Landscape refresh for 101 year old house

last year

The recent hurricanes in Tampa have prompted us to get moving on a couple of home projects. The front walkway to our 101 year old house is in dire need of replacement. We are ripping out the existing cracked and sinking concrete and replacing it with herringbone pattern aged brick. We want to make the walkway about a foot wider. The landscaping bordering the walkway (indian hawthorne shrubs) are dead and need to be removed anyway to widen the walk. We would like to change the landscape on either side of the path and in the area closest to the sidewalk/mailbox.

I have had several local landscape companies over to discuss options and am not crazy about what they are suggesting. One company suggested 2 trees on either side of the walkway closest to the sidewalk. I don't think I like the idea of trees blocking the site lines to the house. I like the current hedges but they require a lot of trimming to keep looking good.

Open to some suggestions and let me know if you need any other information. And thanks!

Featured Answer

Old House Restorer

last year

Not a helpful comment here, but just wanted to say you have a beautiful home and yard!! I know nothing about plants suitable for your region, but the shrubs do look good and I agree with you on not killing the sight lines to your house. The only area I might consider a tree placement would be in the side yard, closer to your driveway and the street (ie in your photo showing the driveway, a tree in the foreground that’s in line with your chimney). Look forward to seeing your final result!

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Comments (7)

mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
last year
One of our local historic sites is Olana, home of Frederick Church.

Church was an extremely famous landscape painter in his day. When he could no longer paint due to arthritis, he 'painted' landscapes around his house. There is a network of carriage trails, and every so often, there is a break in the shrubbery allowing a view. As landscaping, it is actually quite odd to have the designer dictate so strongly where the viewer should stand, and the exact view that should be seen. Usually, landscapes are designed to be moved through, The views change as the viewer moves.

This pops into my brain fairly often when people are posting one picture, and commentors are suggesting improvements to that, specific view. So when talking about trees blocking sight lines, the question becomes sight lines from where? Is it always a good thing to have everything on display from everywhere? How much is the perspective of this, particular picture going to be driving the responses?
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kculbers
last year
I love it “as is”. Beautiful home!!
party_music50
last year
Wow, your house and current landscaping is gorgeous! Sorry, I'm way too far north to offer help with your situation.
K Laurence
last year
last modified: last year
I wouldn’t change a thing ….
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
last year
Remove the hedges, waste of time. Two Natchez white crepe myrtles flanking the path. Let the asiatic jasmine fill in the rest. Limb the crepe myrtles up not the Florida technique of constantly topping them.
Doug Lockwood, VSLD Certified (zone 8)
last year
Here are a few ideas: