[MaxandMe]

Tink , I hear you as with 6 acres even small trees look TINY in my yard as it's open and vast shaped rectangularly 300ft wide by 100ft deep

framing in with trees and shrubs is best way to start
as perennials, herbs etc always fill in fast and can be done anytime

Vanessa...try the dwarf russian Sage

OH another small shub that loses leaves but withstands harsh winters and hot dry summers is the Petit Blue Mist Shrub it's different from the others just have to water to get established

another tough shrub but grows 3 ft wide and up to 6ft tall in a fountain shape but can be pruned anytime is
LIMELIGHT HYRDRANGEA.... very drought tolerant, Grows in BOTH shade and sun and doesn't get out of hand, blooms VERY long time
starts out white in summer turning pink then mauve

great tucked in a corner so to speak.
Columbine is perrenial that can take a beating in sun or shade (just not deep shade) attacts butterflies

MINI ROSES .....are tough as nails, so when you see them in the supermarket with tags that say candian grown, and they're about $3.99 or so...GET THEM. can be put in a container and even brought inside house during winter if you like or put in ground, they are not finicky, fairly drought tolerant ....and don't get diseased. Dogs usually leave roses alone anyway and they add splash of color till november.

I also say for those with not much time and/or want to splash color
Plant some annuals that unless you live in FLORIDA , they die during winter but are awesome from spring through fall.

SPIKES...you can buy them big at gardening places and look awesome in a pot to add some architectual design/structure and/or even plant some trailing vine like annuals around the perimeter.

what kind? licorice plant , swedish ivy
or even purple verbena

I also TAKE OUT MOST of my houseplants each year and put them under my Birch tree in an arrangement both on the ground and hanging on all different levels, and put a spotlight on this ...at night it makes you feel like you're at a resort and adds a serene happy ambience
and all it cost me was MULCH as i had the plants

BROKEN Clay pots ...DO NOT THROW THEM OUT
they're great to break up and put in bottom of pots for drainage
also if you TAP them just right and put in garden upside down
they make a GREAT FROG house...i've painted some of mine to look better


COME ON FOLKS get creative and spend LESS money.
grouping pots together with rocks or ornaments or put plants in a chair missing it's seat, throw in a birdhouse or hummingbird feeder
or even a stepping stone adds LIFE to a garden and also cuts DOWN
on amount of time needed to tend to it.
_________________
Annmarie, Max,& Peanut
Forum BLOG ARTICLE LINK http://blog.labradoodle-dogs.net/

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anatole France

[blueteal]

No gardens here..........just trees and bark mulch
bahahahaha
too many outside critters plus we are lazy..................
We do have a small thing going on in the front but that is about it.........
_________________
Sue & Denver
http://blueteal.net/denver.htm
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
- Josh Billings