Choosing Doodle Friendly Plants

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I have decided to redo my backyard garden. Why you ask would I do something so silly when I love it the way it is?

While we were in Florida I noticed that Charli only liked to her 'business' with her tush backed up to a shrub while Samantha only likes flat surfaces, lawn or rocks. My garden has lots of perennials, annuals, grasses, no shrubs. Charli also liked to pretend she can't be seen (so she can jump and 'attack' Samantha) and 'hides' in ferns and other taller plants. Of course I don't have any so I decided to make her happy and redo the beds.

In Florida her favorite plant is Ixoria - an evergreen shrub that gets beautiful red flowers in the spring. She loved to walk around them like a maze. They won't survive here in NJ so the closest I can get are euyanamous - not flowering but okay if they are verigated.

 I am going to plant annuals in horseshoe shaped areas for some color - thinking of New Guniea impatiens, they are a little heartier then regular impatiens for Charli's huge feet walking through them.

If anyone has an ideas for other shrubs for Charli's garden, I would love to hear them!

Thanks

[F, Calla & Luca]

Euonymus are great , low care shrubs but if you plant them where the deer can get them they will have some lovely meals. I love mountain laurels and you can some decent sized ones at HD nowadays. They have lovely flowers but are slow growing. Azaleas are also a good choice. Small varieties of boxwood are also a good choice. some of these like sun more than others, etc.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Thanks - I will check out the Mountain Laurels this weekend. I want to have most of it placed by Tuesday, the day the gardener cuts the lawn. I tried digging the bed but the body was not happy after so for the first time I will have to pay for someone to do it.

[Toni Petersen]

How about hostas....my 75 lb doodle loves to lay and rest on them. They eventually spring back up.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Toni - I have and love hostas! There is one that Charli just loves to chew on - only one. Very bizarre that I have 9 but only the 1 she nibbles on.
Thanks for helping!