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Landscape Design

House exterior: What would you plant here?

9 years ago

Hello,

Would love some tips for enhancing our home's curb appeal!

We are planning to redo our crumbling stairs and add an awning, possibly like the one in the post below. Since we'll be ripping out the stairs, we want to redo the landscaping directly in front of our house and flanking our stairs.

What would you all advise in terms of trees/shrubs/flowering bushes that would complement the shape/size or our house and would add interest throughout all 4 seasons of our northern New Jersey climate? We'd especially love low-maintenance plants, as we both have black thumbs.

Any photos of landscaping ideas would also be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance for any advice.

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Comments (8)

tmolly
Original Author
9 years ago
[Second Part of Post]:

Sorry, I don't know how to add two photos in one post, so adding a second photo here.

Here is a photo of the awning style we are considering for our house. I'm not sure how it will look with our roof line, but I'm not a fan of the aluminum awnings some of our neighbors have. I know this is the Landscaping subforum -- where can a cross-post for advice on awning styles? Thanks!
PRO
Yardvaark
9 years ago
Whatever you do with planting will be subordinate to architectural changes, so you'll need to get those ironed out first. Seems like it will be tricky (or impossible) to incorporate the style you're after with the existing roof configuration. There must be a remodeling forum where you can introduce a thread.
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Even though Barberry is pretty, it is invasive in natural areas (to the point that barberry has been banned in some states) so I would avoid planting it. Actually I pulled the ones that the former homeowner had planted at my house when I moved here for that reason. If you want a colorful shrub, consider Fothergilla or Sweetspire 'Little Henry' - both will produce beautiful color during Fall! They also produce fragrant flowers. Additionally, they are native to America so they are already suited to grow here. Balloon Flower is a great perennial. It's very easy to grow, long-lived, and it flowers for a long time. I would suggest baptisia as another very pretty long-lived plant. I am a big fan of Echinaceas. Just do research on the specific variety before you buy (look on this forum for threads about echinacea) because some of the new fancy varieties are duds. Others are great though. I have had Echinacea 'Magnus' for years and it does well. I just planted 'Pow wow Wildberry', 'Hot Summer' and 'Hot Papaya' this year. Coreopsis 'Zagreb' is a good grower and would be easy too. I am also trying out Coreopsis 'Sienna Sunset' and 'Red Shift' this year.
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How bout a variegated dogwood? Pretty green and white leaves in the summer and red wood in the winter. I'm north of the cities as well in Anoka county sand and its been growing great for 2 years.
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I would not let anyone talk you into leaving that maple where it is. I'm overstating the point to make it so please don't be offended - but it looks ridiculous there. It would be one thing if it were rendered insignificant by other mature trees in the yard, but as it is your major tree, to have it two feet from the foundation is simply absurd. And if your neighbours complain about your insensitivity, ask how much they'd like to contribute to the replacement of your foundation, which will be losing its battle with the tree shortly, or if they're up for going up the ladder to do your quarterly eaves-cleaning (the brain wards are full of people who have fallen off their ladders cleaning their eaves). And offer to buy them a maple just like it (get it identified on the maple forum if you don't know what kind it is) to plant in their own yards. In particular given the work you are planning on the house, you can be entirely excused - the tree will be horridly in the way, and it may even die. A convenient excuse - use it! Do talk to them in advance if you know they feel strongly, but it's your yard, not theirs. Karin L PS, I do like your fake closed window. PPS, I have raised two kids in a house with old siding covered in old peeling paint (and then there is the inside). Neither one is precisely mentally handicapped. I think throwing siding away to protect them from lead is thoroughly misguided. Other reasons to throw it away may be valid, like rotting and the paint won't stay on it (though I quibble with that diagnosis). Not to say you shouldn't do what you have planned, but just to be clear on your reasons. PPPS, if you put the siding for free on craigslist, you might not have to take it to landfill.
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hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
9 years ago
Walk around your neighborhood and look for plants that you like. When you see what you like, take a photo. Also visit any local botanical gardens in the area for additional ideas. Try to get some photos now and some in spring.

Then use the Name That Plant forum, or go to a good local garden center, and get the plants identified. Determine the mature size of the plants, if they are low-maintenance or not, and what kind of exposure (amount of sun) that they need.

Plant groups of plants--three or five--not "one of each". Keep in mind the mature size of the plants, and don't put them too close to the foundation.
emmarene9
9 years ago
Yardvark is right. You need to take this question to the Home side of GW. There is a Remodeling Forum as well as an Old House Forum. Your roof line seems to make it tricky.

As to your garden request, I would remove the hedge that abuts the driveway, unless it is there for a function. Any thing else should wait until construction is finished, I love your house and I hope it works out for you.
tmolly
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you for the tips, everyone! Will re-post regarding the awning in the remodeling forum and get to know the plants in my neighborhood. :-)
rhoda_dendron
9 years ago
The one obvious possibility is to plant a small tree in front of the curving walkway to balance the two story portion of the house on the opposite side.
And remove the 2 green overgrowns on each side of the steps.
rhoda_dendron
9 years ago
Like this. But choose a tree that you will enjoy looking at from your window.
rhoda_dendron
9 years ago
Your house is already very pretty. The only area that is a little off scale is over the garage. To break up this large wall and create an attractuve shadow line over the garage you could add a pergola over the garage door.m Bringing the window above the garage into scale would be helpful. It should be twice the size. Adding shutters would immediately accomplish this. A larger window would be better.

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