Building a Front Garden
I am planning to break through the concrete in front of my south-facing brownstone to create a front garden. I have some hydrangeas (and maybe a holly bush) that want to live there. But before we start breaking things up, are there any helpful suggestions from those who have already done the project? Specifically, what…
I am planning to break through the concrete in front of my south-facing brownstone to create a front garden. I have some hydrangeas (and maybe a holly bush) that want to live there. But before we start breaking things up, are there any helpful suggestions from those who have already done the project?
Specifically, what did you use for a border (we’re thinking pressure treated 2x8s with about 2″ above the concrete), did you put in a french drain or gravel bed (we’re thinking just gravel), and did you use the soil that is already there, or replace with new topsoil?
Thanks all.
I used cobblestones to line the edge of my front garden. Looks really nice. Go for roses! Or consider planting a small tree, like a magnolia.
hey hancockone can I have some of your dirt? We must live pretty close to each other.
I have about ten contractor bags of garden soil that was removed when I leveled the grade in my back garden. It is OK garden loam with some clay content, not “potting soil” like you get in bags at Home Depot but decent, fertile fill. You can have all you want. I am also dividing some hostas so you can have those too if you like.
I’ve had hydrangea in a container on my southish facing roof for about 4 years. It was one of those Easter plants from Natural Land on Flatbush Ave. Sometimes it looks a little fried if I don’t water enough, but it by and large it seems happy and thriving. I’ve even gotten it to change its bloom color. If I use a lot of potting soil, they’re pink. If I put some metal in the container, they turn blueish-purple.
I also have two hydrangeas to get rid of. They are not the bulbous flower form but the flatter, “fancier” one.
There was some broken up stone and concrete that we left but there’s really no reason for drainage gravel since it’s all soil below.
Pay someone to do this nicely with a concrete saw giving you straight edges, not just a couple of day laborers with sledgehammers and maybe a jackhammer.
DIG on Atlantic Ave did mine.
I’ll be here on the weekend in a week or two or you can stop by some evening and we can dig them out.
If you’re a neighbor of mine there’s no need for permits or LPC permission, as we all know over there!!!
there are so many gorgeous hydrangeas in my immediate neighborhood – which is what made me think about putting them in – i’m going to take a walk tonight and see if they seem to be on the north or south side of the street- otherwise, lilacs are lovely too . . .
dibs – so you didn’t put a drain or gravel in – just topsoil? i will absolutely take you up on the spider plants – i was already considering them for the very front, right behind the fence – was originally thinking ivy, but don’t want it to take over. we’re neighbors, so i’ll introduce myself next time i see you in real life (we’ve met once or twice)
If you live in a historic district, and the open space does not already exist, better read these guidelines first. No problem with container gardens, but to break up areaway you might need a permit from LPC. Page 32: http://bit.ly/c2dpJj
We have a crepe myrtle that does fine in the sun of our South facing front garden. Make sure they cut the concrete neatly and the 2×8’s will work, but i like cobble stone borders the best. We have about 100 or so darwin tulips with a border of muscari .
make sure you have access to a hose. You might bury a soaker irrigation loop if your garden is big enough. Mulching helps.
When we built our garden we found the old fill pipe for the oil tank. I’m sure the ground is toxic as hell, but the flowers don’t seem to mind
I had this done. They cut out a 4′ X 4′ square of the concrete. It was about 6″ deep and there was soil below that. We added a bunch of topsoil on top and never did a raised border (the edges of the remaining concrete work well). There’s really not much risk of water infiltrating the basement from here unless you’re opening up right against the foundation, which I was not doing. If you are doing that and get some water, cover the inside of the foundation with a layer of hydraulic cement.
As far as hydrangeas, I’ve grown them for year in a very sunny location on Cape Cod and they thrive in sun. They do need sandy, draining soil and als can’t tolerate drought at all so you’ll have to water them.
In a couple of weeks I’ll be thinning my yard and have about 16 Liriope “spider plants” that work great as borders if you would like them.