Shrubs And More Shrubs

[Garden Group]

Hi all,

There may have been some discussions on this topic already but what I really need is some help. I have a number of lovely shrubs around the property which are all doing really well. What I would like to do is add some small flowering shrubs to the large island bed which runs along the drive way. I lost a lot of perennials over last winter as it wasn't cold enough nor did we get enough snow. Here's a current photo of the bed:

Now it may look somewhat full but there are lots of bare spots. I've plant more peonies but I'd really like to get into some low maintenance shrubs as I am not getting any younger AND I have way more gardens to take care of. Our zone is 4 or 4a which I think might be a 5 in US zones. I've recently learned that we use a different zone standard than the US does. 

Here are some of my BIG shrubs, which I love, but they are much too big for this bed. 

This is one of the Explorer rose series which are hardy to zone 3 here, so Sherri could easily grow one at her new Ottawa home:

I love this next one, a Diablo Ninebark. That's the old shed in the background that survived the crash of our 150 year old white pine last summer. 

Now this next one is a stunner Black Lace Elderberry and it's already in that island bed but I have to keep it pruned to control it's height:

Common ninebark is nice as is this Canadian type of cotoneaster:

Anyway if you have some photos of smallish (3 feet high and wide) shrubs that might work, I'd love to see them.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Your bed looks lovely. I love the mixed beds and peonies go on forever with no care. The foliage is lovely too.

I have an Abelia that fits the standards but I don't know if it would be hardy at your place. I wasn't sure it would do well here but it's fine. How cold do you get in winter? Also, our zones just were changed to a bit warmer this year.

My Weigela, Wine and Roses might do. It is very attractive. It may need a little pruning back now and again but it tolerates that well and is easy to do. There's a variety called Dark Horse that seems to fit the bill.

Would the Knock Out roses do? My azaleas and rhododendrons all grow tall but I think there are lower growing varieties. I love mountain laurels and they take forever to get tall. There are lower growing varieties of them too.

Maybe a few low growing evergreens to fill in the holes and give some winter interest. I like the new lower growing, mounding sort of boxwoods. A few years I haphazardly, best I could do, replaced old boxwoods in front of my front porch with Green Velvet boxwoods. I needed them to cover the glaring masonry deficits but to not get too tall and not need pruning. Basically I plopped them in the holes from the old ones, put bags of new topsoil around whatever of the root balls were sticking up and hoped. They have done great, just what I wanted. I used them to camouflage the well pipe too and they are terrific.

[Louise Cyr]

Have you thought of something that looks like a shrub but isn't. (No trimming!). Aruncus, and Baptisia Australis Minor for example. I'm only suggesting this because I have just finished trimming two shrubs in the back of the house, and all the while thinking "how will I manage this in a few years". There are also those very miniature lilacs I've noticed recently. Very pretty.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I know what you mean about trimming : )

[Louise Cyr]

Yes, you're right about the partial shade for Goat's Beard. I've had one for at least twenty years, and now it gets partial sun, but when I first got it, te trees weren't large enough to shade it. That's why I thought maybe it would work. I checked with "Dave's Garden" and there is someone who planted two in full sun, zone 4a and she said they were not happy. So, no Goat's Beard.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I have no ideas but your garden and yard look lovely!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I am not very familiar with what grows in your zone, but I know dwarf conifers will.  There are many to choose from now, short and conical, short and round, mounding, trailing, and just interesting.  here is a link to an article from Fine Gardening that might help you.http://www.finegardening.com/cms/uploadedimages/images/gardening/is...

Or just google fine gardening and then dwarf conifers. 

 

Possibly on of the many new repeat flowering and smaller hydrangeas would be a nice addition.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Hydrangeas like a bit of shade too although I've seen some in pretty sunny spots. I like Find Gardening a lot.