XP:Curb appeal for a unique home PIPs

Christy062009

I am in need of some serious gardening advice for our house.  Last fall DH and I purchased my parents' house.  My dad built this house when he first started his construction business and it is the house I grew up in.  Anyway, the landscaping has been neglected for the last few years.  . 

I'm at a loss for where to start with the planters.  This will be my first year with a garden and I'd like to try to make it as low maintenance as possible.   

Here is an overview:

Left Planter:

Right Planter, the light green is weeds/grass :

I think I'll put hostas around the 'circle':

and I'd like to do hydrangeas below; there are some tulips coming up:

I'd love to hear any ideas you have; it's such a large space and I'm a little overwhelmed.  We live in a small town so I'll likely take pictures and bring them to a nursery the next time we travel to a larger town but I'd like to have a little bit of an idea of what I want to do.

Thank you for your help!

another KT

Evaluate the various areas for sun exposure. If both of those areas get a lot of direct afternoon sun I would think the hydrangeas and hostas might fry. If they only get morning sun and are shaded by the building in the afternoon, then they might be okay.

Christy062009

Good point!  The hydrangeas might be okay because that location is shaded by the house for a good portion of the day but the hostas definately would have fried.

Both planters get a ton of sun.

glitterfart

I love hostas and hydrangeas, and we have quite a few of each in our garden. BUT, and this is the big but IMO, they are only interesting/provide a focal point when they are in their growing season. I have a huge bed outside my front door that looks really naked right now because the hostas and hydrangeas haven?t come out yet. Personally, I wouldn?t put the hostas around the round thing because for half the year or more it will be a bare spot with nothing to look at. I?d want some plants that provide visual interest there, year-round. What about some Carex (grasses) or box? Just a couple of suggestions off the top of my head. But as pp said, it really depends how much sun that area gets.

dirtyred

Ditto the no hostas in the circle--it will be bare half the year.  I don't know what area you're in, but Google "plants with winter interest" to get ideas for something that will be attractive all year.  Red twig dogwood, Pyracantha, Callicarpa, and Black Mondo grass (Ophiopogon) would all lend color and texture to that area in the winter.

Christy062009

Your right, I need something that will look good at least all summer and some contrast all year round.  Our summers are typically pretty short.  I have a lot of research to do.  Thanks for all the ideas and giving me some place to start!

pdxmouse

Hydrangeas look good with ornamental grasses. I like hakone (japanese forest grass) especially and it has similar shade and water needs. Hydrangea paniculata might work well because you can prune it into a tree shape. If space is a concern, "Little Lime" stays under 5 ft.