Let the landscaping begin! Swapping out overgrown bushes

I’ve pretty much always hated the Rose of Sharon bushes that were in the front of our house. My hate only grew stronger last spring when hundreds (no exaggeration) of tiny shoots sprouted and I spent hours pulling them up.

When we moved in, they were much much smaller. Now they were as tall as the gutters, encroaching on the porch, blocking light into the house (in the summer, they get much leafier) and generally annoying me. I thought it better to get them out before they got any bigger.

At my invitation, my dad came over and got to work cutting them up. He makes these kinds of jobs look easy. What took him 30 minutes probably would have taken me all day.

While he was ripping them out, I ran to Lowe’s to pick up something for another project and found myself wandering through the garden section. In a fit of impulse, I picked up three boxwoods for $11 each and brought them home. My dad planted the first two. I planted the last one after transplanting some perennials to make room.

Boxwoods are pretty low maintenance. They need a trim once a year, but overall, they are perfect for a non-gardener like me. And unlike the Rose of Sharons, which are essentially sticks in the winter, the boxwoods are evergreen. They look a little scrawny now, but they should grow to about three to four feet wide and tall, topping out just under the window.

I can’t get over how open it feels and how the house looks so much cleaner. I know I still have a bit of work to do in this bed (and all over), but this is a good start.