Help my dull/poorly planned front yard!
midwestguy33
12 years ago
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midwestguy33
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Landscaping Ideas for Backyard - Privacy
Comments (148)I don't remember if I told you, but make a skimpy dashed line with the paint with the first walk through. Appraise the results and make corrections with a heavier dashed line. Appraise again and when you think it's right, go over it with a solid line. Depending how good you are about it, it can be fairly straightforward... or it can get messy. So take your time appraising it from many angles before making the corrections. If it gets really messy, a second, different paint color is useful. Once you get the line as you want it, mark it in some permanent way (cut with shovel?) as the paint will not last long. After a couple of weeks of weathering and mowings it may be so faded you can barely make it out. If you want the line reviewed, post a picture taken from a high elevation. I know you're making changes to the concept plan I showed you so I just want you to be thinking through the planting arrangements as you make the changes. Since you're doing this work yourself, I have the feeling you're going to become good at evaluating what you've done and the way things are fitting together... especially after you see a year's growth. Now that you're a transplant expert, you'll be able to make adjustments when you see some are needed. The hibiscus is more a shrub than "tree." It looks like something that should be within easy view of deck or pool area. Since you're new to so many plants and trying to save some $ by doing the work and putting this together over time, you might consider creating a temporary place where you plant various perennials that are under consideration...a regular perennial garden. You could collect plants with zero worry about what goes where, just stick them in. See how they do. Get to know them. You could place such a garden in any place that's not ready yet to be landscaped (so it's not in the way for a while.) As you evaluate plants, you can increase the stock of those you like. Some perennials multiply so rapidly that if you buy one, from it you can make all the others of that kind you need. If you do it, add 1/3 volume of peat moss to the planting soil so it is better to work in and better to grow things. Another thing I meant to mention, where you have like groups of plants (say River Birch) when it's all said and done you'll want these plants to match as though they came from the same family. It will not be pretty if one is a 5-trunk multi and another is a single trunker... and one branches as 8' above the ground, and another at 12 feet. They need to look like they're all from the same planet and got their hair cut at the same salon. What to do about it? This year, nothing. Just see what they do and try to make them as healthy and fast growing as possible. At the end of next winter, you'll want to do whatever pruning (before spring growth occurs) that's required to make them be matched. But never fear, even if it has to be severe, as long as they're healthy they'll bounce back and keep going....See MoreHelp me design my new front yard
Comments (1)It's better if you post the picture directly into the thread....See Morewould love some help with my front yard
Comments (25)dsb, I've noticed that there is a dark gray/blue used for the shutters on some of the other houses, and it is much nicer than my shutter color. Every house has white trim, though. So we'll see - I have no idea how open they will be to the request. I think the potential problem will be the dark trim and removing the shutters. I don't think that painting the foundation will be an issue. Widening the walkway - interesting! I hadn't thought of that, but I will look into doing it. (I think I will also hve to get permission to do this.) I definitely see how it would look a lot nicer if it were as wide as the steps. I don't really like the pots on the first step now, and would love to get them (or some other containers) their own little spot. Good idea. oilpainter, I definitely agree about repairing the gate so that it won't sag. It has been driving me nuts for a while but I haven't gotten around to figuring out how to fix it. As far as painting the fence, I actually really love the look of the weathered wood, so I'm going to leave that as is. I know it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I really like it. lazygardens, I like your idea about having some plantings at the intersection of the public sidewalk and the walk to the house. Very few of the houses on my street have any kind of landscaping (And most of the backyards are just a dirt hill - barely even any grass!), but one that is really nice has some nice little raised beds on either side of the walk to the house. It is so inviting and pleasant. I'd love to do that if funds allow. What about putting a few squares of paver (above and beyond any path widening) and putting containers there? Do you think that would have the same effect? karin, thanks for the additional feedback. I think I just didn't explain myself fully or clearly, because I think I am open to some changes. I was kind of imagining it as an all or nothing thing, especially before I had heard any ideas. But a lot of the suggestions are not huge major things, and they are all under consideration! Thank you all so much for your help! It has been really helpful to have your input and thoughts. I really welcome all the ideas. I'm still a ways away from doing the work, but this is really helpful to get me thinking about it in new ways. And when I do get around to getting started, I promise I'll post photos! Oh, and a quick question - as I said earlier, I have to get a big stump ground out of the right bed. Can I do that right before I plant new plants, or should there be some time between removal and planting?...See MoreNeed help designing my front yard!
Comments (7)I agree with arbordale that it would be an improvement to widen the drive at the right side of garage as if the walk extended all the way to street. Also, it would be good to enhance the entrance to the walk (next to the garage front corner) because the house entrance is so distant. It's hard to offer much help on planting schemes as the pictures are poor quality and wrong views. Upload better ones with good lighting and sharp focus that show the areas well and you'll probably get more suggestions. I agree with removal of the overgrown shrubs. also, I would oppose hemming in the walk with plantings alongside. But you need the better picture in order for anyone to see what the possibilities are....See Moremidwestguy33
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoSusan_Lay
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agolyfia
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoyacheryl
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agomidwestguy33
9 years agoYardvaark
9 years agomidwestguy33
9 years agoYardvaark
9 years agomidwestguy33
9 years agoYardvaark
9 years ago
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