Front Yard Plans

While I am anxiously awaiting nice spring weather, I have put together my plan for my front flower beds.  A few weeks ago I measured the size and approximate shape of my front flower bed so that I could get a good idea of the actual planting space that will have once my flower beds have been prepared.  I also made a list of plants that I would like to plant and marked their approximate placement, as well as the placement for a few other garden elements like stepping stones.  This helps me to know how much plant or garden material that I need to purchase.  (I realize that in this picture I have over planned how many perennials will fit into the flower bed, but it is just so darn hard to choose. . .)

Here is the lists I made of plants I would like to plant in my front yard this spring.  I have divided the list between perennials (plants that come back every year,) and annuals (plants that only survive one growing season.)

Perennials

Late Spring/Early Summer Bloomers

   Candytuft

   Sea Pink Armeria

   Pink Oriental Poppies

   

Summer Bloomers

   Russian Sage*

   Salvia*

   Indian Blanket Flower*

   Pink Threadleaf Coreopsis*

   Foxglove

   Yellow Tickseed Coreopsis*

   Hollyhocks

   

Late Summer/Fall Bloomers

   Purple Asters

   Autumn Joy Sedum

   Canna Lillies

   

*These perennials are extremely long bloomers.  Many bloom continuously through the summer and fall as long as you keep the spent blooms dead-headed.

Annuals

Zinnias

Lobelia

Petunias

Sweet William

Dianthus (Cheddar Pinks)

Petunias

Dahlberg Daisies

Geraniums

Painted Daisies (Osteospermum)

Sweet Potato Vine (the dark purple kind)

Notice:  I have already admitted to being a huge garden geek, hence the title of this blog.  I know this is pretty geeky, but what else can you do in the beginning of April while it is STILL snowing outside.

The next list I made is a list of things we need to accomplish to prepare the flower beds for spring planting.  This list is pretty extensive this year because we are ripping out most of the existing landscaping.  (Junipers.  Yuck!)  However, next year this list will be half as long.  

Front Yard Preparation List

-Remove final juniper bushes

-Clean old bark out of the flower bed and remove old landscape fabric

-Dig up remaining juniper roots

-Fix sprinklers in the flower bed

-Have cement walkway repaired and raised

-Build up beds with new dirt

-Amend beds 

-Transplant "willowy" bush from backyard

-Place stepping stones

-Purchase plants

-PLANT, PLANT, PLANT!!!

-Dress flower beds with bark mulch

-Sit back, relax, and ENJOY!  (finally. . .)

Like I said, I am a little anxious to get going.  We have a lot to do to get things ready in the next few weeks.  All in all, it is a few saturdays of hard work but it is all worth it in the end.  (At least it is for me.  We'll see how my husband feels in a month or two.)