rudygee Alder

MKEGreenworks That does indeed appear to be a clump Birch which are great when given enough room to grow, although relatively short lived. Their exfoliating bark creates great textures in summer and winter. The challenge as in this case is that the tree is planted far too close to the residence. In a short number of years the adjacent sun loving perennials will be in shade and struggling and the gutters will be full of leaves each and every year.

One of the most common mistakes we see when homeowners develop gardens along the front of a residence is all of the plant material is placed inside the walkway. Most people will not even notice the plantings. When you pull the planting bed to the outside of the walkway as well, then your guests begin to walk "through" the garden instead of along it.

If you were to pull that birch to the outside of the walkway and plant it about 8' outside the walkway into the enlarged planting bed and light it with three LED uplights you begin to create a much more dramatic entry way.

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