Last summer we got our house painted and updated the portico. The update feels fresh and clean compared to the powder blue this house once was. You know how refreshing one thing makes the other needed updates stand out even more? That’s how we’ve felt about our front landscaping ever since the house went white. The fresh color made the tired plants look even more sad. Our personal goal in the next few months is to tackle the front landscaping. Creating beds that grow to be the traditional, formal style I love will definitely make our house shine.
Along with the plantings being overgrown and thin, the design of the grass running through the right bed isn’t in line with the traditional feel I want. There is also a lot of dead space, possibly for annuals to be planted, but I’d prefer to keep annuals in pots and leave the perennials to do the ground work.
While we’re at it, the south side needs some attention. The rose bushes I planted a few years ago have all come down with a virus not to mention are eaten up every year by Japanese beetles…are you luck enough to have those too? I’ve been told that once an area is infected by the virus you can’t grow roses there for the foreseeable future.
I also have plans to turn this patch of grass on the north side of the yard into a bed. The tree on the other side of the fence provides enough shade that grass has trouble growing. Plus, this is the side people enter to come swimming, and I’d love to add some additional interest to greet guests.
Do you see how the ivy bushes on the right side are bigger and fuller than the ones on the left? Or how the bushes under the sunroom windows get bigger as they get away from the large tree in our front yard? If you look at the image below, you’ll see a sampling of the many branches we have in our yard at all times. The river birch is a beautiful tree, but it sure is messy. Limbs break with the slightest gust of wind. Among the many things it drops all year long, we start seeing leaves on the ground in July – making our yard look autumnal most of the summer. The river birch is ideally growing next to a body of water hence its name to be happy, and I don’t think this one is. Besides the mess, its roots are almost at our house: a threat to our foundation with very expensive consequences.
Tonight Micah is cutting this tree down. I have to say, I was totally against it at first. It’s been here since I moved into the neighborhood as a kid over 25 years ago. I remember the family that lived here then had a Saint Bernard that was often chained up to it. One time that dog broke from his chain while my brother and I were were rollerblading, and it chased us the whole way home!
My childhood memories of it may not be the most fond, yet while living here the tree has provided nice shade to our home on warm summer mornings, and I love the interest it brings. But I think it’s important for our home and the future landscaping that it comes down. We hope to plant another tree towards the corner of the lot sometime soon. One that is a bit less messy and will Once the tree is down we’ll start digging up the plants, and we are scheduled to get an irrigation system next month. Hallelujah! My summer mornings spent moving sprinklers are almost over. I’m excited to share the plans for the new landscaping with you soon!
Are you tackling any outdoor projects right now, or have any you’d like to check off our list this summer? I’d love to hear about them!
See more about the exterior of our home here.
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Sydney85 says
You will so enjoy having a sprinkler system. It really is one of the best investments we ever made. Instead of watering you have time to look after the garden!
themakerista@gmail.com says
I think I will! Yes, it will be nice to spend that time doing other things, like relaxing!
Gerilyn says
We have 3 river birches as well. We picked up enough sticks from the winter to have kindling for the firepit for the rest of the summer! Ours also loses leaves super early. What were the builders thinking when they planted them in suburbia?
themakerista@gmail.com says
Right? They are just so much work!
Kim says
Your house is beautiful and painting it white is perfection! How do you feel about window grids – especially in a more traditional house?
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thank you! If they are wood I think they are beautiful. I don’t love the windows with the plastic ones placed in between the glass though. I’m a traditionalist, so I prefer the real deal. 😉
Marie says
We had overgrown shrubs when we moved in e years ago and used my brother in laws jeep to pull them out. It was a fun day. We planted hydrangeas and I love them in the summer time but they leave the house bare in winter.
themakerista@gmail.com says
I think that’s what we’re going to end up doing! I hand dug several out yesterday, but the bigger ones call for some more muscle!
themakerista@gmail.com says
And we’re hoping to do hydrangeas but do yews behind them, hoping that won’t feel too bare in the winter!
Aana says
We are doing the same thing, this year is all about the outdoor project. We just finished the fence , planted some medium size trees , still have lot to do including marking some cement planters. It’s lot of work but it’s rewarding.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Awesome, sounds like you’re off to an amazing start!
Patti says
That tree is the icing on that beautiful home of yours. Fancy landscaping can’t replace that. Just breaks my heart that you want to cut it down
themakerista@gmail.com says
I don’t just want to, we have to. The roots are at the foundation and that will be very, very expensive to fix if they crack it. I definitely will miss it’s presence, but that’s why we plan to plant another tree further from the house.
Lauren says
I totally get where you’re coming from. We had seven! Trees taken down last spring due to disease and their proximity to our house. I was bummed about it, loving how cool they kept our house in the summer, the privacy. But since they have come down we have been able to reimagine potential in our yard. I am now able to plant more perennials, and they actually thrive now! We carved out space for a fire pit that is really coming along. Lots of good things.
And something I learned from our arborist is that not all trees are good and you need to take them down. This is coming from a guy who loves trees! I have never been a fan of river birch; their bark looks messy and from what you say they are very messy.
I am looking forward to seeing your progress, especially as we usually see your interiors. This will be fun 🙂
themakerista@gmail.com says
Totally agree! Not all trees are good for your home!
Catherine says
I feel for you having to cut that tree down, and I certainly think you are making the right decision. You will be able to choose a much more appropriate tree for that spot, though I’m sure having to live with something smaller will sting a little bit! I’m jealous you can grow hydrangeas; I live in Houston and it’s just impossible. I look forward to seeing what you come up with!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Yes, I think so! I’m excited for them!
Maddison says
Following along as I am about to plan our front landscaping project too! What tree are you thinking about as your feature? I’m leaning towards a Japanese Maple but open to other ideas! Can’t wait to see your choices.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Those are beautiful! I’d love to do something that will last a century or two. I’m thinking a maple, but placing it further from the house so we don’t have issues with the foundation.