Hi! Some questions about landscaping...plant ideas and help.

So I went to visit my friend's mom near Minneapolis, MN, and she asked me for some landscaping ideas.

She has a story and a half home, with a cedar-shake roof that has really unique angles and dormers. The house is painted gray on the wooden areas and faced in various shades of brown brick everywhere else. It was built in 1973, and is a very long house...probably close to 70 feet. The "style" of the home is sort of a cross between English cottage and Craftsman. Hard to explain, but despite it's size, it has a cozy appearance.

I wish I had a picture, but alas, do not.

Anyway, she pulled out ALL of the landscaping this summer, and is now stuck. She's looking for low, horizontal, minimal to zero-maintenance shrubbery. Perhaps some of it can flower, but she's not interested in planting flowers themselves, since she has many flower beds in the back of the home. The home is secluded (tons of trees) but the front yard is cleared and only has two trees. The rest is grass.

Obviously, a Minnesota climate needs to be taken into consideration. I'm just wondering if anyone can give me some helpful links, or has any ideas! I'm not very good at the whole plant/bushes/flowers thing.

The one idea I have come up with is to plant Engelman Ivy to climb up some of the brick, which I think would look gorgeous. It works well in Minnesota.

Thanks!

Matt

PS: I'm heading back over there soon, so hopefully I'll snap a couple pictures of the house. We wouldn't do any work until the Spring, either.

I would get a book or list of native Minnesota plants that are well acclimated to your region and low maintenance. Perhaps there are some nurseries that specialize in native plants you could visit as well.
Take a picture of the house with you and perhaps use a copy to do a quick sketch of a basic plan or to show to nursery personnel. Know everything you can about which sides of the house get sun vs. shade and any other important info that will determine your choices.




Here are a few sources to help and inspire you:

Book: Landscaping with Native Plants of Minnesota
http://www.amazon.com/Landscaping-Native-Plants-Minnesota-Steiner/dp/0896586502

MN. Native Plant Suppliers:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/gardens/nativeplants/suppliers.html

Dept. of Natural Resources website on using Native Plants:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/gardens/nativeplants/index.html


Other thoughts:

If it is somewhat Craftsman-like in feel, a Japanese theme might work well with it. Do maple shrubs and trees do well in MN? How about a small koi pond?
Or how about a prairie feel? Some well placed boulders with some native grasses and wildflowers? I love the way tall native grasses soften a facade.

Also keep it simple. Less is more in terms of varieties of plants.
In other words, choose a handful of plants and then just place them carefully and plant them in large groupings. And try to plant things that will provide year-round color and interest.

Might it be possible to use a rainwater collection system with a drip system to create even lower maintenance and resources (water)?

Sounds like a fun project!

Get trees, plant them, wait a year.

Then get shrubs, plant THEM, and wait a year.

Then fill in everything else.

Sorry I haven't posted back in this thread for a while. You know, the campaign and stuff. :)

I'll definitely take all of your suggestions. THANK YOU!

Matt