Shrubs for the Island
 

We’re looking for recommendations on types of shrubbery to plant on Rattlesnake Island. Have a fairly rocky site, brilliant sun in the morning, deep shade in the afternoon. I'm looking for something to help hold what soil there is.

Prefer something that's grows locally, stays low, is hardy and doesn't need much maintenance. Flowering is a plus, but not necessary.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
R and M

Blueberry bushes grow well are maintenance free and are natural to the islands.

Dan

Mountain Laurels do very well.

Also, NH DES has a list of recommended plants, try them.

We are on the sunrise side also and have more rock than dirt. Some thoughts.

1) The deer eat any flowers soon after they arrive.

2) We planted a few Rhododendrons and they are surviving but growing very very slow. (3 inches per year)

3) Our yard is populated with hemlocks and the baby hemlocks seem to really thrive as the closest thing we have to ground cover.

4) The deer come in the winter and eat whatever they can including hemlock.

5) We also have blueberry bushes that are growing wild.

6) The kids planted a moss garden years ago and it survives 8 years later.

i second that!
 

plus they are great to eat!

to the first blueberry pancakes of the year -PIG

Blueberries it is
 

Here Here!

Sounds like we're planting blueberry bushes!

Thanks very much for all your suggestions (love this forum)!

- R & M

Here is the list of native plants Grady was suggesting, we use it often:

http://des.nh.gov/organization/commi..._plantings.pdf

Yes blueberries
 

Here is an early October look between our camp and the water, leaves just starting to turn. This area gets about 70% shade and 30% sun. The blueberries are all wild plants that have receive zero attention over 40 years including no trimming.

Actually, you have to work if you DON'T want blueberry bushes. They appear naturally, They expand. They become tangles of branches, making trails impassable in a few years. Blueberries is what is. Trails is what you work to create.

These appear to be low bush which would be common in NE. The high bush varieties produce larger berries but I do not believe they would be found in the Lakes Region.
My brother has wild blueberries on his Maine property and the only thing that is done to them is a controlled burn every other year which helps the plants by killing off other plant growth that would push the blueberry plants out and keeps production output up. He makes pretty good money from about 4 acres of them too. His are flash frozen the day they are picked by G. M. Allen & Son Blueberries. http://www.gmallenwildblueberries.com/index.html

Well here is an idea for the Forum Fest......How about some members who have these "wild blueberry bushes" bringing a small cutting and having a "for sale" table? Maybe some members have a favorite plant that will be separated into a small plant for sale etc. Seems like a good way to raise some money for whatever charity gets chosen?? We have no blueberry bushes but would love to get some especially wild ones that give great berries and need little care!!

Know nothing about the forum fest so hope this is not something that is out of line for ideas.