First house - weird area

Hi all,

My wife and I just purchased our first house and I'm looking to get opinions on what to do with this odd area to the right of our driveway in the photograph. I was thinking of some creeping flow along the logs in with the stones and something down below coming up to hide a bit of the fence and break up all the gray.

I have no experience landscaping and I'd like to keep a solution around a couple hundred dollars but can go higher.

The are is western Massachusetts. The area gets direct sunlight throughout the day.

Any ideas about what to do with all these rocks are welcomed as well!

Thanks.

I would just try and duplicate what has been done on the "good" side.
Right now it looks as if one side belongs to a nice well groomed home and the other side borders a not so nice home.
Bury whatever drainage pipes those are, repair the fence, and get the mailbox area sorted out (it looks junky with the various stones and wonky paper box).
It's got a lot of potential but has been neglected, that's all.

Tend to the repairs, rake out the gravel or get a new load so there is no grass patch on that side, then just do (roughly speaking) what is on the other side. Some boulders and a couple of shrubs and conifers- easy, low maintenance, and will look great every season of the year. You can always do a pool of annual color on either side should you feel the need to tart it up- I think it looks fine without that but YMMV.

It's just the pipes, weeds, and falling down fence that make it look so run down.

I would also make sure whatever you plant is low growing so not to block the view when exiting your driveway
You can probably find some great rocks right on your own property, members on the Northeast forum from MA are always showing off their rocks ☺
Liriope, ornamental grass or Daylilies would look good there after sprucing up the fence, stones and mailbox

Are you interested in adding flowers, you need to give us a bit more info. Today I happened to find a great sale at my local home depot. they had several varieties of shrubs on sale, 3/10 in 1 gallon pots. How wide is the area and how long is the drive?
It looks like you could do sooo much with that area. Do all the repairs you need and then think about whether you would be interested in flowers or shrubs to give some color. Or even a combo of both. It's so wonderful to be able to cut flowers to take inside and enjoy them all season. Personally, I could see that whole area in flowers, but then I'm a flower lover, lol.
As far as the rock is concerned, if you're looking to get rid of it, put an add on say maybe craig's list. Either sell or give away. If it's priced right it will be gone in no time. Could even put a sign up, YOU HAUL, lol.
If you're interested you could also plant vines along the fence to help hide it and bring the green space more to eye level, sooo many choices. To help extend the budget annual vines are easy and fast.
At one home I had years ago, I planted Polygonum or was it polygonatum, any easy enough to find out, only one is a vine (fleece flower), grows to 15ft ish and will trail along the fence, just have to attatch to the fence.
So you will need to discuss with your wife what you might like to do. It's an open pallette to play with. Just give me a few more ideas and I will offer more suggestions. Oooo, shrub roses that bloom all summer and basically would need no care but smell absolutely heaven. Mock orange (they smell wonderful), Many spireas will bloom all season and some are fragrant too. It is such a wonderful experience to walk outside and thru your yard and have fragrance waft thru, passing you on a light evening breeze, and then you stop to take a deep breath and relish the fragrance that permeates the air, just heaven.
Stop for a few moments and ask yourself, were there any favorite plants that you've seen in other peoples yards or cherished memories from childhood? Just don't let it innudate you...look at it as a new adventure and paint your new picture that will be cherished for years to come. And if the objection comes up about bees, quit thinking about it cuz they don't bother you if you don't bother them, I have been gardening for more than 25 years and only been stung once. My present garden is 40ftX100ft of flowers and shrubs and they never bother me. And the hummingbirds are just returning for the season also. So, go outside and enjoy another aspect of life...nature, ain't it a beauty, lol.
Pix 1: centranthus (pink), perennial geranium Rozzanne (blooms all summer) and humulus aureus (Golden Hops Vine, yup that what they put in beer)
Pix 2: Peonies are extreemly easy but only bloom once, many of the old varieties are faily cheap and fragrant, the red varieties also turn red or orange in the fall, another season to consider.
Pix 3: Clockwise from top: wild sunflowers that self seeded in, Daisy Becky at 48" all season, Penstemon Rocky Mountain blue, Lavender munstead, Veronica, both also bloom all season if deadheaded ( cut off old blooms, for each cut you get two more flowers, and Malva Party Girl in the center.
Pix 4: Clematis vine Prince Charles and Gypsophila (babies breath).
Pix 5: A old fashioned rose shrub at appros 4ft and let me tell you the fragrance is oh soooo sweet.
Hope that gives you some ideas to think about, if you need, come back and let us help you thru your new phase, we'll teach ya, lol. Kathy.

Giving that you are in western Massachusetts you also need to think about where you put snow in the winter. I'll bet the right side of the driveway is where the previous occupants blew the snow from the driveway. It also looks like an access road to the back of the property.

I agree with the other posters about doing some repairs. Add gravel to the bare spots. Get rid of what looks like an asphalt curb half way up the driveway. I'd also stain the fence and mailbox to more closely match the house. I like the advice about matching the rocks on the left side. After that I'd go through a winter before I decided to do a lot of planting on the right side of the driveway. That will give you a better feel for the snow situation. A winter like the last one doesn't count.

I love tons of flowering shrubs as much as the next person but I would tend to keep it simple until you have lived in the home for a while and know how much time you want to devote to gardening. The reason I suggested mirroring the opposite side it that it appears to be relatively maintenance free and yet still looks stunning.

As this is the entrance to your home, you want it to look wonderful 12 months out of the year.
And trust me- a simple plan executed flawlessly and kept perfect looks far better than a complicated plan that is neglected and not kept up to snuff. Never over estimate the time you are willing to invest in gardening.
This is a very important principle- don't over extend yourself.

And as mentioned, space for snow and access to the rear of the property are vital.
More reasons you should live with the property long enough to decide how you use it.

