TGIF, so we are guessing a lot of readers will be outside, working on the garden and the lawn and landscaping in general. So today, a simple before-and-after landscaping photo that makes a dramatic point about reconsidering those classic midcentury sideburn hedges.
Reader Shann owns a lovely coolonial. All the vintage hedges — they got a major haircut. In their place and in addition: Low lying plantings… a window box… a trellis… and some front yard hardscaping — most notably, the sidewalk. Looks like Shann also got a new roof – dark, to play up the shutters.) Trim the hedges and now: We can see the pretty facade of the house.
Folks, those classic midcentury box hedges chucked right up against the foundation and left to grow and grow and grow, choking the front of the house? Well, I don’t think they were a particularly good idea.
Want to improve your curb appeal? Get those hedge hogs out of there. Or, cut ’em ‘way down below the windows at least. Layer other plantings in front of them. “Pull” your landscaping out about as deep as the height of the first floor wall of the house. Add some hardscape. Etc. Nicely done, Shann — what a lovely house you have — classic!
- Tips for adding shutters
- 17 ideas to add curb appeal, from around 1950
- Ideas from the Swift Homes catalog, 1957
Rita@thissortaoldlife says
There is a neighborhood near us full of beautiful homes built in the 60s, and many of the yards sport period landscaping. While I love the idea of seeing more of the house (and we did liberate our 70s split from more than one boxy hedge), there’s something about that older-style landscaping that just looks right with those homes in that neighborhood. The whole neighborhood seems like a bit of a time capsule, and we love to go walking there just to admire it all.
JKM says
The first thing we did when we bought our house was rip out 150 linear feet of overgrown boxwoods that had gotten way too big. All of a sudden we could “see” our house and the sidewalk we thought was narrow wasn’t anymore. It made a huge difference and, interestingly, our interiors brighter. Many of our windows go almost to the floor so, until the bushes were gone, one-third of them were covered, blocking light coming in and views going out.
Laurie Louise says
I love this blog so much! So many ideas, inspirations, memories. Nice post, Pam, and I loved the Swift catalog link too!
On our little three-acre, nature-preserve-adjacent plot, I plan to do midcen landscaping in front of the house and naturalistic plantings in back–assuming grey water and rainwater catchment are enough to support those thirsty plants. Stage one: goats. Neighbors tell us the last owners brush hogged around the house three years ago and nary a blade has touched it since. Overgrown barely begins to describe it. On my evening walk yesterday, I met a neighbor whose two goats need a change of scenery. Never dreamed I’d say the words “I’ve found someone to lend me their goats!” Adventures in remodeling!
Marcia says
You might check on your goats’ eating habits. I know someone who had several large trees ruined by 3 or 4 pygmy goats. They got a taste for the bark and stripped all they could reach. Not sure if they like particular trees or if they ran out of grass.
Laurie Louise says
Good point, Marcia. I’ve wondered about the same thing and thought I’d research it before I invite them over for an all-you-can eat buffet. We have oak trees with “suckers” coming up all around them, which I’d like the goats to eat, but don’t want them harming the trees. There is wisteria that is higher than the roof line and about 20 feet wide. An object lesson in what happens if you don’t trim your wisteria. Thanks for chiming in.
Roundhouse Sarah says
A house without landscaping is like a face without eyebrows, it just looks wrong!
This is not the time of year to be doing major hedge trimming however! They will try to grow back with all their might in the heat of summer and all the energy going to the new growth with this heat may kill the old growth and then you’ll have a disaster on your hands. Always look up the appropriate pruning time for your variety of plants.
pam kueber says
Yes, great point.
Jay says
I did the same thing at my house the first Spring after moving in. Pruning was left undone for too many years, I wanted to see the brick facade as it was gasping for air what with being smacked by 50 year old yews and hollies. They were blocking the windows. I was unable to see out and it was an invitation to would be burglars to ply their craft in secrecy just yards from the street. As Midmichigan pointed out, plant material was limited then. As a hobby gardener I am always amazed at the new introductions of plants, shrubs and trees, especially the past two decades. Even the so called “dwarf” shrubery I planted 10 years ago has grown so much I can no longer reach to string Christmas lights on them.
Yes, this weekend I will be outside, working on the rock border across the front bed now that I have accumulated enough rocks.
I’m in favor of the “after” picture; that nice looking house stands proud with the complimentary landscaping.
Chad says
I’m definitely on team redo here. Yews are period appropriate, but they’re also slow growing trees and it’s hard to keep them in control forever. In this case, they are blocking that long window, which is one of the best things this house has going for it. And the old walkway looks like the builder just did the minimum, a 3 foot wide strip of concrete taking a sharp turn and running to the driveway about 4 feet from the house. Period garden books would have also recommended doing better than this. The walkway shown leaves more room for landscaping, includes a much larger front step, and goes to the street, making the front yard more usable and inviting. And the trellis and window box reflect advertising of the day and play up the more picturesque aspects of the house. They may not reflect the builder basic plantings that most tract houses from the period have, but there’s no way I’d keep a new house with what the builder put in either.
