need ideas

[Dunkin]

Our backyard is naked. We just put up a beautiful new wooden fence. My husband would like to line the fence with a mulch bed and a mixture of low and medium height bushes/shrubs. We agree it should be a combination of different types that will work well together. We live in Northern RI. We also love animals. We have a dog, so I can't get anything toxic to dogs. I also would like to attract humming birds, as well as other birds, and butterflies. Maybe a berry bearing winter bush for the cardnals during the winter months? Everything gets direct sun all day.
Maybe a dwarf tree in the mix?

Please throw some ideas this way. It would be greatly appreciated. Picture this: A plain rectangular backyard with a nice wooden fence and nothing else! Help:)

[GLAN]

OK......

I am not going to list plants

I will suggest you drive the neighborhood.........commercial buildings........and even some shopping malls.........and of course local nurseries. Nurseries are going to have plant material that will grow in your climate.

When you are looking landscapes in the neighborhood and out driving about....you will find things you like and things you don't. You will see layouts that strike your fancy and some that won't. You can pretty much layout and plant your back yourself to your exact likes and taste. Just don't feel that you have to approach this project that you have to do it and fill in all the spaces at one time.........you can develope your landscape over time. Nothing wrong with taking 2,3 or even 5 years to complete your yard.

Here is another thought.........Some nurseries may have people there that will actualy do a design, provided you buy the plants from them.

[Lanelle]

Glan has given you excellent advice so I'll just add a couple of points.
1. Remember that groupings of a single types of plants look better than spreading out individual plants. So, maybe a bed will have three groupings in it and each group has 5-7 shrubs or 25 perennials in it.
2. Just because you like a lot of different plants, don't feel compelled to buy one of everything. It will end up looking disorganzied.
3. Old rule that still holds merit: Groupings of odd numbers of plants look more comfortable than even numbers until you get a large enough group that no one is counting.
4. Pay attention to the cultural requirements of the plants that you are considering.

[Dunkin]

These tips are worth their weight in gold! If any one has anymore advice it will be greatly appreciated. These replies are really getting me started thinking about the do's and don't's. Any other helpful suggestions? Really, I don't the the first thing about design or landscaping the task seems overwhelming but it must get done. Should I plant in the fall or early spring?

[GLAN]

Fall or spring is fine.


Fall you may get some good discounts........keep in mind though that some nursery stock may have been at the nursery all summer, could possibly have been stressed........so. If planting in the fall look for plant material that appears healthy and vigorous.

Spring I find that the selection of plant material is greater

Perennials........at this time of year they are all declining and you may not get a good sense of what they are or what they will become when planted........When doing fall planting I tend to leave space for perennials to be installed in spring. But, plants like Liriope, Daylily and the like I have no problem installing in the fall........you will also find variety is greater in the spring at the nurseries.

Spring bulbs are planted in the fall...........Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, etc.....