Shrubs for large yard

We have a very large yard, and an extremely long expanse across the entire width of the back. We are trying to 'shrink' the lawn by planting shrubs across this long width.
I would like some suggestions as to decorative hardy shrubs that can survive in a clay soil. I'm in zone 5(a); the yard is in mostly sun, maybe 1/4 shade late in the day, and backed by a 6' board on board fence.
I have researched a few shrubs, Cheyenne Privet, Purpleleaf Sandcherry, Silky Dogwood, and evergreens such as Mountain Laurel, Emerald Arborvitae and Irish Juniper. We are also considering the common Purple Lilac, Siberian Peashrub, Hawthorn, Japanese Spirea and Barberry.
Any thoughts, pro or con, or new ideas would be welcome.
Thank you.
Laurie E.
Woodstock, IL

Please don't settle for junk like privet or purple sandcherry. Would you consider converting that area to a natural shrubland restoration using native species that would help your local wildlife instead?

Guy S.

Skip the barberry, too.

Lindera benzoin, Hamamelis vernalis, Aronias, Cephalanthus occidentalis, and native Viburnums would be on my list.

I'd also consider sweeps of grasses like Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Indian Grass and Switchgrass.

Purple sandcherry will most likely have borer problems and should be avoided. I like 'Diablo' Ninebark as a similar shrub. 'Mohican' Viburnum will take the clay. Dwarf Korean or Miss Kim lilac have less powdery mildew problems and have a nice shape. Siberian peashrub and Mt. Laurel are a little iffy for this zone. Hawthorns would be fine - they are attractive with wildlife benefits. Amur maple would be a large shrub or small tree also.

OK remember you are dealing with gardeners here at DG. So what do you want to accomplish? Take a picture and let us know. Do you want to mow less grass. Do you want to make the back of the yard interesting? What are you looking at?

Al, for Laurie's area I'd warn against Amur maple for the same reason as privet -- it can reproduce very aggressively, creating a serious weed problem. It's also very susceptible to V. wilt here in Illinois.
Guy S.

What we'd like to do is put bushes / shrubs across the back of our yard, in front of the fence, so we will effectively 'shrink' the space that requires mowing. In addition the fence is not ours, it is the developments; and is not my taste. So if we could cover a portion of it that would be a great side benefit.
I am attaching a pic.

Thanks.
Laurie

It would be very easy in this situation to fall into "perimeteritis."

That gives us some ideas. You have a long linear fence that would be attractive if broken up by non-linear beds. I would break the grass up along the fence with a series of shapes to add variety to the garden with out anything but shape. IE Start in the back corner with a wide circular bed to enclose the corner (20' off the fence), then continue the corner along the road fence with a narrowing of the next bed and make it long and kidney shaped (30' long by 6-8' wide), then get slowly bigger again with a S shaped along the grass border. All of these should be curved slow enough to run your lawn mower without having to do any sharp turns. Then continue the curving line to the end of the fence wall. I'll try to "paint" this.

I agree with stressbaby. With an area that large, take advantage of it by doing a more interesting shaped bed. Avoid the 'football linemen' approach. I wish I had such a blank slate to work with. I'm a big fan of viburnum and agree with using natives. Just make sure whatever you choose is not invasive in your area. Go for things with multi-season interest which will provide cover and food for birds and other wildlife. You will be paid back dividends. Good luck!

Regards,
Victor

Perfect spot for a mixed hedge row of suckering monsters like Viburnum rufidulum, Viburnum dentatum, Viburnum lentago, Viburnum prunifolium,Witchhazel, Corylus americana, mixed in with small trees like Carpinus caroliniana, Chionanthus virginicus, Cercis canandensis, etc. Mix it up!

I think you are going to want some sort of backdrop for your shrubs so you can appreciate their flowers and fall colors better. I would add a mixture of conifers along the back then step down the height with some smaller trees like redbuds, dogwoods, japanese maples, etc & shrubs in front of that. Get that checkbook out though. You can get a flavor for how cool conifers can be by going to Rich's Foxwillow Pines, conveniently located in Woodstock. He might even offer some free design advice if you bring photos and a sketch of your yard. That should be the first step anyways. Make a measured drawing of your yard to determine layout, spacing, etc of any plants you want. You can start by using your plat of survey.

Thank you all for your advice, we are going to try to incorporate almost all of it. Once we get some kind of a shape going and some plants in the ground I will post another picture.
I really appreciate all your help.
Laurie