2.24.2011

Removing the Beast


When Steven bought our house around April of 2009, there was a lot of work to be done in the yard. We pulled out a humongous cattail bush, knocked out a cement planter from the front porch, pulled up this, cut that, and removed the jungle that had taken over the space next to our shed out back.

In present day 2011, there is still a lot of work to be done in the yard.

Behind the humongous cattail bush lived an even larger shrub...this bush is so enormous it has blocked out the sun from pouring into our living room. And while I've been thankful for the privacy the bush has provided while our windows have remained blindless, it was time for it to go! It just kept growing! This shrub has become ungodly and insufferable! It has enveloped half of the front of our house!

It really wasn't that bad, but it was beginning to be an eyesore.
So, naturally, we chopped it! Here's Steven halfway through...wow, there's actually a window back there!
And after just about 35 minutes of hacking away....
See the paper towels & all purpose spray? That window was filthy!

Yikes! It's so bare now! Less is more...right? But with spring just around the corner I am fast at work learning about landscaping so we can give the front of our house a lift. It needs one desperately!
One thing I've learned more about recently is hardiness zones...check out this map that'll tell you what zone you live in.


I also read an article about the top ten landscaping shrubs. Here are some of my favorites:
Red-Tip Photinia
Picture from Sherry's Place

Liriope
Picture from Colesville Nursery

Boxwood (in a more natural form, I'm not a fan of geometrical bushes)
Picture from Pride of Place Plants


Spirea
Picture from Hav-A-Lawn & Garden
And the Dwarf Crape Myrtle wasn't on the list, but I definitely think this would be a great option to grow in my place of the beastly shrub!
Picture from Gardening Tips & Resources


My front yard to do list (constantly growing):
- Chop beastly limbs off
- Rake away fall & winter's deposits (leaves)
- Pull beastly shrub stump out
- Paint porch
- Get new storm door & install
- Hang house numbers
- Rope off future landscaping beds & create river rock edging
-Turn up soil & prep beds for planting!!
-Plant!! ...when you've got the money to buy the plants :)

Anyone have any tips? Favorite landscaping plants? Any experience with landscaping at all? I'm not desperate or anything...

4 comments:

  1. I was just thinking this morning about landscaping in my own yard and how I have NO idea where to begin. Thanks for the ideas :)

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  2. I like the Crape Myrtle! My mama and papa have them. They add a nice color...

    My latest issue of Southern Living talked about that map but I didn't really read it since we don't have a yard... wanna see it?

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  3. I'll bring you the article on Sunday if we make it back for church (going out of town this wkd.) If not, I'll drop it by one day next week.

    As for a door, I think yellow would look great with your gray. But then again, it might depend on your plants. Get out of that box!

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  4. I don't know if you are looking for a color for your front door or already have one picked out but our first house was a light gray and we painted our front door a pretty navy as well as our shutters. We painted our front porch and carport a darker gray in the family our house color was. :)

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