Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

This is a great opportunity, since you are digging the old plants out anyway. Before you do anything else, get some compost (you can buy it in sacks at commercial nurseries), spread it over the existing soil, and then dig it in. Compost in the soil helps with drainage, assists the roots in getting nutrients from the soil that they need, and has nutrients in it, too. You almost can't put on too much. When the time comes to dig holes for your plants, it will be much easier. We will recommend plants native not only to North America but to your area. Plants that have been living in an area for millions of years will be accustomed to the climate, soil and rainfall; thus, requiring less water, fertilizer and maintenance. If you are unfamiliar with the use of native plants, you might start by reading our How-To Articles Using Native Plants and A Guide to Native Plant Gardening. 

You didn't say what your soil is (you may not know), but, again, natives to your area will like that soil, whatever it is. You also didn't say how much sun or shade your garden area has. We consider "sun" to be 6 or more hours of sun daily, "part shade" 2 to 6 hours of sun, and "shade," less than 2 hours. When we list plants we are suggesting, we will detail what kind of light requirements each plant has, and you can make your decisions accordingly. We will go to our Recommended Species section, click on Virginia on the map, and from there select on "herbs" (herbaceous blooming plants) under Habit. We will repeat that search on "shrubs" and "trees." You can duplicate this search, making your own selections by specifying bloom time and color, soil moisture and so forth. These plants are all commercially available, and if you have difficulty locating your selections, go to our Native Plant Suppliers section, type in your town and state in the "Enter Search Location" box and you will get a list of native plant nurseries, seed companies and landscape and environment consultants in your general area. They have contact information and maps, so you can check with them first before you make a shopping trip. Follow each plant link on our list to get more information, including (if you wish) going down to the bottom of the webpage on each individual plant to a link to Google on that plant.

Herbaceous flowering plants for Northern Virginia

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow) - perennial, to 3 ft. tall, blooms white, pink April to September, medium water use, sun, part shade

Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine) - perennial to 2 ft. tall, blooms red, pink, yellow February to July,low water use, paart shade, shade

Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed) - perennial to 2-1/2 ft. tall, blooms orange, yellow May to September, low water use, sun, part shade

Conoclinium coelestinum (blue mistflower) -perennial to 3 ft., blooms blue, purple July to November, medium water use,  sun, part shade

Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed) - perennial to 2-1/2 ft., blooms yellow April to June, medium water use, sun, part shade, shade

Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower) - perennial to 6 ft., blooms red May to July, low water use, sun, part shade

Penstemon digitalis (talus slope penstemon) - perennial, 2 t 5 ft. tall, blooms white May to July, sun, part shade

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England aster) - perennial to 6 ft. tall, blooming pink, purple, August to October

Shrubs

Lindera benzoin (northern spicebush) - deciduous, 6 to 12 ft., blooms white, yellow in April, medium water use, sun, part shade, shade

Morella cerifera (wax myrtle) - evergreen, 6 to 12 ft., blooms green March and April, high water use, sun, part shade (can also be trained up to the small tree you requested)

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry) - deciduous to 4 ft., blooms white, green April to July, medium water use, part shade, shade

Viburnum prunifolium (blackhaw) - deciduous 12 to 15 feet, blooms white April to May, medium water use, part shade (another possibility for the small tree)

Small trees

Cercis canadensis (eastern redbud) -deciduous 15 to 30 ft., blooms pink March to May, low water use, part shade, shade

Chionanthus virginicus (white fringetree) - deciduous, 15 to 30 ft., blooms white April to May, high water use, part shade

Prunus americana (American plum) - deciduous to 35 ft., blooms white April, May, medium water use, sun, part shade, shade

Magnolia virginiana (sweetbay) - semi-evergreen, 12 to 20 ft. tall, blooms white April to July, high water use, part shade

Achillea millefolium

Aquilegia canadensis

Asclepias tuberosa

Conoclinium coelestinum

Coreopsis lanceolata

Lobelia cardinalis

Penstemon digitalis

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Lindera benzoin

Morella cerifera

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Viburnum prunifolium

Cercis canadensis

Chionanthus virginicus

Prunus americana

Magnolia virginiana