Transforming a Desperate Landscape

See how a dead, brown yard was transformed into a beautifully landscaped space.

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Kousa dogwood
Cornus kousa
Disease resistant dogwood
Grows 20 to 35 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide
Vase-shaped
White or yellowish-white bracts which look like flowers
Edible fruits are light red in color
Green leaves turn purplish-red in fall

Creeping willow
Salix nakamura yezo-alpina
Fast-spreading deciduous groundcover
Claw-like branches that follow the ground contours
Silvery-green, fuzzy leaves
Yellow foliage in fall
USDA Zones 5-9

Nannyberry viburnum or sheepberry
Viburnum lentago
This native ornamental shrub can also be trained to be a small ornamental tree.
Can grow up to 18 feet tall and 10 feet wide
Medium growth rate
Shiny green leaves give way to faded green, purple, red or yellow fall leaves.
Flowers in spring
Berries in late summer through fall. The berries can be green, yellow or pink before changing to blue. Birds find them atttractive.
Note: prone to powdery mildew if planted in shady areas or if given limited air circulation.
USDA Zones 2-8

Chenault viburnum
Viburnum 'Chenaultii'
Semi-evergreen shrub
Can grow about 8 to 10 feet tall and wide
Fragrant flowers in early spring
Blue-black fruit in mid-summer
Leaves turn dark red in fall
Heat and pollution tolerant
Deer generally avoid this plant.

Kong coleus
Annual prized for its colorful foliage
Leaves can be green, red scarlet, pink and multi-colored
Low maintenance
Heat and shade tolerant
Needs water in dry periods
Maintenance tip: Pinch off flowers to maintain large leaf size