• Create a triangle, semi-circle or square of evergreen shrubs. Add a punch of color, such as a variegated cypress (Mop Cypress does well) along with a small Soft Touch Holly or a Dwarf Loropetalum. (Ruby Chinese Pizazz) You can make the bed as large as you want, but always try and keep in mind the contour of your front yard. Think about putting in one deciduous shrub such as Little Princess Spriea, and surrounding it with a couple of evergreen shrubs. Standing or Spreading Yew, Compacta Euonymus, or a Globe Arborvitae will add rich color tones.
• Decorate with just one shrub. Plant the shrub on the back side of the post. Below is a picture of a Golden Euonymus planted six years ago.The shrub started growing around the box, and was kept shaped. Trim the new leaves in the spring and re-trim in the fall. This is a slow process but well worth the wait. A neat way to decorate a colorful area near the road.
• Plant a variety of perennial flowers. Add a decorative pot with some annual flowers. You can create a definite color scheme with this type of garden. Put our base color in perennials, through in some accent colors in the pot. Another idea for your container, put a miniature shrub in the center and surround it with annuals or perennial flowers. Sunkist Arborvitae is a great small variegated shrub used often in containers. Dwarf Hinoki Cypress gives the bed a deep green tone and soft texture. Blue Star Juniper will add some teal tones. Great to match up with your outdoor house colors.
• Do a single vine up and around your mailbox and post. A Clematis vine is a very popular plant. Clematis comes in a variety of colors. Plant 16 to 18 inches deep in the ground and as the plant grows, wind it carefully around your post. They are pretty fast growers, and before you know it, your mailbox will have clematis blooms.A great shade plant is a climbing Hydrangea. Woodbine is another fast growing vine and is low maintenance. Consider putting some ground cover around the rest of the bed. Veronica, grows to about eight inches and will take sun to part shade. Veronica grows well in zones three through eight. Dianthus - Gold Dust will grow about six to eight inches and does well in zones four through eight. The Dianthus ground cover like the Dianthus flower, does well in full sun.

Mailbox Variegated Euonymus

Pot In Bed

Clematis

Mulch, pine straw, or decorative stone finish and decorate a landscape project. Each of these materials will give a brand new look to your mailbox. Any one of these suggestions can work for you. The work involved is minimal. Prepare this bed like you would any other landscape area.Add mushroom compost, or a soil conditioner, plant and enjoy driving in and out of your driveway every day. I am sure your mailman or woman will take notice the very next day! Do you have a decorated mailbox??Would you like to share it up live on the internet. Send me a picture or description and I would be happy to share it with everyone.