Front yard Renovation Before and After
mb02143
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
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mb02143
3 years agoRelated Discussions
before,after and plan front approach
Comments (6)Beanie, FWIW, here are some comments from an experienced gardener (not a designer) in a much colder zone than you. It's hard for me to be specific about plant types or eventual sizes of your selected plants, but in general, I think you have too many plants planned for inside your walkway. More importantly, you need to think about adding plants to the opposite side of the walkway. I would include the standard Rose of Sharon in the outside bed, removing the sod along the left side of the RofS and any other older shrubs or plants in the area, and wrap/sweep the bed around at least to the other side of the doorway. In the pictures it looks like the area on the other side of the door drops quite away down. I have no idea what you would do with that area, but normally I would suggest moving the bed all the way across the front of the house, maybe sweeping it back out away from the house to include the large holly. Also I am not sure if this bed should be curved, which I usually prefer, or squared off, because of your angular walkway. I suggest spending some time with a hose or rope laying out different possibilities. After you have decided on a layout for the outside walkway bed, then you can think about adding plants to this area, but, in a way that makes it all one cohesive bed (split by your new walkway). Looking at the pictures makes it seems to me that you will need more plants on the outside of the walkway than on the inside of the walkway. You could easily repeat the sedum and the dwarf fountain grass on the outside of the new walkway, perhaps in a cluster of 3 grasses and 5 sedums. Repeating these plants (and your other groundcovers) on both sides of the walkway will help unify the planting. Perhaps the nandina or azaleas would work if there is room, and the right light conditions, etc., and if they do not get too tall and block your view across the yard from inside the house and from outside towards the doorway. Stand in different parts of the yard and inside the house looking out to get an idea of where you want to look, what areas need tall things and what needs short things. As for the Hellebores, here is my experience with them. I currently grow three kinds of hellebore (Lenten, Stinking, & Corsican, only semi-hardy here) as a groundcover in a goodly amount of sun with no problems. However, I would think that full Maryland sun would be too much for them. In addition if your hellebores are happy where they are, which mine are, they seed a lot. That's great in a large woodland area, but not so great in a small front yard garden. So...since I believe that you already have too many plants in your current plan, I third the suggestion that you drop the Hellebore from the plan. IMO, you don't need to replace it with anything. That will leave you more room for your azaleas to grow. You might consider limbing up your large holly to the right (as suggested by someone else) and underplanting it with hellebores. BTW, the trio of hellebores I grow would provide an attractive carefree groundcover, with three distinct leaf shapes and three shades of green. Foetida with its fine leaves of very dark green are my favorite, but might be too dark for underplanting a dark holly (and boy does it seed). As for the dianthus, fescue and liriope, all these make easy care groundcovers, but look better in patches than in rows. I would also consider some sort of small growing thyme or other appropriate plants here and there along the walkway to soften the hard edges. A couple of small empty spots for annuals is nice too, and they can be phased out as other things grow and fill in. Have fun!...See MoreBefore and After. Changed this area of the front yard.
Comments (12)Your tree looked so healthy & green, seems kind of a shame. I didn't recognize it as a mulberry tree though, so I can understand why you would get rid of it. I bet you really had to trim to keep it to that size. The ones I have dealings with I guess are wild ones that birds tend to leave right at the worst places. Like in the middle of my blueberry bush. They grow like mad! Looks like lots more tomatoes for your future! What is your favorite large tomato? I got 3 Big Boy tomato plants this year, got a bunch at one time, but there are not many on the vines right now. I am wondering if there is a tomato that spread its harvest out more. We don't eat lots of tomatoes, but a few every week would be nice. I guess I need to check for early, mid & late season tomatoes. Maybe I should put in a few more plants too :) I miss your beautiful lupines, but lupines only lasted a couple of years for me either. I tried planting some seeds a couple of times, but they didn't come up. I've decided I don't need to try such difficult plants, I'll stick with the ones that work for me....See MoreRenovation - before and after
Comments (37)It is always a treat to see the inside of your beautifully designed home and now to see the gorgeous exterior! Wow! You have done a wonderful job. Everything is seamless and looks like it was always meant to look as it does now. You have a wonderful talent! Thank you for sharing with us!!...See MoreA Zen-Inspired Landscape Renovation in No. CA - Before and After
Comments (8)Thanks for the compliment OTM Designs & Romodeling...See Morenickel_kg
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