Landscaping around the coop and run

[grullablue]

Our coop is going to be basically in our front yard, somewhat off to the side, but where all will be able to see it, because it was the most suitable place to put it, (and to keep zoning people off our backs!)

So, that being said, we'd like it to look nice. The structure itself, in my opinion, is going to look beautiful when it's done. We pretty much have all the materials, including the siding and metal roofing, we just need to plan the run layout and materials, and I would like to do some landscaping around it, just to help it blend in, and look nicer.

I'm looking for ideas, if anyone could help me with that, or even share some photos of what they've done to dress up their coop surroundings. I would like to at least plan some foundation type plantings on the wall facing the road, which would face north. We are in southern WI, zone 5. Since the coop is going to be a big focal point, I'd like it to look as nice as we can make it!

Thanks for any ideas!
Angie

 

[LynneP]

Do you plan to use some of those plants to supplement the diet of your chickens?

If so, you could work around that concept- snow peas, certain beans, squash, fruit trees, day lilies, nasturtiums, edible perennials, ferns and spearmint for odor control...

 

[lilchick]

evergreens are nice to landscape with.
In Indiana the winters are cold and most things die down except them..
I have 20 acres and can go out in pastures and woods to dig up trees and shrubs and they look pretty natural..
when mushrooming I always bring home small stuff and ferns to plant in yard!
I use hostas on the shaded side... right now and watching for Lowes and Walmart to clearance their landscaping..

love the scrub cedar! you can put in pens for shade and they grow quickly. just trim top down and they will bush out. chickens can clean up alot of vegetation, bushes and trees but they can't hurt this one...
don't know if you have scrub cedars growing wild where you live but any type of pine would work.....

 

[ravenfeathers]

i'd go simple and fuss-free, like a bank of old-fashioned orange day-lilies along the north side. they'll do well,spread nicely but not invasively, and won't take any work. plus they'll look like a million bucks when they're blooming.

 

[grullablue]

Thank you for the input!
I guess I hadn't thought of having "multi-use" plants...with a garden already, they'll definitely get supplemented plenty though! Spearmint for odor...I had not read that though!

I am a big fan of evergreens! The rest I'll have to look up! I've not got much knowledge of landscape type plants....interest, yes, just no knowledge!

Angie