No, not for me! I could use one…but, this time I’m talking about our yard.
Since we moved here 5 months ago, we’ve gotten quite a bit done in the house. We’re mostly unpacked (storage rooms and garage an on-going project…), and the walls are slowly getting decorated.
The landscape, though? Completely neglected. It all looked nice when we moved here, but we quickly realized that they had slightly over-planted.
See? Layers upon layers of bushes and plants…that looked good when they were first planted. With not much thought into how they’d look AFTER they grew in. Combine that with the fact we’ve had zero time to do any weeding or maintenance…
A beautiful Japanese Maple that’s totally out of control. Blocks the entire porch area.
Down the side of the house
And, around the back. We have ideas for expanding the deck (it’s to the left of this photo) across the back of the house, this area is really a blank slate. One day…
Here’s a closer look…
and even closer…
We realized this wasn’t going to fix itself (ahem), so I visited our downtown garden center. It’s been there FOREVER, so I figured they might have a good reference for a local landscaper who needs work. Boy, did they ever. A husband and wife team spent about 5 days here.
Here are the results.
Wow, huh? Amazing how much better it looks…more open, spacious. Love it.
The Japanese Maple is now a smaller version of the original. I had no clue how to prune it. It would have looked like a hacked up tree in my hands! Larry said it had never been pruned before. I’m still not a huge fan of where it’s planted, but it does look so much better.
The bushes have a white look to them because that area was loaded with BEES and he had to treat it before he could work on it.
He also trimmed all the front trees, and mulched around them.
Around the side
and, the back. We planted a small gardenia there so far, I’m excited to plan the rest.
Having all of this done feels SO good. I’m thankful we found great landscapers who knew exactly what to do with our overgrown mess! I think the facelift was a success.
September 1st, 2012 at 2:14 pm
It does look great now and I know you are glad somebody else could do it. I need them to come here and work in my yard !
What did you do with all the plants that they took up?? It seems like you could have used them in other areas on your land. I am like you about the Japanese Maple in that they are pretty, but it does block your porch. Did they consider digging it up and maybe putting it around to the side or back or the house?
As I said it looks great there…. just ask them if Wake Forest is too far to come do landscaping. LOL
September 1st, 2012 at 10:38 pm
I think you should move the maple and put a pretty bird bath there. Then you can see the window and when you look out you can see the birds.
September 2nd, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Like Ann, I wonder what they did with all the plants they took up too. Those nandina shrubs would have looked so nice along that brick wall where you planted a gardenia. They don’t grow very large and keep some color all year. Usually they turn red in the winter months. I love the ones we have in our yard. The “monkey grass” could have been put someplace else too. It spreads and you can’t kill it. I have to agree that it was a wild mess in one of the earlier pictures
September 3rd, 2012 at 3:42 pm
I always thought it looked nice, till you took some good close pictures….the 1st thing I noticed is how your pretty front porch is hidden…wow, what a difference these people made!! They really know their stuff!! Now it looks so manicured!
I kind of agree with Kim O about moving the Japanese Maple and replacing it with a bird bath….that would look great!! We have 2 Japanese Maple trees in the back and they’ve been growing pretty fast in the last 3 years!! Now we have a rose pink Crepe Myrtle in front of our BR window….which I love!!!
See you guys in 3 days…I’m packing!!!! :)