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When we bought our house, it had huge ugly bushes on the front of our house in two flower bed areas. We pull them out of one bed and made it a flower garden with tulips, lilies, hostas, irises, daffodils, and some othere stuf I can't remember. DH just pulled out the second bed that was filled with ugly bushes and posion ivy (he is regretting it now!).
But I don't know what to put there. I want something to be there year round, but I also want it to be pretty. Would small evergreen bushes work? Any favorites? Also, can I put some vine type plant (the ones with the cute purple flowers) around the base, or would this grow up and into the bush and become a mess?
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Do you have a picture of the area that you could post?? Might be able to get you better ideas if we could see the space......
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I will try to this evening!
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What about 1-2 of those cool evergreen trees that are sculpted into looking like an ice cream cone. I can't think of the name of them, but I am sure you have seen them. All it takes is 1 or 2 of them to make such a cool, dramatic effect and they last all year. And I don't believe the upkeep is too bad.
Add a water feature and a few annuals like daylillies. Keep it simple. It sounds like you have alot going on in your other flower bed...so make this more elegant and less upkeep.
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Pictures of the space...
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Since it is a small area I would keep mostly to annuals. Possibly add a compact growing hosta or some Sedum spectabile brilliant. Mini daffodils in a single row usually look cute in the spring.
Jen
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Check out this episode from DIY's Depsarate Landscapes. Not that yours is desparate ...but they had the same kind of small area by a sidewalk that I immediately thought of when I saw your pictures. There are three pages to the episode that has the information of what they placed where, and why, & how they build their trellis (if you are interested).
On the first page, their last picture - left side is the area that I am talking about. I think Page 3 tells what plants they put in there.
I would stay away from anything that will get too big, as it will cover your path. Unless you keep some of the evergreens or Arborvitaes prunned they will grow too big - IMO. Annuals (as someone mentioned) would look really nice, however it's an expense every year, the perennials are a LARGE expense off the top, but in theory you shouldn't have to replace them.
Also FYI (but I am sure you are already on this ) before you plant too much in there, be sure to add some dirt or fill so that the area slopes slightly away from the house. When gardens are next to the house, and not sloped correctly, the water run off goes directly down your foundation and after time could create water trouble for you.
Sorry to ramble on...hopefully some of this will help
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kellynkay,
I WISH I could get my yard to look like that. But, plant wise, mine is pretty desperate!!
I like the plant they put next to the garage. It says it is a 'Autumn Joy' Sedum. I will have to look that up.
I would like to do periennials so it is less maintenance every year - I don't really *enjoy* gardening
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Heres what I do, I plant bulbs in the front, behind that I plant coral bells, balloon flowers, columbine, plants that are medium size and heigth. In the back staggered between the others plant sedum or mums a little taller plants.. Lillies and hostas are great too but will end up so big for that area. You also want to avoid things that spread (iris or vines) or plants that grow to tall.
Wish you lived closer, I always have things to share. Im planting hostas and lillies for a friend soon. She has and empty flower bed.. I can't imagine such thing..