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Use imagination for foundation gardens

The garden in front of your home can be so much more than a row of evergreens covering the concrete foundation. Choose plants — evergreen and deciduous — that soften the harsh edge of the house, captivate visitors and provide a transition zone from outside to inside. A foundation garden should offer a variety of textures and colors throughout the year.

I am not anti-evergreen. They play an important role in foundation gardens. Evergreens contribute texture and color all year long and are especially important in winter. I am, however, anti-line-them-up-like-soldiers for a couple reasons. First, it lacks imagination. Next, even if they are attractive for several years, homeowners often tire of pruning and homes become engulfed in overgrown evergreens.

When choosing evergreens, choose varieties that stay small without pruning. Taunton yews grow 3 to 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide in shady or partly shady sites.

Boxwoods are a great choice for partly sunny foundation gardens sheltered from winter winds. Glencoe, selected by the Chicago Botanic Garden, also grows 3 to 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide. If this is too large, plant Green Velvet.

In sunny or partly sunny conditions, arborvitaes feature lace-like evergreen foliage. Little Giant grows 4 feet tall and wide. Too tall? Mr. Bowling Ball is a cutie — just 2 to 3 feet tall and wide.

Canadale Gold shrub euonymus boasts green leaves with bright yellow margins. It grows 3 feet tall and slightly wider. Blondy reaches just 2 feet tall and wide and sports golden yellow foliage with dark green edges.

Junipers are happiest in locations basking in full sun. Blue Star is low and broad with rich blue needles. It grows 3 feet tall and up to 4 feet wide.

Include some shrubs that drop their leaves in fall. Many flaunt flowers, fall color or both, providing seasonal flair.

Small hydrangeas are a welcome addition. Bobo grows up to 3 feet tall, displays flowering cones of white flowers and prefers partly sunny conditions. Wee White features white globes of flowers in partly shady spots. It forms a compact, 30-inches tall mound. Bloomstruck shows off gorgeous globe-shaped clusters of purplish-blue flowers on shrubs growing 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. Position it with protection from hot afternoon sun.

Dwarf Fothergilla is a good choice for gardens in full sun or part shade. White, bottlebrush honey-scented flowers appear in spring and fall color is a fiery mix of yellow, orange and red. Blue Mist has blue foliage, but the fall color is less intense. It grows 2 to 3 feet tall. Mt. Airy is a larger selection — at least 4 feet tall — and has incredible fall color.

Tor spirea grows 2 to 3 feet tall in a dense, compact mound in full sun. Clusters of white flowers cover the foliage in late spring. Dark blue-green leaves, lovely all summer long, change to orange, red and purple in fall.

Don't overlook substantial perennials as possible candidates for foundation plantings. Large hostas brandish ample, colorful leaves in shady locations. Plant sedums in sunny spots.

If your foundation garden is in full sun, ornamental grasses are an ideal option. Northwind switch grass grows rigidly upright, contrasting the form of rounded shrubs. Hameln dwarf fountain grass is compact and fine-textured. It grows 2 feet tall and wide. Buff colored seed heads appear in late summer.

Mix and match evergreen and deciduous shrubs, perennials and ornamental grasses to create a beautiful and interesting foundation garden. All that's left to do is to plant some bulbs for early spring color!

• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist, garden writer and speaker. She blogs at gardenwithdiana.com.

Hostas with large colorful leaves add interest to a shady foundation garden.
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