I have a typical center hall colonial with a front porch that goes the
entire length of the house. From the drive way the sidewalk to the front
door boxes off a little 8 foot by 6 foot section. I need to plant something
there. I want a bush or plant that will not need a bunch of trimming or
pruning and will reach the top of the rail of the porch. Don't want anything
too high because it will block the view of the driveway from the front door.
I originally put a holly there but the one I placed there is growing too
quick, I thought it was a slow grower that I could trim back over time. On
the other side in front and around the porch I have mountain laurel. but
wanted to put something different on the other side. Can anyone recommend
anything or a good design for such a small area.

I need a bit more information Larry. What kind of sun does this spot get?
Eastern? Full South or West? If you get at least six hours of sunlight, a
Beautyberry would be nice. they only get around 6 foot tall and 4 foot wide.
Nine bark gets about 7 tall and 5 wide but you could prune it a little in
the fall to shape it if you didnt like it's natural shape. If it's shady,
you could have a little shade garden with hosta's, epimediums, astilbe,
hellebore and the like. If it's sunny, you could plant sunny disposition
perennials to greet people as they come up to the front of your house. there
are hundreds of options.
madgardener Eastern Tennessee, zone 7, Sunset zone 36
"Larry" wrote in message
m...
I have a typical center hall colonial with a front porch that goes the
entire length of the house. From the drive way the sidewalk to the front
door boxes off a little 8 foot by 6 foot section. I need to plant
something
there. I want a bush or plant that will not need a bunch of trimming or
pruning and will reach the top of the rail of the porch. Don't want
anything
too high because it will block the view of the driveway from the front
door.
I originally put a holly there but the one I placed there is growing too
quick, I thought it was a slow grower that I could trim back over time. On
the other side in front and around the porch I have mountain laurel. but
wanted to put something different on the other side. Can anyone recommend
anything or a good design for such a small area.

On Tue, 10 Feb 2004 16:17:19 GMT, "Larry" wrote:

I have a typical center hall colonial with a front porch that goes the
entire length of the house. From the drive way the sidewalk to the front
door boxes off a little 8 foot by 6 foot section. I need to plant something
there. I want a bush or plant that will not need a bunch of trimming or
pruning and will reach the top of the rail of the porch. Don't want anything
too high because it will block the view of the driveway from the front door.
I originally put a holly there but the one I placed there is growing too
quick,

Boxwood. 'Though you didn't mention where you are. Boxwood is very
genteel and slow-growing in Virginia. And a sign of long-time
residence and respectability. If you want some color (and are in a
region with a temperate climate and acid soil), there are slow-growing
varieties of azaleas that are easily trimmed, evergreen, and quite
spectacular for a couple of weeks in spring.

"Larry" wrote in message
m...
I have a typical center hall colonial with a front porch that
goes the
entire length of the house. From the drive way the sidewalk to
the front
door boxes off a little 8 foot by 6 foot section. I need to
plant something
there. I want a bush or plant that will not need a bunch of
trimming or
pruning and will reach the top of the rail of the porch. Don't
want anything
too high because it will block the view of the driveway from
the front door.
I originally put a holly there but the one I placed there is
growing too
quick, I thought it was a slow grower that I could trim back
over time. On
the other side in front and around the porch I have mountain
laurel. but
wanted to put something different on the other side. Can anyone
recommend
anything or a good design for such a small area.


One of the prostrate junipers? Those Oriental hollies are a
menace!

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.

I think some of the viburnums might be nice for that situation. Some are
relatively slow growing - (perhaps viburnum laurestinus) -and many have
fragrant flowers. I'm partial to viburnum mariessei, even though it is
deciduous. It has pretty dogwood-like flowers in late spring for several
weeks, has a very architectural shape (it makes natural horizontal layers),
and it has nice red berries in the fall.
"Jim Lewis" wrote in message
...

