As you saw a few weeks ago, we removed our old screen door and painted the door behind it a bright lipstick red. We also took down the scalloped header and shared the results. But Project Pimp My Porch isn’t finished. We still need to redo the front walkway because the existing path looks worn and uneven. While we gather the energy to remove the jagged slate and create a wider, more level walkway, I started on some much-needed front-yard landscaping.
After azaleas put on a spectacular show for a few weeks in April, they should be pruned back as the blooms fade. So I trimmed each bush back about three inches to shape them and encourage healthy regrowth. Take a look:
Then I did something John and I had been debating for two years: I cut the three bushes on each side of the front steps way back. I removed so much that I ended up with six large piles of clippings, but it was worth it. Those oversized azaleas, while gorgeous during their short bloom window, spent the rest of the year hiding the porch railing and flattening the visual interest around the entry. Trimming them opened up the porch and let the house breathe.
The result is an entry that feels open, inviting, and taller—more modern, even. The unbroken wall of greenery is gone, and the azaleas will still fill in and bloom next season without ever swallowing the porch details again. With the extra space, I can add annuals for pops of color and varied texture. Once my forearms stop burning, I might persuade John to help me start on that new walkway. Stay tuned.