Need suggestions for evergreens

lily225

http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/52814409.aspx

Here's the link to my original post (in which I got some great suggestions!!) and you can see pictures of the bed in front of the porch that we are working on this summer. I'm going to go with TarHeels suggestion and try to do a row of evergreen in the back and get some of the BEAUTIFUL Carpet Roses to go in front.

Our yard (we moved here 2 summers ago) was overgrown with shrubs that were out of control, so I hate thinking of putting some back in. BUT I realize that we need something there in the winter that will give some color. 

So I've been trying to look for something that stays relatively small (I need to be able to see over that bed to see the kids playing). I want to avoid something that will turn into looking like a hedge. I was wondering if it's acceptable to "mix and match" different shrubs? Or if there's a certain plant that won't turn into a hedge row over time?? I just really want to avoid a rigid sort of look.  I also would love something wthout needles. Everything on our property is needles and I hate them.

I've seen/read about a few that even have some color to them which would be awesome.

Oh, we live in a 5b zone and these will be in full sun if that makes a difference. 

Thanks!! 

amz05

There are a lot of different types of Euonymus that may work. They keep interest in the winter.

I've had decent luck with them around here except for a couple that got scale too bad. 

FoxinFiji

You want something that is slow growing so it won't be overgrown like the previous what were they yews?  

Most euonymus are fast growing with an annual growth rate of 13-24". 

Holly would be a good choice in the full sun area while boxwoods would work in areas with a little shade.  Here is a great guide to all the different types of boxwoods out there.  Pick ones that will stay the size you are looking for as they will be slow growers.  I thought one side of the house was full sun and one was partial sun right?  Are you only doing one area at a time?  

Otherwise there are a lot of great conifers that could go there.  You may not like the look of say pine needles (I'm not a fan either!) but there are a lot of different kinds of needles that have completely different looks.  Here's a few examples:

 

Chamaecyparis obtusa

 

Golden cypress

 

Dwarf blue spruce

 

Birds nest Canadian hemlock

Dwarf golden yew

 

Your best bet is to go to some local nurseries and see what they have available.  That will be the least expensive way to fill a big bed.  You'll want something in the dwarf (1-6" per year) or intermediate (6-12" per year) growth category depending on how long you plan to stay in the house.  Write down all the ones you're interested in and then do a little research on how fast they grow and what kind of lighting conditions they like.  Here are two great conifer references for that:

http://www.iselinursery.com/articles/Conifers09.html 

http://www.richsfoxwillowpines.com/catalog/?category=2

And their search function:

http://www.richsfoxwillowpines.com/catalog/search/

You can also check out this conifer forum:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/conif/

Just use the search function at the bottom of the page and type in the scientific name.

HTH!

lily225

amz05:

There are a lot of different types of Euonymus that may work. They keep interest in the winter.

I've had decent luck with them around here except for a couple that got scale too bad. 

 

Thanks! I checked these out and found a few that I really like! DH and I are going to search around all the local nurseries here on Saturday and see what we have available around here. 

lily225

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Yes, for right now we are just doing the bed right in front of the porch. We just don't have the money to do all the way across right now So for now I'm going to get the evergreens and the roses for in front of the porch. We also tore the two foundation shrubs out on the corner and planted our lilac there. Next year we will do the bed right in front of the garden level window as well as fill out all the pretty stuff by the walk way. I'm soooo excited for next summer already!!

 Yeah, I really just can't get on board with the needles   BUT there were a couple of boxwoods on that site that I had actually seen at Lowes last week that I really liked, including the Elegantissima that I will go back and look at. I also saw on that site the Green Mountain, which I liked, and thought might look nice either on either side of the steps or between the garden window and the porch. Thoughts??

I have NEVER really gotten into gardening before, but I'm totally getting sucked into it all this spring! So excited to get started and do a lot of learning! 

lily225

Or the Dee Runk for the area between the window and front door... Don't know how tall something should be in that spot...