Can you give me a few ideas?

goldenjes · September 2011

We finally finished digging up & leveling the front "yard" and are getting ready to put in the hardscaping. We're doing buff stripstone retaining walls (tan lines in photo), and chocolate brown sandstone for the pathway on the right. Top will be a small grassy area, and next year we'll be removing the concrete for a front porch/deck & using more sandstone for the path. Also painting a different color in the next 1-2 years.

Now, I need ideas on what to plant. (Zone 5, full sun) Original plan was/is to do red & yellow twig dogwood along the bed to the left, but I'm not sure about that now.

Front bed (near sidewalk) needs to be xeriscape & easy maintenance (once established). I had thought about small barberry bushes, but was told (here) that they seed a lot. Also thinking of moving the giant grass plant in front (self-seeded) to the front bed.

I would like something(s) with multi-season interest. Any ideas for me to check out?

botanicalbliss · September 2011

I like the idea of shrubs along the left side and up closer towards the house. If you want something easy/low maintenance, native plants are great for that, and they give a nice show all season long. Most perennials are pretty easy, too, besides some fall clean up. I always like coneflowers, daisies, daylilys, sedums, bee balms, perennial geranium, columbines, etc. It's pretty easy to find a good mix of perennials that bloom at different times. Hit the garden stores now when everything is on sale for the fall. It may not look like anything now, but in the spring they'll be awesome. Good luck!