Coop Landscaping

[TXchickmum]

I get this!! You are the one that will enjoy the landscaping!! I've always landscaped around my coops. Hanging baskets are wonderful additions to the sides of runs. You can do posts, trellis, climbing vines. Make certain that the landscape company only uses plants that are hardy in your zone, and non-toxic to the birds. (I never assume anything - even when hiring "professionals".) You can add window boxes to the coop, decorative containers around the area, and plant perennial gardens surrounding it. Make certain that whatever is contained or planted in boxes is heat tolerant and appropriate to the amount of shade or sun because it will dry out more quickly. Your climate is similar to mine. Liriope works well surrounding a run. Lantana, daylilies, salvias, coreopsis, skullcap, scabiosa, catmint, sedum Autumn Joy, and society garlic all work well around the run exterior - and the chickens don't eat this stuff. They will devour pansies and gerbera daisies. For shaded areas, caladiums and hostas are great. It's been my experience that rosemary, thyme, sage, cilantro, and oregano work well around the coop and run. (My gals don't touch it, although I've heard that some chickens will consume it.) The herbs make a great fragrance around the run/coop.
Don't plant anything inside the run as it will be destroyed - but that's obvious.
How exciting, and good luck with your project!! Very nice!!
Here's a good book regarding creating a nice space: Free Range Chicken Gardens

 

[3KillerBs]

In the South, Wisteria a nice long term project.

We love wisteria, but won't plant it here in North Carolina because it seeds into the wild as a tree-eating monster.

There's a fine line between "vigorous" and "invasive".

 

[raingarden]

Agreed, but Wisteria frutescens is native there in Eastern U..S. It's had forever to destroy the forest, but never did. More like Spanish Moss than Kudzu..

 

[NanaK]

For Christmas my husband is having our local nursery landscape my coop in the spring. I have a 20 foot long run that is 6 feet wide. At the end I currently have flower bed with two knockout roses. I live in north Florida at the FL/GA line. We are also adding an awning to cover my nest box lids. It will have the option to add hanging baskets. I’m open to any ideas!!

Agreed, but Wisteria frutescens is native there in Eastern U..S. It's had forever to destroy the forest, but never did. More like Spanish Moss than Kudzu..

Wisteria frutescens is a native but Wisteria sinensis is the one that will choke trees and spread wildly. It's another vine that is eating the south.