Hi!
The first 3 photos are from last June when we replaced the old mulch bed with weed barrier and pea gravel (before and progress photos included)
Picture 4 was day of closing – showing the previous mulch bed that had weeds, bare spots, rotten mulch, and a pricker bush that we felt wasn’t very aesthetically pleasing
Picture 5 – we removed the large mulch area and planted grass seed up to the walking path (kept mulch bed against the house), to extend the lawn
Picture 6 – the after, showing the grass grown in May before replacing the remaining mulch with gravel.
We chose gravel because during heavy rains, it kept washing the mulch away and splashing up brown staining marks everywhere. We also liked the look of the gravel, my father in-law suggested it to us instead of replacing it with mulch again
We are seeking help with picking out what perennials would look best in the front of our house, and what placement would look best. I particularly like black eye susans and cone flowers to attract pollinators. I would like some suggestions also for “filler” plants to fill in gaps and such.
Yes i know there’s divided opinions on gravel versus mulch, and yes we are aware the gravel can make it difficult to dig and plant things in it. We plan on digging the holes larger than necessary and filling it with compost for nutrients for the plants, and leaving some of the weed barrier opened above the plant roots for better water absorption.
The front of the house gets sun in the morning but then is shaded the rest of the day.
Thanks!
by the-friendly-squid
5 Comments
Boxwood for filler
I’m also a big fan of Hydrangeas but I live in Massachusetts (6b) so I’m biased
AI suggested these three styles
https://preview.redd.it/oenwayf2j1qg1.png?width=1195&format=png&auto=webp&s=b022c9c9dd43e24c270a64c5e9c1b157f9cc21f1
I would ask this in /r/gardening or /r/nativeplantgardening or even /r/landscaping. Include info on how much sun and rain this area gets; your zone could mean the PNW or Santa Fe or New England, all of which are wildly different climates.
The gravel should be fine, though it can overheat some plants if you get a lot of sun. The gardening folks will recommend you remove the weed barrier before planting anything ([sample discussion on problems with it](https://www.reddit.com/r/landscaping/comments/1dec3fc/psa_weed_fabric_is_a_waste_of_time_and_money/)).
Visually, I think a few shrubs would look good, behind or interplanted with the flowers you’re considering. If you’re considering native plants, I’d look at [Prairie Moon](https://www.prairiemoon.com/plants/#/?resultsPerPage=24&filter.ss_usda_zones_facet=Zone%206&filter.life_cycle=Perennial) and filter by your region, characteristics of the site, and features you want (e.g., bloom time and color).
Check with your local university – many have an arboretum and/or teaching nursery and often have planting guides for plants that do well in your area – often focusing on native and pollinator friendly plants.
A mix of coneflower, sedum, catmint, and black-eyed susan should grow well in your zone and tolerate sun/shade. Boxwood and azaleas in the mix will provide a sense of structure. For fillers, you can try hostas, coral bells, and hardy geraniums. Reliable annuals such as coleus, begonias, and impatiens would also work well. For arrangement, I suggest checking out blooming periods for each plant to make sure there is always something in bloom in each area. I personally like soft purples and yellows together.