Most things do change over the years, in a slow and steady process so subtle that it’s barely noticeable. Then you run across an old photo tucked away in a drawer, and suddenly it’s all too obvious that time has passed and a fresh look is needed. We may not be talking drastic cosmetic surgery here, just some pampering or a makeover...a beauty treatment for your middle-aged home.
Step back and take a critical look. Is your lovely abode currently missing the mark on curb appeal? If it appears tired, uninspired, or overgrown, maybe a little “work” is in order. But will a metaphorical new lipstick or hair color do the job, or does it truly need the design equivalent of a full body lift plus Botox? A professionally trained landscape designer can help you to decide exactly what’s needed.
It would be ideal if those infant plants that you originally installed would grow until they were just the right size and then stop, but all living things have a shelf life. Peggy Krapf, owner of Heart’s Ease Landscape and Garden Design, explains things this way: “Plants are either growing or dying. Even if you select dwarf varieties of trees or shrubs, they eventually outgrow their function.” A tree, once an ornamental focus when smaller, now blocks the view of the front door. A hedge pruned back too heavily sports a skimpy foliage toupee and naked branches below. Some things have simply refused to thrive. So here you are, knowing what once looked attractive doesn’t cut it any more. What to do?
Krapf, who works in the Greater Williamsburg area, has become something of an expert in midlife landscape makeovers. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Society of Landscape Designers and teaches design and horticulture classes throughout the Hampton Roads area. “My 15 minutes of fame came when one of my projects was featured in Southern Living magazine,” she says with a laugh. “That was fun, and the clients it was created for eventually sold the house to a couple who told me they bought it mainly for the yard.”
In her classes for the Williamsburg Botanical Garden and Virginia Master Gardener training program, Krapf shares with the public what she’s gleaned after years of study and experience. “The important thing is to have a master plan, both in new home construction or when refurbishing a mature yard,” she says. “Hiring a professional is an added expense on paper, but it can potentially save enormous amounts in the long run.” A professional will guide a homeowner in deciding what goes and what stays when it’s time to refresh.
The best scenario is that some established shrubs and trees will still have many serviceable years ahead of them, and may even be worthy of becoming a focal point in your new plan. By now you should have a good idea of what works well for your own yard. Are you tired of serving up a tasty salad bar of daylilies and gourmet hostas for the neighborhood’s marauding deer? Simply remove struggling or overgrown plant material and judiciously add a few fresh foundation shrubs, plus deer-resistant perennials and colorful annuals for interest, and you’ll be good to go for another decade or two.
Let’s suppose, however, that a yard suffers from a serious case of dysfunction. What may have worked beautifully in 1999 has had decades of wear, erosion and storm damage to contend with. A shade garden retreat that once was tucked under towering oaks is now an abandoned blank spot thanks to Hurricane Isabel. A new bluestone patio with a gazebo and swing could be the impetus to reclaiming unused space.
With time, safety issues may also arise. Original narrow walkways can become too steep as homeowners and their guests age. Wide and shallow steps, or winding, sloping paths provide handicap accessibility as well as structural beauty. Decorative, sturdy handrails add style and practicality. Brick, stone, or stamped concrete walks and stacked stone walls contribute texture and aesthetic appeal. With the right design, an entry that was once closed off and challenging takes on a wide, welcoming aspect, particularly when enhanced by cheerful pops of color.
“I love containers!” Krapf says. “It’s like putting jewelry on: no matter how nice you look, the right pair of earrings always adds that perfect finishing touch.”
Another consideration in a midlife makeover is the evolution of landscape style. While in previous decades homeowners valued lush expanses of green lawn, that look comes with a hefty environmental price tag. Modern sensitivities to water conservation practices and runoff prevention currently drive design choices. Smaller turf areas mean less water and chemical treatment are needed, so your fresh, eco-friendly plan might include the use of additional beds of drought-tolerant native trees and shrubs, or perhaps suggest enlarging the borders of the current ones. A customized proposal might recommend incorporating a rain garden or xeriscaping into your yard.
Xeriscaping is a style of design that requires little or no irrigation. Think pristine gravel beds with artfully placed boulders as your starting point. Then add layers of plants such as tall and spikey Red Yucca, the ever-popular hens and chicks, broadleaf stonecrop, and euphorbia. Not just for desert landscapes, some succulents are hardy enough to survive temperatures well below zero and can add needed interest to a bare and colorless garden. Dragon’s Blood Stonecrop (a form of sedum) is a green ground cover that turns an attractive burgundy in winter and sets off chartreuse euphorbia perfectly.
At the other end of the moisture spectrum, a rain garden is ideal for those puddles that are always the last to dry up after a summer thunderstorm. They’re particularly useful for collecting and filtering stormwater runoff from streets, sidewalks, and compacted lawns. Plants should include native growers that tolerate both wet and dry conditions, such as Winterberry hollies and Virginia sweetspire. These do extremely well in damp soil, as does viburnum, Black-eyed Susan, and Joe Pye weed, a plant that also attracts and nourishes nectaring monarch and swallowtail butterflies.
As we mature, our personal preferences change. The labor-intensive flower garden we once lovingly tended may now be too much to handle. That backyard vegetable garden that once provided a bounty of homegrown goodness is looking like less of a pleasant hobby and more of a neglected chore. In this case, professionals often suggest installing raised beds with a simplified planting plan. Instead of a full garden and a separate flowerbed, imagine mixed plantings of flowers and vegetables living in attractive harmony. Some particularly useful flowers such as marigolds actually act as a natural insect repellent. Simplifying can be the key to restoring fun to your outdoor life.
Just as you would seek out the very best board-certified surgeon to do cosmetic work, it’s worth the trouble to locate one of the many members of the Virginia Society of Landscape Design found in our area to assist in planning a midlife landscape makeover. With the help of an expert, you will ensure your makeover, no matter how major or minor, enjoys the most satisfying result. After all, there’s no thrill quite like restoring function and beauty to the home we dearly love.