Front Porch Bed - Mid-Summer View - July 2024

The view from the curb of our front porch bed has changed SO MUCH in just a years time.  That photo above shows what you see as you view the front of our house and includes a few big changes that I'm seeing grow into their mature forms in a very short period of time.  The tree - a Triumph Elm tree that was planted in Fall 2022 is the biggest change; as it replaced a much-larger Norway Maple.  That large Norway Maple with A MASSIVE MAT of surface roots was out-competing just about everything up there.   That meant...boxwoods that were in the shade and being starved out.  Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangeas that were undersized and losing the battle.  And, a pretty inhospitable environment in terms of soil.

I suppose that's the starting point - the soil.  In Fall of 2021, I documented the root mat and hydrophobic soil that supported no plantlife.   I tried to build a remedy over time - including adding nitrogen via Alfalfa cubes and planting annuals that I hoped would open up the soil and help create loam.

Then, in Fall of 2022, when I took the Norway Maple out, I amended the soil with a load of organic material - composted manure, compost and top soil.  Then....came the biosolids.  

By last Spring - March 2023 - I started to dig holes to do 'vertical mulching' with organic material.   Then, I did more.  

The soil improvement - in my estimation - is probably the most-important change.  Yes, the light and the lack of competition from the tree roots are important.  But, the soil comes first.

Last year - in mid-June - I planted a row of plants from Northwind Perennial Farm.  Sesalaria Autmanalis (Autumn Moor Grass) in front of the existing boxwoods.  And, a row of small Green Velvet boxwoods to extend the hedged, fronted by Summer Beauty Alliums.  

Here's what part of this area looked like in September of 2023.  The boxwoods were tiny.  The Allium still quart-sized.   The hydrangeas were flopping over and there was some space in front of them that needed to be filled.

Today - in the photo at the top - shows large, spreading Alliums and Moor Grass that is filling in the space, too.  The row of annuals - orange Marigolds - are growing and providing some color.   The Vanilla Strawberry panicle hydrangeas are beginning to flower while the Limelights are almost peak.  If you look closely, you'll see three Melina Fleur Dahlias that have grown up to fill the space left behind by the dead Disneyland Roses and there are two varieties of ornamental grasses:  Totem Pole (on the left) and a couple of Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grasses tucked in behind the boxwoods on the right. 

There are four hydrangeas across the front and the one that isn't visible is coming along and will be ready to peek over the hedge by next Summer.  

What else can this bed use?  Time. Time for the small Green Velvet Boxwoods to mature and fill-in.  Cleaning up the drainage issue along the property line.  Probably an extension up-front - by pulling the border out with a new edge that removes some of the turf.  And...conifers.  But, those two things probably go together.

The other thing on my mind curb-appeal-wise?  The expansion of the Island bed this Fall to prep for Spring planting.  Or...should I do it *now* to prep for FALL PLANTING.  Eek.