Knot Garden Suggestions

Good Morning,
This is my first post and I would dearly love some help. I’m in Goldsboro, NC in zone 7b (I think). I want to plant a very small knot garden around the brick pump house in my front yard. The bed is only 15 ft. by 15 ft. with a 5 ft. by 5 ft. pump house in the middle. I need two plants that contrast and I believe a good choice for the 1st one would be the dwarf boxwood “green velvet”. I have several specifics for the plant choice that I know make it rather hard to find an answer for the 2nd plant.

I need an evergreen that is compact or dwarf or easy to be kept sheared small (max sheared height of about 15 to 18 in. tall) since we need access to the pump house and the bed is so small. I need it to contrast well with the “green velvet” to show off the knot design. I’d really like it to be of a hardy constitution here and one of the more disease and pest resistant cultivars because I need to buy around 30 of each plant and since the big ole hollies that were there were covered with scale and sooty mold that I could never get on top of. This bed is very close to the road so it is the most prominent spot in the front yard and is another reason I would like it to always look good. It, of course, needs to lend itself to being sheared since it is a knot garden. I’ve been told euyonomous are prone to scale here and as far as barberries are concerned, I’ve killed several and I don’t know why, probably over watering, but we just don’t get along well.

I’m aware these parameters leave the field for suggestions very small but I hope someone has the magic answer anyway! I’m going to attempt to attach the design I’ve come up with for the space but since I’m “techno challenged” there’s only a slim chance I can make that happen! Thanks so Much.

Here is some info on conifers with size information, etc. Will conifers work? Do you think they will work in your knot garden and with your other plant choices?

http://www.mountainmeadowsdwarfconifers.com/plantlist.htm

this is a nice one:

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Lutea' Zone 5-8
Growth Rate - 2-3 inches/yr.
Culture - Partial shade
Size in ten years - 2 ft.

Thanks missingrosie. The conifers are beautiful on that website and the link I found within it. I simply don't have enough knowledge of conifers to know if they would work. In my limited experience I've found they need to stay on the dry side so would they work with the boxwood "green velvet"? It seems I have an over watering problem so I usually lose anything that needs to stay dry! I also don't know if they would lend themselves to being pruned and sheared into such a formal shape? I did forget to say that the bed I want the knot garden in gets full sun from about 11 o'clock in the morning on. Thanks again.

I have a dwarf conifer that the landscaper put in and it gets full sun from about 10 o'clock until nightfall. I have watered frequently because all the plants/shrubs in that bed are fairly new..so even with the extra soakings ..so far so good. You mentioned barberries..and a concern about overwatering.. I keep the barberry really dry, but it seems like when it has rained a lot, they have not suffered. Anyway, we are in zone 7B here in Hillsborough and I am sure the conifers would do well for you. So if they can be sheared and you like them, maybe you can consider them. They are very beautiful. The landscaper told me that usually if you really overwater, they will send out a SOS by showing one entire group of stems go brown (before the plant succumbs) If you are in the mood for a day trip, the J Raulston gardens in Raleigh has lots of examples of shrubs, etc., that thrive in this area and maybe you can get an idea about appropriateness for the knot garden, color, form, size etc. Also, Keifer Nursery is located in Research Triangle Park (that is the link I gave you) and that is another source for you -- you can go to see the plants 'in action.'
http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/publications/newsletters/04-98summer/News04-98sumx.pdf

Your green velvet in a knot garden:


http://www.bluesterling.com/Buxus.htm

That formal garden is gorgeous!
I think your suggestion of taking a trip to see the different plants already in action is excellent and seems to be a wise move before investing in about 60 plants. Thanks for the names of the places to visit. If any more places around the Raleigh area that have a wide range of foundation plants and evergreens come to mind then please let me know. Thanks!

Hi
Broadwells is the place to go IF you know what you are looking for (plants are not labeled and sometimes the staff can point you in the right direction (sometimes..)

But for bulk purchases can't be beat. I bought river birch for 7.50 for maybe a 5 -6 foot tree (now 6 years later 40 feet!!) Of course I thought I was buying a few young camilla but two turned out to be big leaf holly (beautiful) They have acres and acres and acres of healthy plants. If you make a trip to Raleigh, look at Plants Delight (or is it Plant Delights) nursery (juniper level) (google it.) there is an open house (maybe this weekend) that only happens a few times a year. (can't go without the appointment other times) great catalogue (free) and great education classes that fill quickly. But the gardens are worth a visit if you are in the area.