Need help on small planting job.

[mrusk]

I know I have not been contributing to much this year but I kind of just lost interest about talking about laying pavers and building walls. I mean after 2500 post what else can I say?

But anyway I need help on this tiny planting job. We are pulling out the tacky curb stones and cutting the width of the bed down to about 5-6' wide. We are going to extend the bed to the electrical meter and try to block it with something tall. Client wants something with some size right in the middle where the two sections of house meet.

Any ideas? Deer are bad in this area. I doubt the people want to spend alot so plants will be on the smaller side and no real expensive stuff.

[Sierrascaper]

Black spruce in front of the meter, divide the grass up into 3 and place them in the corner, the windows and the mailbox. Fill in with korean boxwoods, youngstown junipers, crymson pygmy barberry, and some lower perennials for the front, If it can be swung throw a clump river birch dead smack in the middle of the lawn. Not the best overall design but it will match that street fine.

[danf]

Boxwoods, ok. Junipers, no. Barberry, most definitely not. :D

Use some holly or inkberry in place of the junipers and wiegela instead of the godforsaken barberry.

[Sierrascaper]

barberry, juniper, and boxwood are the only things that the deer wont eat here. Agreed Wiegelia (SP) are a good choice if you can find any around here. Hollies get destroyed when the deer run out of food in the winter. Inkberry usually do OK. I try not to use the main 3 because they are in 99% of the landscapes here. I like Sea Green junipers but long term wont be good there. Youngstown are alright. Falsecypress can be OK. Spiraea are a favorite of mine, but they do get eaten in severe areas. This area Matt was talking about has like 100 deer per square mile and no hunting.

[akb25]

Does the siding extend below grade or am I seeing things incorrectly? While you have it all torn up, yank out that black flex pipe extending the gutter downspout. Maybe a small dry-creek with river rock to get the water to run out onto the lawn, out of the planting bed and away from the house.

[Steiner]

Why no barberry guys? I know it is considered invasive but, up here it is almost a must. Don't like working with the thorns?

[danf]

100 deer per square mile and no hunting.
Ahhh, I see says the blind man. I'm not familiar with that kind of density, and the no hunting is only on a limited basis. :)

Steiner, yes it's invasive, yes it has thorns, yes they look like a$$. The only time I like barberry is when they are used for foot traffic control. :D