front yard landscaping
June 1, 2011 
64+ hours, 70+ plants, 90°+ weather, and one long weekend—I now have a yard I am proud of! My practically-professional-botantist mother came to visit me last weekend and we tackled THIS crazy monster.
Captured a few during pics, including our selection from the nursery (one of everything).
And of course the most rewarding part—the lovely after images!
Though a dramatic improvement, it still takes YEARS before the true after is visible. Plants are so very out of my comfort zone, but I will do my darndest to keep this little investment alive! Well, by little I mean about the price of one of these Coach purses. Thankfully I had a gracious friend that allowed me to borrow tools and take ground cover starters, which cut a lot of costs.
For those of you botany fans, the yard now has range of hydrangeas, salvia, hostas, boxwood, peonies and daylilies. And a plethora of other perennials. But no more yucca plants! I really love the retaining wall that will eventually have sedum bursting forth!
Price Breakdown: Plants $355 // Bricks/Rock $108 // Landscape Fabric $44 // Mulch $30 // Misc $15 // Total $552
Any landscaping ventures that you hope to do? Or fans of this attempt?
Reader Comments (4)
It looks great! I've actually been tackling our yard too. I've been working in the backyard though, just trying to get all the crazy weeds and overgrown plants out of there so we can eventually plant some pretty ones that will have some color and hopefully not overtake the yard like the current ones have!
@Amy Yeah isn't it so much work! Manual labor and me do not mix well. Excited to see pics of your yard!
are you aching today? what an incredible job (women rock!) so, may i ask the name of the plants you have on each side of your porch (flowery yellow-ish white flowers)? and your blockwall is awesome! does the dirt keep the blocks from moving? or do you have some sort of brace holding them in place?
@christine e-e
Yeah every inch of me was sore! The large flower bush-trees are Alice Oakleaf Hydrangeas. They actually get over 10' tall and 10' wide! On the retaining blocks, I don't have any brace holding them. It's just dirt and their design that keep them stable. Thanks for asking!