"Larry" wrote in message
m...
I have a typical center hall colonial with a front porch that
goes the
entire length of the house. From the drive way the sidewalk to
the front
door boxes off a little 8 foot by 6 foot section. I need to
plant something
there. I want a bush or plant that will not need a bunch of
trimming or
pruning and will reach the top of the rail of the porch. Don't
want anything
too high because it will block the view of the driveway from
the front door.
I originally put a holly there but the one I placed there is
growing too
quick, I thought it was a slow grower that I could trim back
over time. On
the other side in front and around the porch I have mountain
laurel. but
wanted to put something different on the other side. Can anyone
recommend
anything or a good design for such a small area.


One of the prostrate junipers? Those Oriental hollies are a
menace!

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.

looks like there are allot of good ideas, i'll have to read over when i have
more time
to answer your questions
it has full sun from morning until like 3 or 4pm
i'd like something that will stay green all year long



Larry wrote in message
m...
I have a typical center hall colonial with a front porch that goes the
entire length of the house. From the drive way the sidewalk to the front
door boxes off a little 8 foot by 6 foot section. I need to plant
something
there. I want a bush or plant that will not need a bunch of trimming or
pruning and will reach the top of the rail of the porch. Don't want
anything
too high because it will block the view of the driveway from the front
door.
I originally put a holly there but the one I placed there is growing too
quick, I thought it was a slow grower that I could trim back over time. On
the other side in front and around the porch I have mountain laurel. but
wanted to put something different on the other side. Can anyone recommend
anything or a good design for such a small area.

"Larry" wrote in message
. com...
looks like there are allot of good ideas, i'll have to read over when i
have
more time
to answer your questions
it has full sun from morning until like 3 or 4pm
i'd like something that will stay green all year long

Greg's suggestion of a viburnum is a good one. If you need evergreen, look
for V. davidii or V. tinus 'Spring Bouquet', but they require a mild zone (7
b at least). V tomentosum 'Mariesii' is a lovely choice but is deciduous and
will get to be a big shrub in time - 8'x10' is not unusual - and too much
pruning to keep in size will destroy the form. 'Summer Snowflake' is a much
more compact choice. You might want to consider one of the smaller forms of
Nandina, evergreen azaleas or Rhododendron yak. hybrids. Not exactly very
creative, but attractive and very serviceable. Also not evergreen but a very
nice and multi-season interest shrub would one of the dwarf oakleaf
hydrangeas, like 'Pee Wee' or 'Syke's Dwarf.'

pam - gardengal

"Larry" wrote in message
. com...
looks like there are allot of good ideas, i'll have to read over when i
have
more time
to answer your questions
it has full sun from morning until like 3 or 4pm
i'd like something that will stay green all year long

Greg's suggestion of a viburnum is a good one. If you need evergreen, look
for V. davidii or V. tinus 'Spring Bouquet', but they require a mild zone (7
b at least). V tomentosum 'Mariesii' is a lovely choice but is deciduous and
will get to be a big shrub in time - 8'x10' is not unusual - and too much
pruning to keep in size will destroy the form. 'Summer Snowflake' is a much
more compact choice. You might want to consider one of the smaller forms of
Nandina, evergreen azaleas or Rhododendron yak. hybrids. Not exactly very
creative, but attractive and very serviceable. Also not evergreen but a very
nice and multi-season interest shrub would one of the dwarf oakleaf
hydrangeas, like 'Pee Wee' or 'Syke's Dwarf.'

pam - gardengal

"Larry" wrote in message .com...
looks like there are allot of good ideas, i'll have to read over when i have
more time
to answer your questions
it has full sun from morning until like 3 or 4pm
i'd like something that will stay green all year long



Larry wrote in message
m...
I have a typical center hall colonial with a front porch that goes the
entire length of the house. From the drive way the sidewalk to the front
door boxes off a little 8 foot by 6 foot section. I need to plant
something
there. I want a bush or plant that will not need a bunch of trimming or
pruning and will reach the top of the rail of the porch. Don't want
anything
too high because it will block the view of the driveway from the front
door.
I originally put a holly there but the one I placed there is growing too
quick, I thought it was a slow grower that I could trim back over time. On
the other side in front and around the porch I have mountain laurel. but
wanted to put something different on the other side. Can anyone recommend
anything or a good design for such a small area.



I need to know your zone and state. How high is it to the top of porch
railing? What types of plants are in the landscape out front? Do you
want low maintenance plants?

"Larry" wrote in message .com...
looks like there are allot of good ideas, i'll have to read over when i have
more time
to answer your questions
it has full sun from morning until like 3 or 4pm
i'd like something that will stay green all year long



Larry wrote in message
m...
I have a typical center hall colonial with a front porch that goes the
entire length of the house. From the drive way the sidewalk to the front
door boxes off a little 8 foot by 6 foot section. I need to plant
something
there. I want a bush or plant that will not need a bunch of trimming or
pruning and will reach the top of the rail of the porch. Don't want
anything
too high because it will block the view of the driveway from the front
door.
I originally put a holly there but the one I placed there is growing too
quick, I thought it was a slow grower that I could trim back over time. On
the other side in front and around the porch I have mountain laurel. but
wanted to put something different on the other side. Can anyone recommend
anything or a good design for such a small area.



I need to know your zone and state. How high is it to the top of porch
railing? What types of plants are in the landscape out front? Do you
want low maintenance plants?

Oh, if we're recommending Viburnums, may I add Viburnum 'Cony' to the list?
)

Dave

"Pam - gardengal" wrote in message
news:%pNWb.293328$xy6.1447754@attbi_s02...

"Larry" wrote in message
. com...
looks like there are allot of good ideas, i'll have to read over when i
have
more time
to answer your questions
it has full sun from morning until like 3 or 4pm
i'd like something that will stay green all year long

Greg's suggestion of a viburnum is a good one. If you need evergreen, look
for V. davidii or V. tinus 'Spring Bouquet', but they require a mild zone
(7
b at least). V tomentosum 'Mariesii' is a lovely choice but is deciduous
and
will get to be a big shrub in time - 8'x10' is not unusual - and too much
pruning to keep in size will destroy the form. 'Summer Snowflake' is a
much
more compact choice. You might want to consider one of the smaller forms
of
Nandina, evergreen azaleas or Rhododendron yak. hybrids. Not exactly very
creative, but attractive and very serviceable. Also not evergreen but a
very
nice and multi-season interest shrub would one of the dwarf oakleaf
hydrangeas, like 'Pee Wee' or 'Syke's Dwarf.'

pam - gardengal

Oh, if we're recommending Viburnums, may I add Viburnum 'Cony' to the list?
)

Dave

"Pam - gardengal" wrote in message
news:%pNWb.293328$xy6.1447754@attbi_s02...

"Larry" wrote in message
. com...
looks like there are allot of good ideas, i'll have to read over when i
have
more time
to answer your questions
it has full sun from morning until like 3 or 4pm
i'd like something that will stay green all year long

Greg's suggestion of a viburnum is a good one. If you need evergreen, look
for V. davidii or V. tinus 'Spring Bouquet', but they require a mild zone
(7
b at least). V tomentosum 'Mariesii' is a lovely choice but is deciduous
and
will get to be a big shrub in time - 8'x10' is not unusual - and too much
pruning to keep in size will destroy the form. 'Summer Snowflake' is a
much
more compact choice. You might want to consider one of the smaller forms
of
Nandina, evergreen azaleas or Rhododendron yak. hybrids. Not exactly very
creative, but attractive and very serviceable. Also not evergreen but a
very
nice and multi-season interest shrub would one of the dwarf oakleaf
hydrangeas, like 'Pee Wee' or 'Syke's Dwarf.'

pam - gardengal