Sorry, I don't see landscaping. Just some scattered plants, not even a cohesive garden. Where are all the topiaries you talk about?

Those aren't landscape photos. Where are the portfolio shots that you show to potential customers?

I see some 'Before' pictures.

I agree with lacey - there is nothing in those photos that denotes a "landscape" - just a few random plants. And the last photo is particularly confusing...........'newly planted informal garden' looks like a bunch of rubbish/trash and dead leaves. Where is the planting and th 'new' plants??

Just curious but how do you define 'landscaping'? I see none in the photos and your posts on your landscaping activities are extremely suspect.

The informal garden is new, and this is a shot from far away. Up close (I need to rake the leaves, but have a cold right now) it looks very nice. I will have to get more photos (of the topiary and clients' landscapes). These are just some photos of plantings at my house. I don't take "portfolio pictures" although, it seems to be a good idea to start. I will be back with more pictures in an hour or so (I will need to take some, and find others off of my file server). I will even see if I can find one of my client's sheared forsythia in bloom. It was beautiful this spring.

I read the "Don't Shear" article that gardengal recommended..did you read it?..I agree completely..I have a light hand when it comes to pruning..a pic of my unsheared 10 yr old burning bushes (yes I know NOW they're invasive)..they look MUCH prettier than the uneven flat topped stubbed out ones at the neighbor's house..the boxwoods are also unsheared and again look better than the neighbor's..I hope to someday do a little manicure on my shrubs but I have so many and it's hard to keep up..a natural look fits with my setting and my plants are healthier because I don't cut on them constantly..

Shearing is fine - with kinds of plants that lend themselves to it - when these are also located in suitable settings. Most modern settings are not suitable. The usual informally planted commercial or residential landscape populated by an assortment of different kinds of plants is not a suitable setting for shearing these into geometric shapes (balls, cubes etc.).

I read the article. I prefer coppicing with burning bush, but shearing works too if you like the look. There is nothing wrong with choosing not to shear your shrubs. If you like the informal look (and in your setting nicholsworth55, it fits well) and it fits well with the setting around, there is nothing wrong with it. I will still continue to shear shrubs (using topiary pruning technique). There is no changing my mind.

Logan..nice to hear you admit that NOT shearing my shrubs "fits well" in my setting..formal pruning can be beautiful but unfortunately the majority of "pruning" that I see looks hacked and the results are NOT attractive..and eventually kills the plants..

Same here, but when I say "shearing" it is different than what you are used to. I use what is considered topiary pruning. Read my article below.

==>>>https://caldwellhg.blogspot.com/2016/11/how-to-properly-shear-shrubs.html

I took a peek at your article..when I have the time will take a better look..if you don't own them already buy some Felco pruners..had mine for at least 15 years..they're wonderful..

Bought some this July to replace my old, dull ones. They work great!

Logan, thank you for sharing the photos. That last pic is definitely a work in progress. :)

Yes it is. I just started on it this year. In about 3 more years it will be beautiful. There is a lack of evergreens. I intend to plant some golden mop cypress to add a bit more color to it.

It doesn't look like the easiest spot to garden under. Good thing you've got a great resource right here to help you along with it.

It isn't. Under 2 sweetgums, a red oak, and the butchered juniper. You are right, I have learned a great deal here on the forums, and I continue to learn from them daily. I would even stretch it to say that this is most likely the best gardening resource on the net.

The plants growing in that empty space are:

forsythia (1 plaited)

gardenia jasminoides (1)

evergreen azaleas (3)

juniperus virginiana (1)

cercis canadensis (1)

elaeagnus umbellata (1)

prunus munsoniana (1)

loropetalum chinesis 'purple diamond' (3)

daylily 'stella' (1)

daylily 'red mercedes' (2)

spurred butterfly pea

hosta 'blue mammoth' (5)

nandina 'firepower' (4)

some type of rhododendron (1)

and a euonymus alatus (1)

I always enjoy seeing examples of people's work. It gives such insight into who they are.

I think I will wait until spring to post more pictures. I am having an issue with vandals, plus I haven't been well enough to go out and rake leaves. Hopefully after Christmas I can get some gardening chores done..... raking leaves, pruning, planting bulbs, burning brush, etc. I just walked the yard today 1st time in two weeks and found that someone murdered my crepe myrtle 'catawba' (2 trunks were "topped" with the branches left laying on the ground).

Your still having trouble with that. So frustrating! I don't know what's wrong with people that they think they need to vandalize plantings. I sure hope you can figure that out and put a stop to it.

maybe you should get a security camera..

Mail me a $100 walmart gift card and I will get a security camera LOL. I don't have the funds at the moment.

maybe someday they'll be really cheap and everyone (including me) will have one..they've been catching people here stealing packages thanks to video..love it when criminals get caught..

I guess people will now have to have package slots instead of mail slots.

Mike, I don't understand what you are trying to say.

Pkg doors are larger than normal door mail slots.