planning the yard

farmgal · #1 04/14/12, 03:34 PM

My new house I had built (am building now...lol) is set in the middle of a hayfield 400 foot back from road, BORING ! I have been placing trees, bushes and gardens strategically. So far I have more pear, plum,apples, blueberry. I made a large asparagus bed.

My friend gave me 2- 13 foot river birch, look nice by the driveway entrance. I have Chinese chestnut and black walnut groves planted from 10 years ago. I have a few large cherry trees in and sugar maples.

What trees or bushes would you recommend or garden themes? Any favorites? I need to make privacy lines from the road. Edible things are great. maybe short arborvitae variety? something fast growing, little care?

I like to frequent the local vegetation compost in town, I find trees and nice bushes. Where can I find great deals on larger trees or shrubs? Have you ever dug out trees in the woods to replant? Did they make it?

Thanks ! Happy Spring!!

Halfway · #2 04/14/12, 04:55 PM

You could always fill in space with cherry tomatoes (indeterminate) and then let some cukes run wild on a fence row.

I am somewhat envious of your predicament.

salmonslayer · #3 04/14/12, 07:56 PM

We like the English garden look with a mix of shrubs, shade trees, flowers etc. and personally I am partial to the old standbys like Weigela, Lilac, Dog Wood, Spirea, Fosythia, etc. You also have the opportunity to plant for color succession with blooms and foliage color happening all year long.

Joshie · #4 04/14/12, 08:53 PM

If you want edible stuff, what about blueberries or goji berries? For pretty stuff I like lilacs, hydrangea, purple smoke trees, Bridal Veil bushes, etc. Bridal veils drape in such a pretty way and look pretty all year 'round.

What zone are you in? Sun or shade?

7thswan · #5 04/15/12, 08:26 AM

My Mom got some Redbud down south, out of the woods. Now she has them all over her yard. I planted a Bradford Pear,it grew very fast nice and straight. It only flowers and looks pretty,but my pears that bear fruit are pretty much the same way but I prune them to keep them smaller. Liliacs come in diffrent colors, my Yellow one is getting ready to bloom, I have it planted near the darkest purple varity. We have 5 colors,they give off suckers so you can get free new trees every year.

ronbre · #6 04/15/12, 08:46 AM

well first make sure that any of your fruit trees and nut trees you have, have the needed pollinators at the right distance..and then think about the other foods that you eat that grow on trees, bushes or vines and go that way.

Sure it is nice to put in shade trees and things like that too, but think food to save $ on shopping bills prior to shade trees and add them if you have room left.

I also use evergreens as a screen along road and property lines for privacy and for windbreaks..the birds love evergreens and will make their nests in them. I tend to mix them for variety and then also if one tree gets a disease it doesn't spread so quickly through the property.

we have had emerald ash borers go through our ash trees like wildfire.

speaking of that, don't plant white ash..birch..elm..or blue spruce as in our area (Michigan here but also New York) there are disesases or critters killing all of them off.

bja105 · #7 04/15/12, 12:26 PM

I was thinking about the house I want to build at our farm, and it's long driveway. I think flowering pears alternating with fruiting pears, for looks and pollination. Maybe apples and flowering crabapple on the other side. I like trees that feed me.

Arbor Vita can make a tall living fence, but the deer here browse the lower branches, and they end up looking bad.

I'm a big fan of Forsythia, too.

Dad planted pine trees when each of us was born. I like that idea, but never got around to it for my kids.

Pony · #8 04/15/12, 12:36 PM

For specimen plantings, I dearly love "weeping" type trees (but not willow; too messy). Weeping Cherry is one of my all-time favorites.

farmgal · #9 04/15/12, 04:36 PM

joshie its all full sun, hay field now. Even the trees I planted 10 years ago are still only 5 foot or so. Im in zone 5, I think, western ny.

I like those smoke bushes and other bushes you all mentioned. English garden sounds beautiful. Thats about the look I'd like. Cottage gardens.... ooohh...

indeterminate tomatoes as a fence, hmmmm

wow that weeping cherry is soo beautiful and they dont get very tall. I have a side I would like shorter trees. We dont usually get much sun hours in my area, its very cloudy. I dont want to shade the house, but do want something pretty and privacy making...

Thanks for the comments. I found that forsythia at big lots!! thanks