1902 Home Is Crying for stairs and landscaping.

last year

Hello All! I can’t put this off any more! The bottom stairs have no railing and are dangerous for friends with mobility issues. The 6x6s were ok 30 years ago but now look awful! They’re hard to keep ice off of and clear snow from. Though I’d LOVE to keep the tree because it’s at least 40 years old, the retaining wall beside the garage makes it tricky to drive into the small garage because it’s so close.
Finally, along the sidewalk there’s a three foot space between the walk and the porch that’s bricked in. Would it make sense to put in shrubs or something low maintenance beside the walk on a very busy street to add curb value?
Can anyone help me bring the grace back to this heritage home in a low maintenance way that will help me age gracefully as well?

Featured Answer

simplynatural

last year

last modified: last year

I would keep the same basic step arrangement and just rebuild everything with concrete for durability. Here's a visual:

I kept the juniper, just rebuilt the planter around it. (If the planter can be finished/faced to match the area under the bay window, that would be a nice detail.) I read that junipers have a long taproot and don't transplant well, so if you want to save it, leave it as undisturbed as possible. I did push the left side of its planter a few inches away from the driveway for an easier turn into the garage (your car's bumper should clear the low curb that remains). That will probably require a little pruning of shallow roots, but hopefully the juniper would tolerate that. I also pruned the visible part of the juniper into a more bonsai-like shape (google "windswept bonsai" for ideas) and covered the soil beneath it with moss.

This shows white peonies below the porch. Peonies have a substantial, shrub-like presence in the summer, but die completely to the ground in winter so you can pile snow there. The plant below the juniper is a white azalea (I don't know whether that's hardy where you are), but you could substitute a shorter mounding perennial that would also die back if you need to pile snow there as well.

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Comments (17)

Rachel Lee
last year
I think the tree needs to go, it isn’t doing anything for you, and you need to hire a good mason to build you some safe, useable steps.
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Dig Doug's Designs
last year
Here are a few suggestions:
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
What a lovely house. I would also get rid of the tree and planting bed. Then you could have a decent sized safe landing built with matchiong bannisters all round. That arrangement looks like an accident waiting to happen, especially since you get snow.
doods
last year
I love your tree, looks like a bonsai, old growth to me is interesting.
Jan#1
Original Author
last year
Yes the tree is special, but Floral has a point re safety. I have a couple of apartments that I rent out in the house, so there’s a lot of traffic coming and going (Mr Amazon etc, ha). There also a lot of snow and ice buildup on the right side that is unavoidable, so nice as the greenery looks, I doubt shrubs on the right could withstand the winter.
ShadyWillowFarm
last year
I do not love the tree, it looks like someone chopped the top off it. It is not an attractive shape. I would demo the whole thing, and put something easier to navigate for both drivers and guests. A small planter bed would be OK if you don’t mind the maintenance.
callirhoe123
last year
i agree with Rachel.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
The 'bonsai' looks like a badly hacked about Juniper. Not a great tree.
Jan#1
Original Author
last year
Wow. Thank you so much for the information! I’ll look the windswept bonsai up. I didn’t t realize about the hydrangeas so that could work. They sure would add a soft pop of color by the sidewalk and latticework.
The illustration makes it look so much better. Thanks again.
simplynatural
last year
Just a note that these are peonies, not hydrangeas. Hydrangeas have a woody structure that stays there year-round and would be damaged by heavy snow loads. Peonies have only a brief bloom time, but their attractive green leaves stay all summer and then they get out of the way.
doods
last year
last modified: last year
We have hydrangeas in a Canadian winter with no problem. I guess there are different kinds of hyrangeas. We have PG and Little Quick Fire and both do very very well. However your peonies are lovely, and love your above rendering simplynatural, good job on tidying up her bonsai.
simplynatural
last year
Just going by my experience (Michigan). Deciduous shrubs usually survive natural snow, which sifts down gradually, but not shoveled-on snow, which i assumed is happening here. But if you want to try hydrangeas, go for it!
Jan#1
Original Author
last year
I stand corrected, thanks. And yes, there is piled snow, as well as ice from the roof between the edge of the stairs and the sign, unfortunately. Too bad there couldn’t be something with a longer flowering period. I love the white!
Here’s a photo from the other direction, maybe continue with the shrubs?
Jan#1
Original Author
last year
Btw the spiraea is almost three times the size since this photo, and there is a new 8 foot tree planted in the wide part of the medium.
doods
last year
@simplynatural agree with you about the shoveled snow, our hydrangeas don't get snow shoveled directly on them.
simplynatural
last year
The peonies (or whatever) could certainly be continued around the corner, if you're willing to take up more brick. Their larger leaves would be a nice contrast to the smaller leaves and finer texture of the spirea. And the tree will be a lovely addition to that corner.

1902 Home Is Crying for stairs and landscaping.

simplynatural

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