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HydrangeasLandscape DesignShrubs
abigail_gray26

Help with a blank slate!

4 years ago

Looking for design suggestions for foundation plantings in zone 5b so winter interest is important. Would love to incorporate the white hydrangea. Love symmetry, hastas, boxwoods. The well house will be replaced with a faux rock. We want to hide the natural gas. We will do crushed stone along the foundation and black mulch. The bricks just next to the driveway will go. Likely will mulch that whole area from the walkway toward the house. Look forward to your suggestions!!

Featured Answer
  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    "I’m wondering anyones thoughts on hydrangeas arborescens?"

    If this is the front of your home you want interest year round, not just during the growing season.

    The bulk of plants I would use would be conifers or broadleaved evergreens so it looks just as nice in January as it does July.

    "Bones" of your design means the larger things to soften your corners, block that utility box, low things under windows, direct one toward your entry. Your height, your structure- the plants that frame the home.


    Once the basic bones are in place with evergreens then I would add some flowering shrubs and perennials to provide color. Choose staggered bloom times and pay attention to bloom color. This is where you'd bring in the hydrangeas, azaleas, and other flowering shrubs.

    Then I'd choose three focal points and do pools of seasonal annuals. Switch out spring and fall for interest, but because it's only three small groups it's easy. You use these around your entry- that should be the most colorful and welcoming area, the #1 focal point.


    Then last, I'd have several large pots of colorful plant combinations that I could set near the entry. I'd have enough that I could have spares going for when the ones on display fade or look raggedy- plants in a pot can be put anywhere you need filler.


    I'd remove that little red border and make that entire area to the right of the walkway a bed. I'd move that wishing well back into that area and make a nice little vignette around it.


    One suggestion- back when I was starting out I had a terrible time getting the bones right- the basic plan that nests your home into its surroundings and makes it look established and settled.

    I had plants and trees I had moved around several times and never felt like I was getting it right.


    Eventually, after almost a decade in I hired a landscape architect come out to draw me a landscaping plan. Not install plants- I couldn't afford that. But just draw me up a simple planting plan that blocked those view I wanted blocked, enhanced those views I liked, settled my home into its surroundings, and flowed- balanced and kept your eyes moving and just worked.

    It didn't cost all that much just for a plan.


    Then over the next couple of years we planted according to that plan and it worked so great I can't tell you. AND during our conversations I learned so much about siting plants- it was quite revelatory- pros are pros for a reason!


    IMO your home is important enough to get it right- you can flounder trying for two decades and spend all the money in the world and never get it right, or you can get it right the first time.

    You have a lovely blank slate there- you can do anything you want there! I'd look around and have a couple of consultations and see if someone couldn't design a simple plan that you can install yourselves to save money.


    It would pay off big time over the long haul. Plants are expensive, and digging up and rearranging them 20 times doesn't help their survival rate much at all.


    If you truly want a curb appeal type home this is how I would do it.

    Comments (11)

    • 4 years ago

      where are you.. big city name .... plant choice may depend on such ...


      hosta prefer some shade.. or lots of water .... this looks like just about full sun ... MN sun is different than GA sun.. if you get my drift ...


      can you come out on the far side of the walkway for larger stuff ???? like shrubs and trees ..


      keep in mind.. foundation plantings are planted to hide the foundation.. NOT ON THE FOUNDATION... so dont plant all these cute babes that you can buy cheap.. inside that walkway.. only to find out in 5 years.. the darn plants are bigger than the house... that is what the large front lawn is for ...


      ken

    • 4 years ago

      Is there another location where you could keep the trash cans and other items pictured in front of the house?

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    • 4 years ago

      Lol thanks for noticing my recycling pile after my sons birthday! Those items aren’t normally stored there. It was a busy week and didn’t have time to move them for the picture.

      As I said I live in zone 5b. Near Boston, MA. Yes I can certainly come on the far side of the walkway but my request was for foundation planting suggestions.

    • 4 years ago

      Okay, we don't need tall shrubs or a screen to hide the trash cans. And a very happy belated birthday to your son!

      Removing the little row of landscaping edging to form one garden bed there is a great idea.

      Choosing plants means knowing a little more about you... having small kids means you want low maintenance? What's your favorite color? Have you had Miss Utility mark the lines so you know where it's safe to dig?

    • 4 years ago

      Low maintenance is always good but we can do some, my husband has some landscaping experience. I’m wondering anyones thoughts on hydrangeas arborescens? Favorite color is green. Haven’t had utilities mark recently.

    • 4 years ago

      but my request was for foundation planting suggestions.


      ==>>


      PERENNIALS THAT DO NOT.. oops ... exceed 2 or 3 feet in height ... with space to walk in there for maintenance ... as well as along the house for ladders.. etc ... which means there really isnt a lot of space there ...


      and larger shrubs outside the walkway.. to soften the boxi-ness of the house ...


      i would take a lawnchair ... and an adult beverage.. and maybe spouse.. lol .. and go sit at the road or curb.. and just look at how your house presents to the neighbors ... and then make some plans accordingly ... create a landscape that accomplishes your goals ...

      [BTW walking the area.. and looking at what others have done.. can give you great ideas...]


      it is easy to plant.. once you have a goal.. and that goal needs to be a little more than just what plants should i buy ... do you want to hide your house form the road.. do you want to hide the windows from the road .... so you can stand there in all your God given glory buck neked and not worry about offending those driving or walking by.. etc ... lol


      what is your goal ...


      ken


      ps:.. with babes around.. leave the driveway rather clear.. so you can see them while driving...


      pps: if there is nothing in the lawn ... plan on planting some dormant heritage trees either very soon... or in fall if its too late to buy dormant tree stock right now ... timing is important with some stuff... see section one


      https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub


    • 4 years ago

      Update! What do you think? Limelight hydrangeas by the door, boxwoods along foundation. Grasses & hostas lining the walkway. Not pictures: magnolia tree going in to the small square area next to driveway / in front of trash cans. Will finish the mulching next weekend.

    • 4 years ago

      Limelight hydrangea is too large for that space - you need Little Lime.

    • 4 years ago

      Limelights by the door??!! They will be ginormous and should not be planted closer than 5’ from any structure.

      Little limes might be ok. Or Bobos. They will be no taller than 4’ or so, and can be planted 4’ away from a structure.


    • 4 years ago

      They are dwarf variety!

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