The Purpose
This bed sits where the driveway meets the street, so it is the first thing people notice about the house. The homeowner wanted it packed with colour all summer, and easy enough to look after that it would not turn into a weekend chore.
The Challenge
Beds next to a driveway take a beating. Snow and salt get piled on them every winter and the soil ends up tired and compacted. We had to bring the soil back to life and choose plants that fill in quickly without spilling over onto the driveway.
How we did it
The Steps We Took to Get It Right
- Soil Preparation
Loosened the old compacted soil and worked in fresh garden soil and compost so the new plants could root quickly.
- Layered Planting
Taller hydrangeas at the back, coleus in the middle and impatiens and begonias at the front for colour at every height.
- Dense Spacing
Planted close enough that the bed fills in within a few weeks, leaving very little bare soil for weeds.
- Clean Edges
Cut a crisp edge along the lawn and curb so the bed keeps its shape and is easy to trim around.
