(1) Cardinal Red Twig Dogwood
(1) Spartan Juniper
(1) Moon Glow Juniper
(2) Wine and Roses Weigela
(2) Mugo Pines (accidentally bought the big ones - didn't realize they didn't all stay little)
(1) Dwarf Burning Bush
(2) Golden Globe Arborvitae - may plant these on either side of the air conditioner unit.
(2) Japanese Red Maple

Any ideas would be great...we need something to put on the south side of the house along the foundation. We have about 21 feet to work with and currently just have a lilac bush on either end.

I'm open to a couple of beds as well just don't know how to work with all of these.

Thanks!!!

I never consider it a bad thing to buy plants, but for these plants, I would urge you to consider the following:
a) there are areas of the yard besides the foundation where plants can look good, and usually better than they do at the foundation, especially if they are programmed to grow big,
b) just because you bought it does not mean you have to plant it (been there, done that). The garden centre is happy that you made your purchase, but no one will know if you now just cut up the plant and put it in the compost....
c) even if you do plant the wrong thing/wrong place, it is fine if it serves for a few years and then you pull it out and replace it... having anything in the ground can help you identify what you do and don't like about it and help to make a better choice for that space next time,
d) plants that are planted late (and June is getting late in most areas) rarely survive anyway, which is probably one reason why they are on sale at the garden centre. Especially south-facing. If you plant now those plants have little hope anyway - they will have so much sun without an established root system to keep them hydrated (and if you overwater, they may poach) (voice of experience here). When you buy plants on sale they may not be the healthiest stock (maybe a little pot-bound) so the risk of losing them if you plant late in the sun is pretty high. It is likely best to keep them in pots in a shady spot for the rest of this year and plant in fall.
e) the selection of plants available on sale is not likely to be the sum total of the best plant selection for a given project, so when you do get to your planting, you may need to buy a few more things to make the planting come together.

Karin L

The weigela and dwarf burning bush would do for a south facing foundation - and won't need and kind of shaping or pruning for quite a long time. That exposure is fine for the junipers too - but those will grow both wide and tall so would think twice with only a length of 21'. The red twig dogwood does expand in all directions, but can be kept in check with pruning out - as popular a shrub as it is, I don't see it used much here as a foundation plant... more often in the back of a garden or in a mixed shrub border.

Mugo's are "adorable" when small. If you're judicious about candle cutting every spring you can keep them in check for years. Wouldn't use at the foundation.

Cannot grow Japanese Maples here.

I've got a couple of globe arborvitaes beside my air conditioning unit. I might give them a shearing with an electric trimmer every five years or so since they're approaching 40 years old now. They've definitely expanded, but have kept their globe shape without fuss.

Any space elsewhere in the yard to start a conifer garden? The upright yews and mugos could be a start... incorporating the Japanese Maple with those could be very attractive.

In general, foundation plants around here are fairly small evergreens. Keep in mind that any deciduous shrub is going to have two different appearances. For noticable foundation plantings, both of the appearances have to be at least reasonable. I'd try to arrange these away from the house in some way.

Start by looking up sizes. Evergreens never really stop growing, but these are upright types that are going to do more growing up than out. Figure out how much space needs to be between them. You may want to bunch them together to see how they look together, then spread them out to plant them. There should be a lot of bare ground between them to give them room to grow.

Truth be told, I'd have a harder time keeping shrub and tree purchases healthy in their pots, moving them in and out of shade, making sure they're watered deep into the pot and not merely the surface inch for a whole summer season than I would digging a proper sized hole, adding any needed amendments and getting them into the ground. Giving them the whole growing season to establish making survival over the winter more likely.

Nothing in the above list - save maybe the Japanese Maple - is terrifically fussy. It's the 21' length along the foundation that gives me pause. Not an altogether large area, but the OP hinted there were other garden areas that could possibly be used.

As usual, I'd like to see a photo - possibly one that escapes the fantasy land makeovers to which we're often treated.

I am posting a new thread with a picture of the south side of our house. I'd still love any ideas you have for an island or something to use up these plants. just not sure where to go with so many specimans!!!

Draw out a specific plan, design for future plant height, and make it as close to spec as possible. If you can't do that and have the money, hire a professional. If not, take your time and don't rush it.

Don't mass plant your list, it will probably look jumbled.

I would also put that red twig dogwood somewhere really noticeable in the winter, not too far off from the home.