Gardening

We are going to buy some new shrubs for our yard. I am open to suggestionss for zone 8. What kinds of plants does everyone have in their yard.

I'm not in zone 8 but my favorite shrubs are lilacs. They just smell like spring to me. I also have a lot of hydrangeas and a few azaleas and rhododendrons. If I had more room, there would be tons more shrubs in my yard.

I'm also in zone 8, although I'm near the northern edge of it in Michigan. When I planted my front yard, I wanted fragrant flowering bushes for spring. I went with several different lilacs and viburnum bushes. This viburnum bush VIBURNUM BURKWOODII has the most sweet smelling blossoms on it. I can't wait for it to flower in the spring.

I keep mine trimmed well, so I don't tend to see berries on the bush. It keeps many of it's leaves (they die, but stay on the bush) though the winter, so the birds love to gather in them. When the new growth comes in the spring, the dead leaves fall off. You have to be careful when trimming. If you trim them after the flower buds have set in the fall, you won't get any fragrant flowers in the spring (I learned this the hard way.)

I also have several EASTERN REDBUD TREES. They have no scent, but are spectacular in bloom. The flowers arrive before the leaves. I planted two more in my yard last summer, now I'm up to 4!

This tree turns a beautiful gold in the fall , but loses it's leaves quite early. It makes a great shade tree (lots of large, heart shaped leaves) if you keep the lower branches pruned.

Will this area have any pets in it? If so, take some caution in picking out plants. Otherwise try going and asking at your local nursery. You'll be directed to plants for your area by people who actually live in it.

Originally Posted by Pookie-poo

I'm also in zone 8, although I'm near the northern edge of it in Michigan.

Click to expand...

There are no zone 8 areas in Michigan, it gets below freezing there every winter. http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-ne1.html http://www.growit.com/bin/USDAZoneMaps.exe?MyState=MI You're 6 and lower.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Will this area have any pets in it? If so, take some caution in picking out plants. Otherwise try going and asking at your local nursery. You'll be directed to plants for your area by people who actually live in it.


There are no zone 8 areas in Michigan, it gets below freezing there every winter. http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-ne1.html http://www.growit.com/bin/USDAZoneMaps.exe?MyState=MI You're 6 and lower.

Click to expand...

Oops! You're right! I went by this map, and (obviously) didn't pay attention! Green and Gray/Green looked the same to me. I guess I'm in Zone 5....quite a difference. At least the plants I referenced will grow in both zones. The viburnum grows well here, even with the freezing winters. I've seen the redbud growing wild in the woods in North Carolina and farther south.

http://home.ivillage.com/gardening/zonefinder

^Yeah, I figured it was something like that. Sometimes the map colors look very similar and may not represent well on some monitors. The plants you suggested would still work, though. I'm right at a 7-6 border and redbuds are prolific here. You'll see them growing wild - so they are a hardy tree that often stays smaller. Different varieties are even smaller than the eastern and come in different colored blooms and leaves.

If the OP truly is in a good zone 8 bougainvillea may be an option. I wish I could grow them here as they're very beautiful.

I am partial rhododendrons and have several in my yard. They get pretty big. They are poison, so if I ever get a llama, they'll have to go. Camelias are also beautiful.

Here are some shrubs that I like:

Rhodedendron
Azalea
Daphne - very fragrant blooms
Camelia
Wigela
Harry Lauder's Walking Stick - great winter interest
Pieris
Nandina Domestica

Oh and if you are considering a redbud - go with the forest pansy variety - there is even a weeping version of it that is just wonderful!

I'm zone 4 so no real help. But if you google your states name and add the words cooperative extension office you should be able to find the land grant college associated with your state and be able to find specific info for your area.
As a landscaper I tend to purchase my plant material on the recommendation of my state. Wisconsin's land grant college is UW-Madison and I use the UW extension's website for information. I tend not to buy any shrubs from the big box stores as they my not be grown in your area. But being from a much warmer zone that probably isn't a problem.
Do you want evergreen or decidous shrubs/height/width restrictions??
Roses are always nice not and as much of a maintenance issue as one would think!

Whatever I put there is going to have to be non toxic to my cats. They live outside within a fenced in area and that is where the shrubs are going.

Originally Posted by libby74

I'm not in zone 8 but my favorite shrubs are lilacs. They just smell like spring to me. I also have a lot of hydrangeas and a few azaleas and rhododendrons. If I had more room, there would be tons more shrubs in my yard.

Click to expand...

I love acid-loving plants like ferns, azaleas, hydrangeas, rhodies, etc. Unfortunately I live in an alkaline irrigated desert, but I'm planting them anyway. I have a northern exposure in the back yard that is always shady. I will fertilize well, water lots and hope for the best.

If you have areas of full sun, I like raphiolepsis and escalonia

Originally Posted by blueyedgirl5946

Whatever I put there is going to have to be non toxic to my cats. They live outside within a fenced in area and that is where the shrubs are going.

Click to expand...

Well.. redbuds are safe.

http://www.sniksnak.com/plants.html

See recent past threads discussing plants. Avoid azaleas and other rhododendrons, they're highly toxic. Hydrangeas are moderately toxic.

http://kinne.net/poi-list.htm

You could try growing some veggies - no nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers), though. Squash/zucchini plants should be safe (I plant them in with my turtles who munch on the plants) and could provide some interesting hiding spots for a cat - especially zucchini and winter squash plants with their large leaves. While not a shrub, at least you would get something to eat out of it.

Hubby and I bought two azalea bushes today to plant, now we're Summerville official We actually bought them at the Azalea/Flowertown Festival. I wasnt allowed to help plant - I have a brown thumb Wish I could successfully garden though!