Big gaping hole

Recent blows have left a huge hole in my front bed ...a heavily supported large tree was finally removed for safety reasons after the 65mph winds took it out.

Suggestions?

Year round interest would be a plus and obviously since its a fairly shallow raised area ..no Trees! =)
Zone 6 a here. And it's full sun.

Piersis Mountain fire bush was not successful here..red hot pokers and roses and obviously barberrys are strong here. The one gaura I tried is lovely ...I will probably introduce more to the edges and the persicaria is out of control for the other end but what for the "showy" middle. The trellis is for climbing roses that are just in their first year...probably 2 more years before they fill it in.

I'd fill it in with daylilies.

Dwarf Japanese Maple.

three birdhouses --all staggered heights - with the daylilies under

Or, a birdbath

I'd consider moving the block wall out a few more feet to enlarge the planting bed too.

I like all the flowers you have now - would just add more of the same.

This might be too big for your spot but it has a great winter interest form:

Harry Lauder's Walking Stick (Corylus avellana)
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/937/

rebecca30

I would try a dwarf jap. maple. or even a dog wood would be nice/

There are mant ornamental grasses that would look good year round. I just planted Red Fountain grass. I bought 5 plants at Walmart for $2.00 a piece.

Thanks for the suggestions all!

I have to agree with the ornamental grass idea. There are many varieties and colors out there now.

Doug

I pictured a small weeping tree.

A large butterfly bush would look nice or maybe a small flowering cherry tree

This message was edited Oct 21, 2008 7:43 PM

My first thought was also a weeping tree - - yaupon or something similar that grows well in your area.

A small weeping tree be nice allright.. or a Coxcomb.. lovely red blooms in the summer,only grows to max of six- seven feet..

This message was edited Nov 9, 2008 2:29 PM

This message was edited Nov 9, 2008 2:30 PM

has anyone ever head of a politician tree? I don't know the name but I saw one in a news artical and it had a lot of visual interest. It was all crooked, hence the name.

Corylus avellana 'Contorta' (aka Harry Lauder's Walking Stick) comes to mind as something that people might give that name to although I've never personally heard it called that.

Knock out roses are nice

something that is tough and beautful and smells great would be a nice australian mint bush. it takes alot of abuse and has tiny little purple flowers and smells wonderful when you rub up against it! in the photo below the mint plant is the bigger one in the background with the purple flowers. very easy care and can be trimmed once or twice a year and does great. good luck!

Those are very pretty, I've grown a number of them but I can't think of any that are hardy past zone 8 so in zone 6 in Ohio they won't stand much of a chance.

a butterfly bush would do well in your area or maybe a rose of sharon since it only grows to six feet tall and blooms july to frost they come in pink, lavender, and darker purple

Rose of Sharon in Zone 6 would get bigger than 6 feet and they can become invasive with all the seeds they shed, believe me I know!!!

Doug

Four year old Rose of Sharon - 12 feet tall. Can't plant anything near them as you have to be able to mow down all of the seedlings. Not kidding - a million and ten seedlings.

A cousin - hardy hibiscus with it's large flowers would do OK. Their seeds are the same as ROS, but the plant and it's flowers are so gorgeous that the seeds are usually "adopted" by friends or family as soon as the pod ripens.

How about mallow for the R. of sharon look. It would be a great deal of work, but annuals would change the look every yr. There are perinnial snap dragons.

I would put in a dwarf self-pollinating fruit tree.

Pink shrub polyanthis roses behind a boxwood hedge???

I'd use daylilies :-)

Returning to the thread to show the end result....daylilies were not considered since I've spent 2 years moving lilies out of this bed and to the side of the house....

Here's how it looks 9 months later.

Still some patches without flowers but better no?

Looks so pretty!

Great!

What you've done is quite nice. I would do some underplanting with spring bulbs in the fall - start with snow crocus and snowdrops for the earliest color. Proceed with a few daffodils, narcissus, and tulips. Extend the flowering season in the fall with a couple of chrysanthemums or asters.
You've got a good eye.

thanks dBauer7998 ...I did add some bulbs for spring but have a limited budget for gardening and so went for perennials seeds this year...I won't see the full results for 2 or 3 years but needs/must.

Added sweet pea (climbing and regular). Some snapdragon. Delphinium giant. Hollyhock.
Larkspur (I know this one will be annual). Ornamental pepper, radish, basil and parsley. american painted daisy and rainbow chrysanthemum.

This patch of the garden has the nickname the streetside desert. Full sun...plus lake breezes, constant foot and automobile traffic. In other words impossible.



This message was edited Jun 15, 2009 7:39 PM

Quoi~ the good news about Larkspur...it will reseed happily for you and it is very easy to remove any unwanted seedlings .....