1. Dogwood Tree - Seven dogwoods line the left hand side of the landscape area. A deciduous tree growing well in zones four through nine. Many different species of Dogwoods are available to you. Flower colors range from white, pink, and red. The Dogwood can grow up to twenty feet tall and ten feet wide. Tree needs to be watered to get established. This tree can be sensitive to certain fertilizers and chemicals. Check out this out with your nursery when purchasing a certain type of Dogwood. Takes full sun to part shade. There are over 100 varieties. Here is a good simple solution for you if your geographic location can't grow Dogwood tress. Substitute a Dogwood with an ornamental Cherry, such as Yoshino or Weeping. Simple solutions section on this Web site also offers you ideas and tips on different problem areas when landscaping.





2. American Holly - Seven of these evergreen trees are on the right hand side of design. This is a good privacy tree in zones four through nine. It will grow thirty to fifty feet tall and fifteen to forty feet wide. This is an upright tree with yellow flowers in the spring time. It can take shade or partial shade. The American Holly has red berries in the winter and a great source of food for the birds. It is a slow grower and best if pruned in late fall or early winter. Clippings are great to use as decorations around the holidays. Tree is drought tolerant and does well in sandy soils. A good alternative for a privacy tree is a Leyland Cypress. The Cypress Family, Colorful Evergreen Tree And Shrubs shows you a picture and a description of a Leyland Cypress.
3. Crepe Myrtle - deciduous tree -grows in zones six through ten. Different colors of red, pink, purple and white flowers appear in mid summer. The Crepe Myrtle varies in growth from eight to ten feet high and five to eight feet wide. The Dynamite is a smaller tree and grows has striking red blooms in late July and August. This tree is a native of Asia. Pruning is important and done in the first or second week of February. I love to see a Crepe Myrtle retain its natural shape, so a simple tips is pruning at staggered levels and not straight across. By simply pruning in different layers, this will give the tree a continual natural growth pattern the following year. One of the highlights of a a Crepe Myrtle is a multi trunk and bark features.
4. Purple Plum - (Thundercloud) deciduous - beautiful purple leaves that contain some green tones. Can grow 30 to 35 feet high and ten to fifteen feet wide. Will keep the leaves from spring until late fall. Leaves and branches can be harmed due to windy conditions. I use this specimen in houses that have blue, gray, and purple tones from their brick, stone, siding, or shutters. Good to grow in zones five through nine.




5. Loropetalum - evergreen shrub with purple and green leaves year around. Pink/red flowers will bloom in spring and summer. The Ruby Loropetalum is a dwarf and will grow 3 to 4 feet high and 3 wide. The larger versions will grow 8 to 10 feet high and 4 to 5 feet wide. Since this is a simple country design, an idea is to put the larger Loropetalum along an open area where it will have room to grow. The Loropetalum does well in full sun and and grows good in zones five through eight. Off set this shrub with a solid or variegated bush.
6. Mop Cypress - evergreen shrub growing well in zones five through eight. Variegated leaves of bright yellow and green. The leaves are long and skinny, and their texture and flowing pattern resembles a mop. Grows three to four feet high and three to four wide. Can take full sun but will also do well in part shade. A simply wonderful shrub for any garden area. Good shrub to accent next to a solid green plant. Very well received shrub in most home settings. This is the baby of the false cypress family. An alternative for the Mop Cypress, is a Globe Arborvitae. Arborvitae Trees and Shrubs Add Spice To Any Garden Project gives you a description and photos of different Arborvitaes.




7. Steed Holly - evergreen upright shrub. Grows great in zones six through nine. This Holly grows six to eight feet tall and three to four feet wide. It will take full sun or partial shade. Small clusters of leaves form through the branches. The new leaves take on a lighter green tone, making the shrub look two toned at different times of the year. Putting the Steeds Holly next to a variegated or multi-color shrub as a new dimension to a simple country landscape bed.
8. Pampas Grass - Perennial ornamental grass. Grows well in zones five through nine. A wide variety to choose from. The Fountain grass is popular and has plumes that bloom in summer through fall. It does well in the sun. Ornamental grasses are great accent plants for your landscape gardens. One of my favorites is the Blue Fescue as the color has teal tones. Loves full sun but in southern climates it will have to have a little shade. All Pampas grass should be pruned back in late fall or early spring. Here is a simple tip for you. Wear gloves as end of leaves are sharp. Varies in height and width but averages anywhere from ten inches to six feet high and one to four feet wide.
9. Rocks - add a series of three or five rocks along the garden bed. Take the rocks and put in a triangle shape. The rocks add a natural yet simple feature to the area.
10. Viburnum - deciduous shrub growing well in zones five through eight. The Doublefile will mature in height five to fifteen feet and ten to eighteen feet wide. Tiny yellow flowers appear in spring turn into seeds after they bloom. In summer the Doublefile bears red fruit and birds love to eat them. Other varieties of the Viburnum are the Linden, Pink Beauty, and Spring Bouquet.
11. Indian Hawthorn - evergreen shrub with pink or white flowers in spring. Blue berries will appear in the in fall and winter months. Indian Hawthorn minor is a bigger shrub and will grow four to six feet wide. The major is a little smaller and will grow three to four feet high and two to three feet wide. Very durable shrub. Variety of zones but most will do well in zones four through nine. Popular for along your front of the house or simply divine with any variegated shrubs.




