ideas for 4x18' bed

Hi everyone~

I have an area on the side of my house that is 4X18' feet as of right now I have pachysandras in it, lilac bushes and rose of sharon (against the house) and some inkberry bushes in front of the the lilacs and rose of sharon. I have to move the inkberry bushes because they experience winter burn and the wind is just devastating all the leaves by spring. The area gets afternoon sun and I am looking for some suggestions:

Should I move the lilac bushes? Will they do better in full morning sun? I have a few leaves on the top no flowers.

Should I plant some kind of tree or shrubs in this area that can tolerate wind and grow close to the house?

What types of plants should I plant in this area other than hostas?

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/928/
There's for your lilacs. Sounds like they probably at least need some rejuvenation - you should be getting flowers on them! Maybe a windbreak? Something like a hedge to take the brunt of the wind?

Interesting article Carrie, good pics too.

Oh, that's not one of mine; that's one I was looking at recently in order to reference it. :) I have one about lilacs coming out in May though. The name of the author is dancing around *outside* my brain taunting me!

edited: TONI LELAND! They both have TL(or LT) for initials and for some reason I always get the two of them confused.

This message was edited Apr 13, 2009 9:07 PM

That was a great article thank you!! The lilacs are small to begin with and
I pulled them from my mother's yard two years ago because she is not a gardener and they looked terrible to begin with. I'll post some pictures so you can see. Thanks!!

here are some pictures it's actually wider than I said. Should I mulch the area too? The pachysandras that are totally in the shade around the AC are really starting to flourish but the rest I think are getting to much sun so maybe if I put mulch around them they will stay green? Yes/no? I can't landscape paper it because the pachysandras will not spread..yes/no? Can you tell I am so new at this! This was kind of a "throw the free plants in there kinda bed" now I actually want to do something with it.

This message was edited Apr 18, 2009 7:06 PM

This message was edited Apr 18, 2009 7:10 PM

I am not keeping all of the rose of sharon either. I am getting rid of the ones in front of the fire place

Raebeags, is that area part shade? If the hostas are doing the best I think it might be a more shady area? What direction does that side face? I have an area on the north side of my house with the furnace vent, which makes it tough to grow stuff. Do a/c units emit fumes, also? (I don't have central air :( but if they do, that would be another factor). I'm new at all this stuff too. Your picture just looks like my north side.

That's a good question I don't know if a/c emits fumes....that is something that I will have to research...The flower bed is on the west side of my house and gets afternoon sun.

I still need help with this area. I have mulched it this summer and the pachysandras are really beginning to flourish. I also trimmed the lilac bushes (in the far corner of the picture) and I planted a dwarf hydrangea bush that is doing very well. I need help finding plants that I can plant in front of the air conditioner to hide them. I am looking for plants with winter interest. They need to be plants that are hardy in the winter because I use to have three inkberry bushes in this spot but they all suffered terrible winter burn. I was thinking of a staggered look that still leaves room to work on the ac units if need be. I am giving away most of the Rose of Sharon which are in front of and to the right of the chimney. I can also bring the bed out a little if you think that will help. Thanks for all your help. This portion of the house gets late afternoon sun.

Two good candidates for winter interest in shrubs includes evergreens and viburnums. I'm partial to viburnums. They tolerate a wide range of growing conditions and there's so many cool varieties. Blue Muffin gets cool blue berries that appear early fall and last until the birds finish eating them. Blackhaws are kind of cool - can be trained/trimmed to bushy tree form or left to grow naturally. Korean Spice smell awesome in the spring. American Cranberry has incredible red foliage in the fall and berries.

Evergreens: Long list of hardy varieties. Don't forget hollies as possible's although they like protected more than windy in my area. May be okay in your zone.

Other ideas: Dwarf crab apple, dwarf evergreen trees, dwarf whatever-else-is-out-there. Dwarf cultivars have many new varieties out in just about every category.

Dogwoods, not one of my favorites to work with as bushes, but very pretty. Wonder if there's dwarf trees in this family?

Spireas - staple fill in bush. Most top out at 4'. Not much winter interest but can edge the showier choices as it's easy to keep them sheared to whatever height you want.

~Sharon

FYI... a/c units do not emit fumes.

good info Flowerjen
Rae I love the golden evergreens, have you looked at any of those? False cypress, dwarf conifers...I'll be doing a conifer and boulder area in the Spring. Gives a nice yellow in winter to go with the evergreen...in my zone we need that! Oh and then there's ornamental grasses.

Ahhh... Evergreens and grasses. Have a birdhouse in the back corner of my yard and have been hankering for an evergreen assortment for that corner. The grasses would be an especially appropriate touch. Sorry, do not want to hijack this thread. Just got excited about the tree/grass combo Lynnie6868 mentioned!

~Sharon

No this is great everyone!!! I am going to go check them all out on plant files now!! You guys are getting me so excited about Spring!! Thanks

I thought the grasses could be invasive species or something like that? I have been avoiding them because I thought they were like Japanese bittersweet and burning bush. I know the burning bush is band from being sold in MA

Rae some grasses are invasive, but many aren't....just make sure you get something hardy for your zone...well you're a zone warmer than me so it will be easier for you lol here's a link to get ya started....
http://www.highcountrygardens.com/ornamental-grasses/

rae, with grasses there are clumpers and spreaders. In general, spreaders are the rude ones - underground rhizomes (sp?). Most clumpers just grow their clump a little bigger each year. Seed may or may not be an issue for either type. Best bet: check any type that interests you before buying. Note that some of the clumpers can grow quite a big clump. They may have to be divided or a bit hacked out every now and then to maintain the desired size.

Two years ago, I tried my first ornamental grass. I was as nervous as you sound about unwanted spreading. I did some research and headed to the nursery with a list of "acceptable" grasses. I watched that first planting closely for two years before buying/trying more (added two types this year). I'm glad I tried though as I love the look and motion of grasses. Winter interest is a bonus too.

~Sharon

I love mine, too, I have dwarf hamlin, pennisetum karly rose and a burgundy one called ruby ribbons.

Thank you so much!! I love this site!! I just learn so much!!! Thank you!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!

here's mine shortly after planting... pennesetum karly rose, and ruby ribbons

Are the ruby ribbons all the way to the right? I defiantly think I will be looking into some type of grass!! Thanks for sharing love it!