Rose Gardens & rubber mulch

[Carolina ProWash]

I've thought about gardenias - I absolutely love the smell but don't know how high they'd get. Can you keep them small? Camelias get ginormous - I know because I just took three out for the rose garden.

And well, yeah, house enhancement is there but I have to rope some business in with it as well, otherwise I can't use the overlay as a business expense

Anyone use a landscaping design program? I'd be more than happy to forward other photos to someone to work with - let me know where to email them and what the fee would be I need to see photos to decide on anything!

Celeste

[MASTERMOWER]

Hmmm, ok. I don't really know what thrives in NC....therefore I can't really offer a slew of suggestions.

BUT, you need some form with your design. Right now, IMO, it's all blah, which is likely what passers-by would think as well. You don't need a bunch-o-junipers up front. I'm gonna assume you wanted to keep the front shrubs low so you can keep your home open? Scott is right...you can do A LOT with your house....it has a lot of character. Some proper landscaping will enhance that!

Look into a mix of upright, 'shrub-like', and groundcover type shrubs. Mixing the three together with some perennials/and or annuals will add a lot to the landscape. Place the uprights on the corners of the house as to soften the rigid walls. Maybe find some shrubs bout 3-4' tall for under the windows with the 3 planting boxes. I'm not a big fan of the sidewalk right up against the house. Perhaps from the drive to the door?...but I wouldn't go past that..?? Transition is good, meaning having something different between two like objects (bad definition), such as the hard sidewalk and hard brick walls. SO...maybe pull that walkway out from the house a little, leave a 2-3' planting bed for compact shrubs/perennials/annuals. THEN, in front of the sidewalk plant a few clumps of varying shrubs....along with some of your groundcover-like shrubs in the front. Note (if you can make sense of my rambling) all plantings angle down from the house into the front lawn. Try some compliments...such as your house has a few 'peaks,' so throw in one or two peak-habit plants (upright arborvitae, spruce, fir, etc). I could go on and on....maybe you get the clue? Let me know if I helped (or if I confused ya).

Maybe this picture will help you understand what I'm talking about somewhat...????

[Carolina ProWash]

So - guess what I found today! I was talking to a friend of mine that got me into the overlay system (I'll plug him here - www.puretexture.com) He is a former landscaper and hooked me up with a designer He had the same opinion on the front of our house as well....I believe his exact words were "it looks like a homeowner did it". So, we now have some other plans (hardscaping) for the house until my designer gets to me. We're putting copper on the bay roof, there's a part of the house that you can't see in the photo that will be getting a set of step. The lower part of the bay is actually going to get a stone facade. He also explained the layering of trees, shrubs, annuals, etc...

You guys are great I'll keep you updated on what's going to happen!

Celeste

PS - the concrete is already there.....water in basement problems prompted that action so I gotta work with it

[Scott]

So - guess what I found today! I was talking to a friend of mine that got me into the overlay system (I'll plug him here - www.puretexture.com) He is a former landscaper and hooked me up with a designer He had the same opinion on the front of our house as well....I believe his exact words were "it looks like a homeowner did it". So, we now have some other plans (hardscaping) for the house until my designer gets to me. We're putting copper on the bay roof, there's a part of the house that you can't see in the photo that will be getting a set of step. The lower part of the bay is actually going to get a stone facade. He also explained the layering of trees, shrubs, annuals, etc...

You guys are great I'll keep you updated on what's going to happen!

Celeste

PS - the concrete is already there.....water in basement problems prompted that action so I gotta work with it

sounds like you have the right stuff going for you now.
With the concrete issue, you can always build some nice cedar planters.

[SPENCER HUNTER]

I'd Would Use Cypress Mulch It Last Longer ,,several Year's Like At Least 4 Or 5 Years,, Holds Moisture We Have The Drip System And Sprayer System Too!!!!it Beats Dragging A Hose Allover The Yard We Have A Area That Is 85 Feet By 60 Feet It Cost About $100 To 150 And Any Homeowner Can Install They Sell This Product At Any Homedepot Or Lowe's