Jay says
yes, the houses in my neigborhood had the same type of concrete walk from the drive to the front door and I am surprised that the majority of homes are still this way. I now have a curved walk that is several feet further out from the house then the original straight walk.
Jay says
It’s not so much a question of destroying a “nice established landscape” but rather the homeowner expressing their own taste.
It’s really not good to have that shrubbery hugging the house – it needs to breathe.
Jay says
This was a response to the first post, since deleted. I truly believe it’s the homeowner’s choice. I kinda think the original period perfect landscaping over time tends to dwarf the MC modest homes, mine included.
midmichigan says
Back during the MCM era it was difficult if not impossible to find “miniature” species of plants. Unlike today, hedge clippers were not gas or electric and was a real chore. We have classic hedges lining our sidewalk to the front door but we keep them trimmed back so they don’t overgrow and they look great.
Some shrubbery can get out of hand quickly so occasional trimming is key. I personally like the hedges next to a house but each to his own. Norm definitely made some good points. ABTW, fellow pet lovers, be careful if you have a pet canine that will munch on shrubs or the trimmings. Just a mouthful of Yew will slowly kill them in a day or two. No joke.
pam kueber says
I agree. To be clear: I am not saying I don’t like hedges. I am saying: Consider trimming them… and also, layering in front of them. Or, if you are so inclined, starting over, if that makes sense for maximizing the front of your particular house.
david says
I agree with Pam. I bought a 1940 Bermuda Colonial Ranch in Los Angeles 18 years ago and the first thing I did was to take out all of the planting in the front yard which included over grown bench hedges on each side of the walkway from the sidewalk to the front door. My friend and decorator told me to have new ones put in. I thought he was crazy but…..
They were small, fresh and perfect. On my own I’d never have thought to do such a thing that’s also why even people with great taste might want to bounce some ideas off of a decorator
Marcia says
My 1975 house has a tall 30 year old hedge that looked lovely from the street, but inside it was 90% dry kindling rubbing up against the siding, a real fire hazard. As I began cutting it back, a mockingbird above squawked at me incessantly. Project is now temporarily paused until 3 young mockers leave their nest within. I hope folks realize birds may be nesting in their shrubs this time of year and will hold off cutting back their hedge until after nesting season! PS: Shrubs are being replaced with cacti & other native drought tolerant plants.
Chris says
Both photos are actually really attractive options. I will say, though, that although the hedges in the first photo are a bit tall, there is something to the idea that certain types of landscaping are appropriate to certain time periods. I think it depends on what the individual is going for… some people want their interiors to be absolute time capsules. The same folks might want the exterior to “fit in” with what everyone else is doing. I’m a bit of a purist. The more I can make the inside AND outside reflect the age of the house, the happier I am. Period landscaping is an entire field of study. I love looking at old Better Homes and Gardens magazines and seeing what the current trends were. Fun stuff!
Nina462 says
I agree with you Chris – some people want to retain period styling outside as well as inside. And I have a ton of magazines & I also look at old magazines for exterior plans. My plan next week is to get rid of a spindly holly bush that never has berries. (there are no birdy nests, I’ve checked).
This is a good time to bring this up Pam. I’m refinishing my shutters – (again, still the cherry red- just need a fresh coat of paint). You pictured my house a couple years back when I painted my shutters from black to cherry red. Feel free to show those pictures again.
Thanks Pam!
Jay says
You might have a boy (male) holly, the girls produce the berries but only if the correct male is close enough for polination.
Nina462 says
thanks Jay – yes, I know this about the holly bush…..I just don’t like it -it’s too close to the house & scrapes against the siding when a storm comes through (creepy sound in the dead of night!)
I’m just going to replace with grass –
hazeldazel says
The hedges are more period appropriate but terrible for your foundation. Having woody plants up against the house also encourages termites.
Mary Elizabeth says
You’re not kidding! In my old house, there were not box hedges but a wonderful series of shrubs that previous owners planted to bloom according to season (picture the forsythia, then the azalea, then the rhody, bridal veil, etc.) But they needed to be trimmed way back before the house could be painted. I did that work, then discovered termites and carpenter ants had been loving that damp shade on the siding. Eventually, all those shrubs had to be pulled out and replaced with plantings that were not so close to the foundation.
The up side to foundation hedges is that sometimes you need something to hide basement windows that face the road on the front or side. Just be sure they are not touching the house.