Help with yard border!

8 years ago

Now that our snow is finally melted, we can think about enjoying our yard again! We have about 25 arborvitae that surround our entire backyard. The previous owners placed them in a mulch bed, but then let it get overgrown, so now under them is a mix of grass, weeds and old mulch. I’m not a fan of the spacing, but my husband does not want to take any out and they do add some privacy. I would love some ideas on how to make them look better? We prefer low maintenance and live in zone 5. Should we plant some ground cover underneath? Redo the mulch beds? Perennials in between?

My initial thought was to add good-sized, flowering perennials in between, but then I get overwhelmed with thinking should they all be the same, mix it up? And we have a lot of trees, so cost is another issue! Thank you so much for your help!!

Featured Answer

littlebug zone 5 Missouri

8 years ago

Too bad they’re soldiered-up in straight lines. They’re nice trees though.

My first thought was to add more, inside your yard, but not in rows. In odd-numbered clumps. Or largish shrubs, in odd-numbered clumps. Or both.

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Comments (7)

PRO
Dig Doug's Designs
8 years ago
some ideas using lilacs, tardiva hydrangeas & Carolina Allspice
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cvermullen
Original Author
8 years ago
Wow!! This looks fantastic!! I’m going to research your suggestions!! Thank you so much!!
cvermullen
Original Author
8 years ago
I agree littlebug! It’s like they wanted a hedge but got the spacing wrong? I like the layered idea. Thinking we might do some of that along with using Dig Doug’s suggestions for some flowering shrubs! I so appreciate the help!!
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
8 years ago
If you add more plantings, either shrubs or arborvitae, be sure not to plant in ROWS. Clumps are preferable.
cvermullen thanked littlebug zone 5 Missouri
l pinkmountain
8 years ago
I have the exact same problem along one side of my house. If you don't have a deer problem, I would recommend incorporating some low growing yews, since they also stay green all year around. My wonky cedar rows are along a roadside and downhill from it, so I have to plant salt tolerant things, but you are no so constrained.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
Since the arborvitae are almost always used for privacy screening or as a hedge, a straight row is SOP.....they wouldn't work as intended if planted in "clumps" :-) So you can disregard those comments, as these are some of the few plants (along with any other hedging) that should be planted in a row or straight line!!

However the spacing of these is indeed off if intended as a privacy screen - there shouldn't be any gaps. And I agree that fronting them with a larger growing, flowering shrub would work well to disguise the spacing issues and since the gaps are irregular, the siting of the shrubs will be irregular as well.

btw, if deer were an issue here, the arbs would reflect that.....they are prime menu items for deer!!