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julian_avery

Need some input...landscape contractor messed up

7 years ago

Had a landscape company out today and they took the liberty to alter what I wanted done. I have two arborvitaes that are about 12 feet apart, I asked them to extend the bed around them 6-8 inches and then combine the two into 1 large bed making sure to keep one edge parallel with my driveway. They decided to do this and make the other edge parallel with the property line which is not parallel to how the trees were planted and now one of the trees is no longer centered in the bed. Looking for some input if it's worth putting soil down and replanting a small amount of grass to reestablish the edge and center the closest arborvitae.

Here is the good edge:

The messed up edge, white string is where I would build the new edge as I wanted.

And a further back view.

Thanks in advance.


Bonus points, what should I put in between the trees? Was thinking 1-2 Hydrangeas.

Comments (10)

  • 7 years ago

    Can't see the spacing clearly but there does not look like there is sufficient room for hydrangeas in that planting area. Most hydrangeas get to be pretty significantly sized shrubs.............and many varieties are not amenable to pruning without damaging the bloom potential.

  • 7 years ago

    This shows what I envision a bit better and how it would be after black mulch is put down.

    Emmarene, I definitely notice it and figured some may not.

    Gardengal, i've spoken to my local nursery and they assure me 12 feet should be plenty of room for at least 1.





  • 7 years ago

    If you notice it, you should probably fix it because it will cause you grief.


    I think hydrangea foliage will look weird against arborvitaes but I may just be having a hard time envisioning the look. Then again, if it was me, I'd remove the arborvitaes because I don't really like them to start with. Just a personal preference.....

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    While people may notice this, I don't think it'll be judged as an atrocity. If it bothers you enough, fix, but it's not going to require adding soil. Just scoot some soil over to support the sod at the level you want and fill the other area with mulch. Black mulch will accentuate the issue as it looks stark and artificial. Would be better to use a more moderate color.

    Pictures from this angle don't well show the space between the trees. The hydrangeas are going to destroy the foliage of the arborvitaes where they bump up against and shade them. This is OK but you'll see it during the winter.

  • 7 years ago

    I think its fine as is but I'm like you, it would bother me. I'd probably fix it.

  • 7 years ago

    Thanks for the input thus far.

    Here are some better angles. Still not sure what I can put in between these two as a similar sized arborvitae will run over my budget.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Maybe the pictures are deceptive - where exactly is the 12 feet measurement? It doesn't look like 12 feet between the trees . . . . .

  • 7 years ago

    12 foot measurement is between the trees.

    Just double checked it on satellite imagery and got a little less than 12 feet.

  • 7 years ago

    Well, it must surely be a deceptive picture as it looks like about 6' or 7' to me. (You can measure small spaces in your yard using satellite imagery?? Be a lot easier for me to use a yardstick.)

    If you have 12 feet of bare space from tree edge to tree edge, then you have enough space for a full-size hydrangea. A Gatsby Moon Oakleaf hydrangea, for instance, has a height of 6-10' and a spread of 6-10'.

    But I'd save up for another arborvitae or two instead since that's what's already going on there.

    Irrespective of their measuring, the landscapers did a nice job with their edging.

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