A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Landscape trials and triumphs Another project that needs to get done..

This is the side of my house that gets mostly shade and gets pounded by snow in winter.


I have a variegated weigela planted here that had to be cut right down to the ground from snow damage, it's finally growing back.


And have a small rock area that I plant annuals in..


I have planted lots of shrubs here that died from lack of sun or got crushed from the snow. I can't plant to much to the left..we need access to the power plugs and you can't block the power meter.

I haven't touched anything here for 5 years since DH was fed up with how much we spent on shrubs that died Now I am thinking perennials, although they won't get very high(thats what I was trying to accomplish).

I am beyond frustrated with this area, and it's the one thing you see when you pull into our yard..any ideas?

Oh and I will not be planting anything to the right of the weigela bush(where the addition is)..it fills that area in when it grows to it's 'real' size.

I am teeming with ideas, Tamara. But they all come tumbling down in the snow as I watch them grow in my mind.
I do think I would put color there. I think I would use roses (and I don't like roses) or a similar hardy plant in your area with the largest, biggest, longest lasting color splash you can find. I also think I would build 'boxes' to cover them over winter. Then fill in the 'floor' of the area with seed-sown annuals or wildflowers each season to see what works. .

Great minds think alike--I was looking at what tamara had writen & shown and I was thinking----some wire cages that would fit over teh plants/shrubs would keep thmm from being snow-squashed. I could see my DH making me metal framed boxes that could be used to keep the snow up off of them. as a bonus it would help insulate them from the harsh temeratures, don't ya think??.

Then I read along & saw what Tina had written.

so ya see great minds DO think alike.

Tamara you could try just one plant/bush box cover/protector this next winter to see how it worked, right???

I could build cages but roses won't grow in the shade there but I agree it needs color.

I'm thinking azalea's or rhoddies. I've been told that they have a type of azalea that has a long growing season now. I haven't looked into it though.

They have short azalea's that wouldn't bother your foundation but you would have to be sure to get the right kind because the other can ruin your foundation.

I was forgetting the shade thing. It looks so sunny but I do understand. I guess I would go with hostas or something on the ground and try some raised pots for a little height in your season. I am so lost in your zone.

Azaleas and rhodies do not over winter here..

Yup Tina I am lost in my zone also ..you may be right..I could plant hostas in the front(I have some to be divided in spring)and maybe a bench or something in back with pots...

O.k. I was playing around with my photos and was thinking this...because I wouldn't have to buy plants..I can divide what I already have.


The green plant with the dark pink dots is a bleeding heart, the smaller green plant with pink lines is an astilbe and the smaller green blobs are small hostas.


The green plants with the pink lines are astilbes and the 5 green blobs are hostas.

I'm still not sure..what ya think? DH said to just leave it alone and add to the crabapple tree bed Is he telling me something?

looks pretty to me. But in the forst photo where there is no window--why not all hostas in front???--Leave teh astilbe for the second bed???
and Hosta's bloom too which would be a bonus
about your DH--HEY !! I know !! add to the crabapple bed like HE suggested--and then do as you suggest here....
If he says anything jsut say, well I thought you wanted me to add to the crabapple area

I like your ideas. But I still like the idea of boxing the planter areas through winter to give the plants a jump start in spring. A lean-to type structure to keep the weight off the plants. Not just wire but a fairly solid structure. The snow on top would insulate without crushing. But I have access to a lot of 2X6's so I think in wood all of the time.

Now DH says not to plant in the area where the meter and plugs are(to the left of the chimney)..he plans to install a new water faucet there also. And anything I plant will get crushed by extension and power cords(our only source of outdoor power)..

He said maybe over time we can put in some patio slabs and a small bench. I'm gonna hold him to that idea

Oh well..I still have plans to plant under the window..and add to the crab apple bed

Yes hold him to that. That would be nice there.



By all meansdo so. That sounds like a plan.

and I will be looking forward to photos when they are complete. :wink:
I know it will look so nice. And I am betting there will be many compliments from visitors.
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maybe you could add a Bleeding heart to one of the 2 areas over by the decorative fence or to the newly "renovated" crabapple flowerbed???

I'm thinking a bleeding heart would be nice over by the fence..great idea