What is a good choice for an evergreen shrub in a planter box near the front entry that is 3 foot deep (to bottom of window) and 12 feet long by 3 feet wide. This area faces southwest, has a wall at one end, and entry walkway on the other behind 1 holly tree in medium shade Zone 8b (afternoon partial sun moist/dry).
That is hard to say if you will need something for a hotter area, or if the 'part sun' concept is right.
I do a lot of landscape design in zone 9a and 9b, double check my suggestions for your slightly cooler zone. The overhanging eaves can trap some heat and make this planter a bit warmer in the winter, so this area might actually be a zone 9 micro-climate.
If it was cooler (north or east sun, afternoon shade) then I would look into Azalea, Pieris, Hydrangea (small ones), ferns, and other shade plants. Overhanging eaves that shade the area in the hottest part of the day will help make this a more shaded area. What kind of holly is that? Many hollies are compatible with this group of plants (shade, acidic soil, moist). If the holly is doing well, then these plants ought to do OK, too.
But if the area will get too hot and dry in the summer (some tougher types of holly thrive in this warmer, somewhat drier location) then I would be tempted to look into plants that prefer more sun (heat) but will tolerate some shade:
Pittosporum 'Wheeler's Dwarf', 'Creme de Menthe' or Pittosporum crassifolium 'Compactum'
Callistemon viminalis 'Little John'
Coprosma repens 'Marble Queen' or many others (Watch the sizes, some are way too big)
Gardenia augusta 'Veitchii' or other mid-sized varieties
Nandina 'Gulf Stream'- Watch out- some Nandinas will reseed and are considered noxious weeds in some states.
Another concept:
Go with some shrubs in about 2/3 of the bed, then put a mass of seasonal color nearest the door. Change this out as needed- it is a focal point that should never look sad or neglected. It welcomes people to the house.
Thanks so much for your quick response and suggestions. I have included a few pics to help ID the holly. Planter box is behind the holly as you have noticed.
Also look at some of the slow growing Acer as there are many different coloured leaf, textures and some quite stunning ones for smaller spaces.
There are some nice Azalea, Short sized Rhododendrons and beautiful early flowering Camellia's.
I always say to new gardeners to go to the garden centre, pick out some shrubs you like, group them together, move them around and remember to space them as given on labels, this can help give a visual of what you can achieve and how it will look when planted up. Look on the label for height and width as this is normally given as the plant will be when about 10 years old.
Always ask the staff if stuck as they SHOULD know all the info, check your soil to make sure it will take any selected plants, a very cheep soil test kit will give you instant PH readings and they are so easy to use in layman's terms, for certain plants the test kit will tell you what you need added to grow such plants.
Most of the plants I've suggested dont require any pruning etc and look great even when NOT in flower, however for the first few years you would need to water regularly especially in the hot season.
Good luck, go with your gut feeling BUT make sure you select plants that suit your soil as shrubs are NOT cheep and there is nothing worse than watching you hard work wither and die in front of you.
Best of luck.
Kind Regards.
WeeNel.
Thank you WeeNel! Beautiful colo(u)rs on the many selections of Acer. Visiting nurseries this week and will have all the advice in print to make final choices, including the proper soil foundation as you suggest. Many thanks!
The holly looks too big. Blocks the view out of the windows.
Yes, the holly will be trimmed back during the planter box fix. Thank you for a 2nd opinion, my wife's was the first, ha.
Thin it lower down to expose 3-5 stems, and leave the leaves at the top. Look up Multi Trunked Tree for the concept. Then the holly will still shade the area, but it will be more open.
Your going to have to be very firm with heart and head LOL, when you get to the garden centre, it's like being a child again in a candy shop or toy store, so remember,, you DON'T have to purchase everything at one time, take camera, pen and paper and write down all the plants you think are good when grouped together, the size, to be placed back or front of box etc.
If your selection is going to cost too much for the 1 purchase, you have the names on your list and can go back later or to another garden store. Visiting these places become a habit you cant resist. When were out in the countryside, my husband all of a sudden tries to distract me IF he spies a sign for plants/ garden centre next left, or even gardens open to public because he knows it's an addiction of mine, even when we go over seas, we visit Botanical Gardens while knowing I cant make any purchases, MEEEEEEAN MAN LOL.
Just take your time and that way you can look at what you like, where to place it next to what, or to move a little left /right etc.
It's fun, like when a child and you did those pictures "painting by numbers" all of a sudden, it looks right and then you have to put them into the soil. so don't rush things, tomorrows another day, IF you have stored plants in pots, be sure to water them well,
If I have a good few shrubs or small tree's to plant at one go, I always have a large container of water, (wheel Barrow will do) fill with water and sink your plants /pots into the water so they can take up a good drink before they go into the ground, when you remove from pot, try to gently tease a little of the roots free from the sides so they don't continue to grow around in a circle, it encourages the roots to spread outwards. Make sure you allow the hole to be deeper and wider than the pot so you can add some nice compost and a little feed recommended for the type of plants your placing into the soil. Always put the plant into the soil so it is at the same depth it was in the pot, there will be a mark on the stems that indicate what was ABOVE soil level, bury too deep and you can cause disease, rot or other problems.
Have fun, hope your wife loves the job your doing and remember plants grow with your new found skills. and gardens were never built in a day, they evolve.
For the first few years make sure you have things to hand for when / IF they are required, like night frost, have a horticultural fleece, cheep from garden store, look out for weeds as they will love your new fresh humus rich soil also,
Make a birthday list for tools as these are not cheep either, but most of all, enjoy.
Stay in touch with the forum any time you need advice, already you will know we all do things different or have differing opinions BUT what we all have in common, we want you to succeed, want you to feel good about your new project when completed, and would love a picture of the results.
Happy gardening and Kindest Regards..
WeeNel.
Have a good grasp how to trim holly from pics online and descriptions, thanks. Agree that would really open up the area and help get more sun through to the planter box.
WeeNel, understand the temptation at nurseries. Been down that road some time ago. It's a calming effect when strolling through nurseries for some reason. Enjoy to do when shopping for tools at the big box stores. Tempted to buy when nothing needed. Will share your suggestions with wife during our excursion to help control and shape the experience for achieving goal at hand. Will research proper soil/fertilizer when we ID shrub(s) to use in this space. Many thanks!
