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I have owned my house for nearly 4 years now and my two large dogs (Bonnie 3 year old black lab and Shiloh 2 year old German shepherd) have wrecked the little back yard. Our plan is to build a privacy fence within the next month or so, but just the sides, we don't want to replace the back chain link at this time since there is only a common-ground field behind us and it would make our small yard appear tiny! My husband has agreed to letting me plant a variety of tall flowering shrubs along the back fence. With one section of the existing chain link fence we are building a dog run along one side since the back yard is almost entirely a mud pit.
Once the fence is up I can bring out my bird feeders (labs and birds don't mix.) So I have tons of ideas running through my head on what I want to plant. The yard faces nearly due East. I'd like to plant an eclectic mix of shrubs for the butterflies/bees and birds. I have a dwarf burning bush back there next to a small red bud tree and a 'monster' 30+ year old climbling (rambling?) rose bush against the shed. I've been taking notes on tall shrubs for the fence border, here are my favorites (will have at least two of each until I run out of space):
If you have any other suggestions or comments I'd love to hear them! I searched this forum and couldn't find any input for my zone on either Vitex agnus-castus or Kolkwitzia - any thoughts? The pictures of both in bloom are gorgeous and I hear that Vitex is fragrant? I had never heard of either of them before and never seen one locally. I like the looks of fragrant Abelia (Abelia mosanensis) too, and might have to plant one for me. :) I probably have too many and will need to reduce my list, but it's so hard to decide when there are so many beautiful plants to choose from! I can always plant some out front or along the driveway, I suppose.
Thanks!
Nicole
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