We've lived in our house for 13 1/2 years now, and I'm pretty sure that the foundation plantings/bushes have been here since the house was built in 1978. As with all good things... their life was coming to an end. You know... when only the tops of the bushes have any greenery left on them and the rest is all bare and ugly looking?!?
So, today was the day to take out the saw and pruners and get to work. Only, it must have been 200% humidity out there - we never did get the rain they were predicting, save for a few sparce drops...
I forgot to take a starting picture, so this is after I took out the first bush. Actually, I really only cut them all down - Don will have to dig out the trunks for me, as I just don't have the strength!
The second one that I attacked - see how barren it is?
Here's where I deposited all the cut branches, under the deck in the back. Now it's up to Don to bag them up - that's NOT my job!
I'm liking the area so much better already! I think we'll move the white adirondack bench that Don made last summer over there - I recently bought a cushion for it that goes well with the shutters. I'll probably also plant some perennials around it, instead of new bushes - YEA!
Oh My gosh Lynne That was a lot of laboring!!! ~~ And on an extremely Humid day to boot!! Sounds like something I'd do ~~ DOn't stop until it's done!!!
But Boy do you feel good after. Tired muscles ,sweat and all makes it worth it!!! The Chair and perennials will be great there , especially with the cushions bringing in more color with the shutters!!
"Grace without perfection is more to be desired than perfection without grace."
You could rent a mulcher and have enough mulch for the entire year with what those bushes would chew up into. I did that one year when we cut down a wild cherry tree. All the branches went into the mulcher that we rented. And I had enough mulch to do the entire yard.
I like it! My sister had those all around the front of her new house and I always hated them! Hers were looking rough too.
I really like the idea of the bench with some perennials in there!
And bagging them up? That would be Marks job too!
I hate those bushes, too. Sometimes, when they're well-taken care of, they look good. But I am allergic to them. My boyfriend wants to plant some in our yard, and I keep begging no!
Looks like a lot of hard work! What are you planting there? I think it would look really neat to have some more hostas! (I've decided I want hostas everywhere...LOL).
I'd love to have more hostas around the tree, but the deer and slugs do such a job on the ones I already have each year, it's not worth it! They look really nice now, but in a few weeks they will look very ratty!
Thanks for the offer, Tammy, but even that doesn't work - tried it!
I decided to keep the bench where it is, and just plant some soft looking plants there instead. I planted the area today - after I added in much of the free compost Don and I got this morning. I put in 3 different kinds of ferns, 2 bleeding hearts - "King of hearts", 2 large pots of elephant ears that are just poking through the soil, and yes a new hosta - "wide brim"! Can't wait til they all start growing and filling in the area.
Close-up of hosta - the edges are much yellower than it appears here...
I have heard of a lot of people here trying Liquid Fence for the deer and rabbits. I am going to try it! I also have a recipe for a homemade deer repellent. It seems to be helping so far and it is just household items that most everybody would have. But, it doesn't seem to be helping with my rabbits so I am going to try liquid fence once. I can give you the recipe if you would like it Lynne!
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