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" Wouldn&amp;#039;t it be nice to be able to just go out into your own garden for the makings of holiday decorations? This plan, for Zones 5 to 8, is designed to provide you with evergreens, berries, colored twigs, herbs and dried grasses that can be used to fashion natural ornaments and accessories. Here we&amp;#039;ve used a gray barn as a backdrop, so that the plants really show off well in the winter; the design could be repeated for a larger area. The site should be in sun for at least half the day for best growth. As this is a long-term planting, prepare the soil thoroughly and incorporate plenty of organic material. Maintenance is minimal. Until the permanent plants fill in, use the gaps as a cut-flower garden for annuals during the summer months.  Click here to download and print out this garden plan  Garden plans courtesy of Country Living Gardener. Page 2: Key to Plan   Key to Plan  1. Hybrid winterberry (Ilex x verticillata &amp;#039;Sparkleberry&amp;#039;) 1 plant; 6 to 10 feet tall and as wide; deciduous shrub that bears clusters of round, bright red berries; can be trained against side of barn (or wall or tall fence); needs the male pollinator &amp;#039;Apollo&amp;#039; nearby.2. Hinoki falsecypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa &amp;#039;Verdoni&amp;#039;) 1 plant; to 6 feet tall and 4 feet across; upright dwarf evergreen with fans of yellow-tipped leaves; clip carefully to maintain shape.3. Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia &amp;#039;Brilliantissima&amp;#039;) 1 plant; 6 to 10 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet across; deciduous shrub with persistent clusters of 1\u20444-inch red fruits; brilliant red fall color.4. Wintercreeper euonymus (Euonymus fortunei &amp;#039;Emerald Gaiety&amp;#039;) 1 plant; 4 to 5 feet tall and as wide; evergreen shrub with silver-edged, 3\u20444- to 1 1\u20442-inch rounded leaves; can be trained on side of barn.5. Red stem dogwood (Cornus alba &amp;#039;Sibirica&amp;#039;) 1 plant; 6 to 7 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet across; deciduous shrub with bright coral red bark, especially on young shoots; prune a third of the old wood to the ground each spring to encourage new growth.6. Hybrid box (Buxus &amp;#039;Green Velvet&amp;#039;) 2 plants planted singly; 3 feet tall and as wide; globose evergreen shrub with glossy green leaves; trim to keep smaller if desired.7. Mugo pine (Pinus mugo &amp;#039;Valley Cushion&amp;#039;) 1 plant, 2 to 3 feet tall and as wide; low-growing evergreen; break off new &amp;quot;candles&amp;quot; in late spring to maintain low habit.8. Rockspray (Cotoneaster horizontalis &amp;#039;Hessei&amp;#039;) 1 plant; 18 inches tall and 3 to 6 feet across; deciduous shrub with abundant 1\u20444-inch red berries on herringbone branches.9. White sage (Artemisia ludoviciana &amp;#039;Silver King&amp;#039;) 3 plants spaced 2 feet apart; 2 to 3 feet tall and 2 feet across; jagged deep silver leaves; inclined to become invasive; excellent as a base for herbal wreaths.10. Blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) 3 plants spaced 18 inches apart; 1 to 2 feet tall and 18 inches across; erect tufted clumps of silver blue leaves, above which rise elegant flowering stems that dry to wheat color; evergreen where winters are not overly harsh.  Click here to download and print out this garden plan  Garden plans courtesy of Country Living Gardener. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.countryliving.com/gardening/garden-ideas/a245/holiday-decorating-garden-plan/>