Shrubs removed---what do I replace them with?

14 years ago

The shrubs were removed a couple years ago. I worked on the west side of my house last year and now it is the front yard's turn. Along the foundation and porch is where the shrubs (yews) were. It has washed out a bit since then and doesn't drain well. I think it needs to be filled in but I don't know what to use.

I have envisioned a raised bed starting at the edge of the carport (lower right of photo) and taking it all the way around the corner of the house (far left). Replacing the ugly wooden bed that is there now (my dad did that, it used to be their house).

I just don't know where to start. The house faces north, the area gets no sun (along the foundation) to morning/noon sun at the end of the flower bed.

Suggestions! Please! and thanks.

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Comments (4)

oilpainter
14 years ago
That eavestrough drain pipe is part of your water problem. I would dig down along the sidewalk and fill it with coarse gravel and aim the downspout toward the street.

If that black line is your proposed flower bed. It looks good but the curve back to toward the house is a little to abrupt give it a gentler curve and once the box is removed narrow that part toward the gravel. Once you have removed the box lay down the garden hose to get your correct line for the deging. Then you can see if the line is pleasing to the eye.

Once it is done fill it with good top soil compost and manure.

Plants you can put in--
Shrubs--dogwood- the variagated one is lovely, rhododendron, false spirea and I'll bet there's enough sun at the corner of the house for azalea or hydrengia.

climbing plants--climbing hydrengia, american bittersweet and there is a shade clematis,

perennials--astilbe, goats beard, foxglove. ligularia, lamium, golden creeping jenny, violets, primula, hostas and ferns.

annuals--impatiens, begonias,coleus and fuscha

I'm sure I missed some, so look around. For the part that gets more sun any part shade plant will do
mspatt
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks, I appreciate the input.

I hadn't paid much attention to the the closest downspout as there are two others. But it is actually making it's mark on the yard. I wonder why my dad didn't have it facing downalong side the driveway.

How much space should I plan on having between the house and any shrubs or trees?

I love Clematis and will check out the shaded variety.
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Thank you so much for the ideas and encouragement! This has become my de-facto exercise program for the summer, so might as well pile on the work. :-) Sounds as though I should make sure to do the prep (now I know what I will be doing the July 4 weekend - landscaping starts 7/7) in advance and try to be home when they dig out the existing shrubs so that I can get them moved over immediately. On the upside, while I am not activating the irrigation in the rear of the house this year (pipes will be run but no sprinklers installed yet in that part), I am having a freestanding faucet put in, where before there was nothing! So I can actually do the watering. No wonder the prior owners complained nothing would grow back there. Who the heck builds a rambling house on an acre and includes only a single spigot? Enjoy, that's a good point about waiting on adding anything to these...I'd rather wait until a better time, and this project alone will likely be ambitious enough. Timbu, thanks so for the suggestions - I'll be looking into those! Linda, your comments about cutting back bring a general question, too. I've been timid about pruning in general. On a yearly basis, how far back should I really be cutting all these guys? Maybe I'd have revived the spirea more quickly if I'd been more aggressive! A related question: as I think I mentioned, the daylilies, while leafier and healthier than they've ever been, really don't flower. I've been in this house 7 years and am just learning about dividing; the prior owners got too old to tend to the place, so these things are quite dated and certainly have had nothing more than water and the prior year's dead leaves pulled off of them for some time, plus a bit of fertilizer last year and this. Should I be dividing when I move them - and now or in the fall? Or are they likely just too old to be doing anything at this point? Poor things deserve better treatment going forward, not to mention medals for surviving as they have.
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oilpainter
14 years ago
On the plant tags it will say the mature height and width of the plant Leave about a foot between the house and shrub. In other words if the tag says width 3 feet plant the shrub2 1/2 feet away from the house--1 1/2 feet--half the width +1. Check out the height too --is it going to interfere with the eaves.

Planting away from the house allows air flow to keep the siding and foundation dry, important especially on the north side. Flowers can go a little closer.
missingtheobvious
14 years ago
Planting away from the house also allows you access to maintain the shrubs -- and the house too.

Shrubs removed---what do I replace them with?

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oilpainter

mspatt
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Shrubs removed---what do I replace them with?

Comments (4)

oilpainter

mspattOriginal Author

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mspatt
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