an interesting plant for shade, if that's an issue, but I think as that tree gets bigger, yall might take out some of the lower branches, so that you're getting the heavy shade on the roof, but high shade for the flower beds.

A holly or possumhaw or such might be good. Even one that's not evergreen, but with the berries there's something going on all year round.


lol It's all good... Have fun, and be sure and show us more pictures as you go...

Some great suggestions. How high are your windows? I agree with not blocking them. A nice evergreen is a great idea to contrast with the loropetalum. I think loropetalum grow quite high. Is it dwarf?
Carissa holly http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/shrubs/ilex_cornuta-carissa.html will do well in part shade. Does rosemary grow in your area, that is also fairly low and easy to trim. You might try a short vine http://www.clematis.com.pl/wms/wmsg.php/15.html that can grow over the green shrub if you want some flowers.
I started off with a shade tree 14 years ago. Now my front yard is 2/3 bed! The grass couldn't grow.(Happy about that)Yes...if you want more sun you need to be tree trimming.

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't know exactly how high the windows are, but not tremendously so. The Lorepetlums are dwarfs, but I am now thinking that I should still move them to the back of the bed and put something smaller in from of them, not something taller behind. I am thinking maybe foxtail ferns. They are a nice shade of green that I think would contrast well with the purple leaves are fairly evergreen. I think they will take the shade okay. They get wide, but not so much tall (at least not the ones I have. They offer a different texture and shape from a shrub. Oh yeah, and I have several nice ones in the back that I can move. I have lots of plants in the back that I am moving to the front in an effort to do this on the cheap, but still have it look nice. So what do you guys think of that? I could still put some seasonal color in front for blooms and of course the lorepetlum will bloom, but also offer color through the foliage.

We considered connection the tree ring to the bed at the front of the house, but I have a terrible time planting beds that can be seen from all side, so I haven't gotten that brave yet.

I think in the spring, I am going to see if DH will take the bottom limbs off the tree in an effort to raise the canopy.

As for decorating the outside, I have never really done it before, but saw the large pumpkin at the store last year and fell in love with it. Didn't get it, but when I saw it again this year, figured it must be fate (isn't that what we call it when we splurge on something we want...LOL!). I am on the look for a nice pot to put there to be able to change out the plant. The problem with that spot it is gets full sun and is surrounded by brick and concrete. In the past before we re-did our walkway, we have never had success growing anything there in the ground or a pot, except Mexican Petunias and everyone knows that they will grow anywhere. Actually, a seed blew over from of neighbors yard and landed in between some bricks that we had filled the area in with and took root. Now that is a determined plant. Anyway, I have a large ceramic pot, that I may try there. I know I want something of substantial size, but not terribly wide.

Thanks again for all the help!

Even with some shade, the knockouts will get too big and block out the windows. Rosemary does well in DFW. It does occasionally bloom, smells great, and doesn't get too tall.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/170/

I agree that the dwarf fringe flower shrubs need to be moved to the back, also you might add a couple more for a solid base. They will get about four foot after two or three years. I have them and also a dwarf nandia 'Fire Power', that is evergreen and has green leaves in summer to red in winter. They require no trimming and will not set seed like the invasive type. At only two foot tall and maintaining a ball shape, they make a great step down from the Lorepetlums. This picture was in early spring, you can see daffodills to the left. Also they only received 4 hours of sun late in the day.

I also would widen and shape your pavers as you mentioned, but I would consider using a smaller edging around the beds and tree. Those used now are taking attention away from your plants with which you have made a great start toward beautifing your yard.

Or if you really enjoy plants, incorporate the whole front yard to a mulched area with grouped plantings, stones, and pathways. (smile) No mowing then!

This message was edited Nov 5, 2009 8:43 PM

When you think roses...are knock outs, the only one that comes to mind? For shame!

Nope, have a variety in the back, but with the lack of light, I didn't think they would do well. I have Valentine, which I really like, small, thornless, but I am fairly certain that with low light, it wouldn't perform well. The others I have are 6 foot plus, so they wouldn't work, but I am open to suggestions if you have some... I am South of you and don't spray, so anything that needs to be babied for black spot or other issues won't work.

Hybrid Musks will do well without a bunch of sun..so will some of the Noisettes.....