cross-posted from: https://lemmy.crimedad.work/post/63959

cross-posted from: https://pixelfed.crimedad.work/p/crimedad/675140687607015636

The flowerbeds in front of my house could use some work.

I’d like to replace what I’ve got with some colorful plants, but I’m not sure what to pick that’s appropriate for the environment or even what sort of design guidelines to follow that will lead to a handsome result. Would anyone care to offer some suggestions? This side of the house gets plenty of sun and faces South. The location is in Essex County, New Jersey.

#gardening #landscaping #design #diy

@[email protected]

  • @[email protected]
    10•9 months ago

    Hi neighbor! Believe it or not, I walk by your house all the time and always tell my wife I love it :)

    As for what you can do, I know you said you’re southern exposure with a lot of sun, but I can tell you that I would consider your home and even that front mostly shaded.

    Now is a good time to mulch with some good compost. We’ve been seeing good results with just getting some black kow from Home Depot.

    Additionally, I was just there yesterday, but The Farm in Green Village (by Morristown) is open and they’ll soon have plants in their shade section. Very helpful people there too. Definitely worth the trip.

    Also, we have a ton of deer, and your arborvitae look like tell-tale signs of deer nibbling. They can’t reach the top so just eat out the middle. I got a motion detected sprinkler to scare them off a few years ago and that seems to help.

    Small world, especially on Lemmy!

    • CrimeDadOPEnglish
      3•9 months ago

      Small world, indeed! I never considered that any of my neighbors would have even heard of Lemmy. Thank you for the compliment on the house; it really deserves a little more TLC from me in the front. The deer are definitely a problem, but I just assumed the arborvitae were growing like that because I never bothered to prune them.