We did it! Over two long Clara naps (with a helpful friend lending a hand) we opened up our front yard in what we’re calling “Phase Two of Ten Million” in our slow transformation. Why so many phases? The yard started out looking like this:
Much like our first house’s yard, we expect a few years of tweaks before it feels finished. This phase focused on creating a you-can-actually-see-the-house-now effect. Phase One was limbing up the magnolia. In short: we dug up, transplanted, or removed a lot of bushes (our friend took home some healthy boxwoods in exchange for helping us pull them out). Below are the before-and-after photos — we tried to take them from the same angles for easy comparison. First, the AFTER shot that matches the initial photo above (ignore the feather wreath on the door — leftover from Halloween):
Here’s another BEFORE from the driveway:
And the AFTER from the same angle (a bit further back):
Another BEFORE shot:
And the corresponding AFTER:
Side-angle BEFORE:
And the AFTER from the same perspective:
BEFORE facing more toward the street:
And the matching AFTER:
BEFORE from the other side — the previous plantings blocked the view and made the yard feel smaller:
And the AFTER from that same angle:
Another BEFORE:
And another AFTER:
From the front porch, BEFORE:
And AFTER:
The only downside? I ended up with a blister — just like Phase One. Totally worth it though. No pain, no gain.
Where did the transplanted bushes go? We dug them up…
…and planted them in the naturalized areas of our side and back yard. Our friend who helped took the healthiest ones that remained. Unfortunately a few were dead…
Those were removed with a reciprocating saw. It was actually our first time using one, and we took turns — grinning like fools the whole time. We loved that this curb appeal refresh cost us almost nothing — just a few boxwoods traded for helpful labor.
We’re just getting started with the lawn, so there are many more phases to come over the next few years. Plans include:
- removing patches of ivy and monkey grass
- seeding grass in select areas
- adding low-maintenance native plantings to soften the perimeter
- landscaping the front of the house where the porch sides are mostly mud right now
- and a long list of other updates (one big goal: converting the carport to a garage)
This stage was about clearing space for less house-obscuring choices and letting the eye travel farther across the yard. It feels great to let the house breathe, and the neighbors have been very kind about the change. Has anyone else been tackling exterior projects? Do you squeeze them in during baby naps with the monitor on full blast so you can dash inside at a moment’s notice? We certainly do.
Psst — we’re over on BabyCenter sharing a Halloween surprise we discovered on Sunday night. Clara was delighted.