without knowing where you are ... 6b doesnt really tell us much at all ... big city name????

nor having a pic of your house..

its near impossible to make any useful suggestions ...

ken

Sun? Shade? Good drainage?

Martinsburg WV is my location. I want to place the shrubs around the front of my house under the windows, which is facing west. Sun comes up in the backyard. I'd say the drainage is best it can be with the clay as our house is elevated, our yard goes downhill in the front and back. Our street is an incline as well and we are near the top so we get quite the river running through on rainy days. The house will offer morning shade and afternoon will offer mostly sun, as the sun goes down the homes across offer shade to our front yard. Right now we are getting hit with a little winter weather so i will post a pic as soon as i can. I can't wait to be able to get some roses, I'd love a japanese maple, and I would like to do a garden with my kids. Currently there is no fence and behind our property is a farm and some woods. I have seen tons of wildlife deer, fox, groundhog, moles and even a wild turkey! Which I am sure at some point will effect what I am able to plant.

i can not offer landscape ideas.. without a pic ...

else.. any shrub that tickles your fancy is an option ...

no shrub really stops growing ... and placing much of anything under windows becomes problematic ... as in once or twice a year shearing ....

pic????

ken