From Fortress to Refreshing

After

We've all seen or experienced this: Some developer, contractor, previous owner or perhaps a landscape architect though it a wonderful idea to plant trees or tree-like shrubs along your home's foundation. Many of these were destine to obscure the beauty of your home and perhaps reach beyond its eaves. You may have needed to hack away at such plants to maintain their height, creating an unhealthy mess.

Most home structures are attractive, or can be, but not if hidden by monstrosities or those bound to be one day.

Left - Before

Plants and plant beds are meant to accentuate the home, not obliterate it, and to lend themselves toward the overall landscape or serve as focal points or vignettes.

After removing roughly fourteen azaleas, we began placing plants based on a plan previously provided to the customer and then began remarking the new borders.

After

We removed as much unwanted ground-growth as feasible, did a rough grade of the area and then began installing the plants with two Red Dragon Japanese Maples as the center pieces, while other plants welcome the owners and their guests to the front entry - Pink Muhly, Sunshine Ligustrum and groupings of Silver Carpet Lamb's Ears.

Both beds also include a Kaleidoscope Abelia and Crimson Fire Loropetalum, while the further side of the right bed also has a Purple Pixie Loropetalum and Golden Mop False Cypress.

We completed the project by performing a final grade, re-establishing the borders for better mulch retention and ease-of-maintenance, and then added pine bark nuggets.

Right - Before

Brown metal edging (I only use when necessary.) was used to separate the right bed pine bark from the pine straw on the far end. This will aid in the two beds we created in standing apart from the other foundation beds, adding to the focal point, which leads to the front entry.

The beds may look sparse for now, but plants were placed to account for future growth and will look even better over time.

Eventually, the mulch will be removed nearest the Lamb's Ears for it to become a true ground cover.

After

I can't wait for all these plants to mature, especially the Red Dragon Japanese Maples so I can get my hands on these two to prune them.

Oh, we also installed three 45-gallon Natchez Crepe Myrtles throughout the front yard and a single 15-gallon Bloodgood Japanese Maple.

The owner is definitely a plant person and doesn't mind playing in the dirt. She has some gorgeous plants (not to mention the fruit producers) cleverly placed throughout the property, but she admits some changes and additions need to occur. We will happily be working on this with her in the future.

In the meantime, I am developing a pruning program to address and care for some of the other shrubs and trees.

She also asked me to work with her general landscape service when and where needed. No problem.

It was a joy meeting, working with and for this family - sharp, fun-loving.

Let your home breathe. It may help you in many ways, as well.

Some year-round color variance doesn't hurt, either.