I thought about keeping one of the three, but honestly they were so wretched looking, and I'm such an inexperienced gardener, that I didn't know that I could do anything to make an improvement. They were all showing their limbs under the leaves, very woody looking, and overall unattractive. So I had them all removed and now I have a very bare, very sad looking garden area.
Oh! But now you have a bare canvas for painting upon! I think others have made this suggestion, but I will as well. I would pull up those scalloped brick edges, lay a hose down as a template and edge a more natural looking edge. Something with a bit of curve to it. Be sure to add plenty of compost now that you have a bare canvas before planting up! Have you decided upon what plants to use? BTW I still like the rich color of your brick house and how the green of the shutters picks up some of the green in the bricks. At least it does in the photo. I would try to capitalize on that color scheme with your choice of plants. Another BTW, have you watched any of the video's Philip Nulty has been posting? They are positively inspiring and give courage to novice gardeners. Check them out.
That doesn't look sad to me... that looks marvelous! It's so much fun to make a garden area your very own. You'll be so happy and proud when you get it to look the way in your mind. And I agree with Cayuga... make a more curved bed. It will look more natural and even give you a little extra room for depth. The way I determined how much curve on one of my beds was to get out the lawn mower and see I how would mow "normally" and then layed down the garden hose to make sure I liked it. That was my layout method. :-D
I DO intend to replace those edging stones. Here's another pic of the garden before the hedge was removed, so you can see there is, in fact, a curve to the area which I'll keep. It sort of loops around the bartlett pear tree, at the base of which hostas (I think) are now starting to come up. I'm on a limited budget, so I'm trying to get the plants bought and in the ground as my first priority, before I purchase anything that would be considered cosmetic. but yes, I'd MUCH prefer a more attractive edging choice...natural stone or rocks of some kind would be my first choice. Yes! We're definitely thinking alike here. I much prefer warm colors, so my choices at least for the foundation plants, are tending towards reds and deep greens, bronze and burgundy.....that kind of thing. I mentioned earlier that I'm going to plant a shrub to replace those boxwoods that has so many names I don't know how to identify it, so I'll just include a picture instead!
I like it! I also like Cherylad's advice about using your lawn mower to be a guide for the edge of the garden bed. Reduces difficult mowing. You could consider just an edge without any material. If you google 'edging your garden beds' you will find youtube videos that describe how to do it. Fine Gardening has a video on the web about it. It has to be renewed 1-2X year, ?maybe more in TN due to your longer growing season.
The two most common styles of pruners are 'bypass' and 'anvil'. First one has two sharp blades, second has one sharp blade that cuts up against an anvil.
Ronni, after fighting the rubber edging for a couple of years, we went to trenches around flower beds. We dug a trench about 6" deep and 6" wide around the beds, and when grass starts to encroach, we spray vinegar on it. The trench isn't deep enough to damage the mower if someone ( ) happens to run into it.