12. Globosa Nana - shiny bright blue - green evergreen shrub. Grows around three feet tall and two to four feet wide. Some people call this the funky shrub as the tiny long leaves have a wild look to them. Will grow well in full sun or part shade. Good to plant in zones five through seven. This plant has become very popular over the last couple of years. A simple idea is to put the Globosa Nana next to a Mop Cypress, Indian Hawthorn, or a variegated boxwood.
13. Cleyera - evergreen shrub with green leaves turning burgundy throughout different times of the year. Grows well in zones six through ten. Matures eight to fifteen feet high and eight to ten feet wide. This is a good shrub to prune in fall or early spring. Takes partial shade and does well in sandy or clay soils. This shrub is nice around a solid green or flowering shrub.
14. Carolina Sapphire or Arizona Cypress - this tree can grow twenty to thirty feet tall and four to six feet wide. The teal color tones set the Sapphire apart from other family members. After a rain storm, their long skinny leaves glisten and have a sparkling look to them. You can simply top this tree to keep the height under control. This is also a good specimen for an area needing privacy. Plant these trees seven to ten feet apart. Good shrubs to put near the Carolina are, a deciduous Winged Euonymus, evergreen Rhododendron, variegated Privet Ligustrum, or a Wintergreen Barberry. Any type of variegated or solid green shrub will accent the Arizona nicely.
15. Gardenia - beautiful shrub with white flowers in the springtime. A wonderful fragrant shrub. Will grow four to six feet high and four to six feet wide. It can be harmed by frost or cold in zones seven. The dwarf Gardenia, is a little more hardy in the winters. It will take full sun to partial shade. More varieties are becoming more cold resistant. Does well in zones five through eight.
16. Blue Star Juniper - evergreen low growing shrub. Grows well in zones five through nine. Likes full sun but can take shade better then other junipers. Great plant specimen draping over or in and around rocks or stones. Will grow around one foot high and can sprawl out one to three feet. Great ground cover. Color is green with teal tones on the long needle like leaves.




17. Fire Power Nandina - evergreen shrub growing in zones six through nine. This shrub will grow one and a half to eight feet high and three to four feet wide. The Nandina is adaptable to full sun or shade.Another simple tip for you. This shrub is a great plant to have in a garden or along the house as in the winter the leaves turn bright red and some varieties have berries on them. (Nandina Domestica) Looks great next to an Indian Hawthorn, Globosa Nana, or any other solid green evergreen shrub. Nandana should only be pruned if it needs some thinning. Don't cut straight across. Trim at various heights for a much fuller plant the following year. Great for small beds.
18. River Birch Tree - deciduous tree - Beautiful multi trunk with a white, brown and black tones in the bark. The bark will peal off. Green leaves appear in the spring time. This tree needs a lot of water. It will grow 40 to 80 feet high and 40 to 60 feet wide. There are also other varieties of Birches available. Grows well from zone four to eight.
19. Bed one on left hand back side - I put one bird bath, one bird feeder and one bird house. I kept it simple, but being in the country, you may have enough space to to enlarge this bed. Surround the bird features with a mass of Day Lilies. Use one color or do a multi color garden bed.
20. Bed two on right hand side backyard - A bench is nice in the middle of a defined bed. A couple of pots of perennial flowers will brighten up the bed and adds a simplistic touch to your backyard.

This simple country landscape design gives you a few tips on types of trees and shrubs available. Many of you living in the country have a lot of room to expand your landscape ideas. Take this simple design and create your own garden projects using a variety of colorful evergreen or deciduous trees, flowers, and shrubs. When picking out trees and shrubs, keep it simple and think of blending different colors and textures.