Hi everyone!

I have a north-west facing location that gets a lot of sun beginning in the late morning and continuing until the early evening. I guess you could call it full sun. The problem is that the small strip of garden space is against the foundation of my home so that anything that's planted there not only gets the full sun, but also the sunlight and heat that's reflected from the vinyl siding of my house. The few things I've tried growing there tend to wilt or burn during the summer.

I'd like to plant something tall very close to the foundation, something that will not only delight in the heat and sunlight it would get, but also prevent that heat and sunlight from burning other things I could plant in that strip. Ideally, whatever it is would grow upward against the side of my home and cover most or all of the siding.

Does anyone have any suggestions? What I have there now are a couple of Lady in a Bath (Bleeding Heart) bushes and they do well until mid and late summer when they wilt during the day. Against recommendations, I've also planted a new, bareroot peony and I'd really like to protect it from the reflection.

Thanks to anyone who can help!

Joanna

Roses would love that spot! Buddleia-make sure you get a sterile variety so it doesn't reseed everywhere. Baptisia is another no care plant.

Humulus lupulus 'Aureus', and Carolina Jessamine 'Margarita' would make good climbers along with climbing roses.

@pepper23, they wouldn't suffer from the reflected heat and light?

Hi Joanna. I have a similar problem. My house faces north and doesn't get full sun until the middle of the summer. I also have a paved driveway that's 8' from the front wall. It gets blazing hot when the sun get's overhead. I want to put something in there but not climbing since I have low, wide windows on the front of the house. Our clay soil leaves a lot to be desired. Suggestions appreciated as well.

Could either of you post a picture of the area so we know what space we are talking about please. I have a northwest corner and I have miscanthus, Ninebark, shrub roses and daylilies. No wilting. The Ninebark is summer wine.

What about clematis?

Ginny, I don't have a picture handy, but I can describe it. The east side is about 20' wide and 8' deep from the front of the house to the driveway. The driveway runs parallel to the front of the house. The west side, about the same dimensions, but there is a 3' wide sidewalk between the drive and the planting area. We've grown some potted plants on the west side, but not in the ground. I don't remember offhand what they were. The east side is grassed.

On the far right corner in the retaining wall is the northwest corner of my house. Might have more pics at work. The rest is pretty much north - northwest.

Tiny Wine Ninebark (and other shorter varieties), nepeta, shorter roses, baptisa, coneflowers, milkweed. Natives would love that spot and be easy maintenance.

Mine?

Yep. Your spot is big enough you can mix it up with shrubs and plants. There are lots of shorter shrubs that would work there and not block your window. Then add some of the plants I mentioned above and you will have a good looking garden that's not fussy. Native plants can really handle the heat that will blast off the driveway and house. There are non natives also that will work but this is a short list to start.

The baptisia I've had sends up a lot of new starts but I love it. I have mine in a wild grass area. Also daisies.

Thanks Amanda . I'll see what I can find on that list the next time I go to the nursery. Might find some at the box stores but I'm not holding my breath.

Coneflowers for sure. Ornamental grasses also. Check to make sure you get hardy ones instead of annual if you get any. Shorter roses can be found, Drift series or some of the OSO Easy series. Ninebark is available usually although I don't know if they will have the shorter ones. Also weigela is a good one. Go to the stores and nurseries and read the labels. If you have a smartphone Google while there otherwise take a notebook and write down what catches your eye then go home and look it up on the computer or post here on NGA.

Thanks Amanda. I'll run the list by Mrs and see what she thinks. We could use some flowers to benefit the pollinators.

Legalily said:Could either of you post a picture of the area so we know what space we are talking about please. I have a northwest corner and I have miscanthus, Ninebark, shrub roses and daylilies. No wilting. The Ninebark is summer wine.

Here you go Ginny. I don't know how helpful this is but it's a good view of the situation. I've had luck with marigolds, but not much else. Would love some suggestions for TALL plants that would protect other things I might like to plant there.

Joanna,
It looks like your siding is beginning to buckle. I'd be careful about putting vining plants there as they might get up under the siding. That would be a real mess. I know a lot of people are anti-forsythia, but it would love this spot. You can let it get tall without worrying about damage to the siding. Plus, it will create a bit of a shade canopy that you would underplant with more colorful things once the forsythia leafs out.

Mac,
You should probably add a lot of organic material to your clay. Not only will it be more hospitable to a wider variety, but it will also retain moisture better. I would also apply a good layer of mulch once planted to help retain moisture and cool the roots. In fact, you might consider placing a weeping hose under the bark. That way, when you water, the water will actually get to the plant roots.

Rick, no doubt the soil needs amended. Our soil ALWAYS needs amended. Mulch is in the plan for both moisture and weed control. I can put a weep hose on one side but will have to hand water the other side. Our biggest problem is our house has a red brick facade and it holds the heat for a very long time.

RickM said:Joanna,
It looks like your siding is beginning to buckle. I'd be careful about putting vining plants there as they might get up under the siding. That would be a real mess. I know a lot of people are anti-forsythia, but it would love this spot. You can let it get tall without worrying about damage to the siding. Plus, it will create a bit of a shade canopy that you would underplant with more colorful things once the forsythia leafs out.

BUCKLE??????
Where?

I'll definitely look into the forsythia--the canopy idea sounds wonderful. Why are some anti-forsythia? !!!

Is that a wire running along the lower pieces of siding? That could be what Rick is seeing and it makes the siding look like it's buckling.

I'd definitely bring the bed out and expand it to make room for a couple shrubs that will help shade like Rick suggested. Weigela will do good there and attract hummers and some varieties of Ninebark will also look good if forsythia doesn't work out. Coneflowers and coreoptis would look good there too as hardy flowers.