Question
Expect to landscape a new house I built and thinking of using Sandstone cropper rocks mixed in with lots of blue holly, birdsnest spruces and boxwoods in the front.  I live in Northeast Ohio. Anything wrong with using a combination of blue hollys, boxwoods and spruces with a couple of dogwoods (thinking Kousa would be best) and perhaps a Japanese Maple Bloodgood Laceleaf.  Should I add more variety? How about a weeping tree such as crab - can you recommend one? THe front is facing west so I decided against azaleas and rhodos exposed to high winds and cold temperatures.  I also have a mound in front and thinking of either one of the following:
Coral Burst Crab / Hawthorne Crusader / River Birch Clump along with a Cap Yew and perhaps some rocks.
Now for the back:
Going to install a deck and looking at the composites and vinyl as well as cedar - any ideas here - I know cedar will work but any advantages to composites and/or vinyl?
I am thinking of a mixture of Butterfly Bush / Miss kim lilac / Hydrangea tardivas / Herbert azaleas / Vibernum shasta and judii / Red prince weigela and winter red winterberry holly leading up to the deck in the back from the driveway. then around the deck a mix of boxwoods, a couple of dogwoods, redbud, rhodo hybrids, anthony waterer spirea and Sweet bay magnolia with lights shining on the trees.

Any likes / dislikes / thoughts?  I know you don't have the design in front and I wish I could email you but don't see how to attach anything to this email.

Thank you.

Bill


Answer
Bill, sounds like you are well on your way, and that you know what you are doing, just fine. variety is the spice of life, go crazy, but not to shotty. what I mean is use some variety, but carry some of it through out the design. you said hollies, plant a few in one area, then in another, in a different area, then maybe a few in the back, carry that theam throughout the house. I used hollies in this example, but go with your favorite plant, and carry it throughout. I like the mounding idea, that is something that is not being done enough, and the outcropping with rocks and boulders is a great idea. make sure that with any rocks that you put in the landscape, you bury about 1/3 of the rock first. then mulch around it. dont just set the rock on top of the mulch that you choose to use. try it both ways, you will see what a differenct it makes to take the time to dig a small hole for the rock, make it look like the rock is growing out of the ground, not sitting on top. Weeping crabs, there are so many weeping plants now, and I am not sure what is available in your area, but I love the idea, in a prominant area that you want to attract attention to, one great place in in that small bed you talked about, another is near the door to the house, but away from the driveway, so as people stand on the drive, they see the tree, head down the walk to it, and the front door, kind of leading them along.

The Deck, I like the look of wood. personally cant stand vinal, and can tolerate composites. if your building it yourself, woods the easiest. composites are also a lot more expensive, not sure about vinal. the choice is yours, a bit more maintinance with wood, so a good composite is not a bad choice, and they are getting a lot better. If you do landscape lighting, do not skimp, and buy the cheap stuff at home depot, its not worth your time. look into real landscape lighting, a transformer alone can cost 400.00, bit is worth it, the fixures are a lot better, and will last a lot longer. A good place will have a display so you can look at it and what the fixtures do when they are lit up. I am in MN, and can tell you where to find a place here, but not there in Ohio, sorry.

Good luck, it sounds like you are on the right track with you landscaping. remember, put plants in groupings, and curved rows looks good, but dont be afraid to put a plant sitting alone, kind of as a speciman, it looks good and creats intrest. Hope I have helped a little bit.

Mark