I would get into my lowest vehicle and back out the drive right to the bottom and stop.
Mark clearly where you need visibility and note how high shrubs can go before they block your vision. Pretend you are 95, impaired, and in a hurry and check again- this is important.
Once that is determined all you need to do is fix up the fence and mailbox, bury the pipes, spread a load of gravel, then have some boulders dropped and install some plants.
That should be it.
Then.. if you find yourself getting into it you can add things.
Just wanted to caution you to not go crazy adding things that require maintenance until you know you will enjoy doing it.
Is there room for gardening in the rear of the home or will all your gardening be in the front?

gp, Do whatever your heart desires and CONGRATULATIONS on your first house!
If the area is a bother and you just want to spruce it up...add a few small trees or shrubs, if you like them...check out root systems before you buy when possible. There are some who spread them fine and long...these can work their way into draines, pipes and septic fields, often plugging up systems and costing abit to correct.
The co$t of large rock can leave your pockets empty, have you found this forum http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/400803/ yet? Just scroll down a few photos and see if either of you might like to try it. I think a dry stream bed would look enchanting! It need not have water in it but if it does during rainy weather, it will still run off. You can add all sorts of waterwise plants ie. hens n chicks...cactus...coneflower...false indego.
Heres a place to get ideas, but i would ask on the trade forum or shop around before buying..I do feel they are a little pricey. Still, they are where I started learning about plant needs and which ones need less water.
http://www.highcountrygardens.com/Award-Winning
Do a search on dry stream beds then click image. Here are a few I found
http://gdlandscape.com/wp-content/gallery/gd/Dry_Stream_Bed_983601_std.jpg
http://www.chrishechtdesign.com/cms/images/stories/photos/borbridge/g-dry-stream.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3581/3779474308_cb69e955f0_z.jpg
Rake the stone haphazardly toward the center, this will add some bulk so leave the middle low and build to the outsides (think stream). Buy or make some larger rock for accent and definition. You will probably need some soil/compost to plant in ? what is under the rock? most often it is plastic, if luck runs your way - weed barrier cloth, but if it is good old dirt...easy! Just ammend holes where your planting.
you can even design a light cover for the drain...LOL turn it into a worm or something so it emptys out its mouth or cover it with mock rock. plant a few plants, maybe lavendar. Clematis can be grown on the fence or other vines with just some chicken wire loosely tacked or get an arbor ...this world is your canvass ~ paint it. Heck, I grow cucumbers up my fence.

Put a matching Plant to the rocks on the left and before you know it --- maybe a matching garden to the left of the house...or a sweet pond out back.
Good Luck with your project....would love to see pictures of your work. Just relax and have fun.

Just let me ask you this~~~What do YOU see there (in your minds eye) as you drive upto and into your driveway? or walk in from the road?

as for dry stream or dry creek.... here install ideas, search
(do it yourself)= diy dry stream bed

The site is really weird. The idea of fencing would be a good option at the starting point. You can also try lots of bunches of flowering bunches inside and outside fencing area.

I would think that these huge rocks are placed there for a reason rather than just cant be bothered to move them and the reason (looking at the highs and lows (rut's) on the ground (driveway) there has been a problem shedding rain / snow melting.
This suggests to me having similar problems myself, that IF you dont use materials to hold the sub soil in place you could waken up some day to find your driveway on the highway once the rain season gets going, so get to know your new neighbours and try find any old photographs before you remove the tree trunks and huge stones.
I like the other suggestion of trying to match up the other side, not exact but with likewise material to give structure, infill the bare soil with matching gravel and planting into the empty spaces with either bulbs for spring followed by summer colour and smaller evergreens like Holly, Acers in various colours of lime, green, rust ect, there are other evergreen shrubs to plant but I dont know your zone, some are beautiful when in flower, leaf texture and shape.

A wonder around the neighbourhood should also give ideas of what grows well and also the winter / spring problems caused by weather and ground damage / movement if soil is left bare.
The cost of large stones might not cost as much as in other areas due to the fact that some new builds really do have to get rid of them and could be glad of someone removing free of charge, all it would cost you is transport,
TIP : dont line the stones up like rows of little soldiers but place them on end, behind another or laying across another, this will give you a more natural look as the ones you already have on show look more natural and part of the landscape. Just remember you need to dig an indent to bed the stones in incase they do move when or if soil becomes waterlogged.If you have not yet experienced a winter / Spring in your new home yet, then wait till that season has passed and for now concentrate on the fence etc.you want to enjoy your new area so dont make silly mistakes that end up costing you more because they dont take the conditions required to save your landscaping.

Keep eating your porrage for strength and good luck. WeeNel.

I agree with WeeNell
Those rocks have a purpose.
I'd look to the scale of the rocks on the other side and try to put a few of those in and some a tad smaller.
Maybe add a raised planting area for annuals ( or not if you don't want to mess with those) ..
A bird bath or sculpture that suits the atyle of your house. Spray paint the drainage to match rhe rocks or cover with something to at least look like a berm ( ? Landscape Fabric and top with mulch or more of the small rocks) a new mailbox and spruce up the fence with a new coat of something...then hang some pots or metal art or large tin stars ( would go well in Mass.) On the fence for interest

gp177, Think missinggrosie has came in with a wonderful idea re landscaping for all year round interest, do remember you dont have to do the work all at one time, maybe paint the fence, do some hard landscape work then take time to enjoy, go to library for a few landscape books, there are plenty of those also in book shops where you can sit with coffee and look through, take a sketch book with you as to buy those books aint cheap.
Good Luck, lets see the pictures as you get the work going. WeeNel.

Lots of good advice given here!

I agree with waiting until you been there a year, see how the snow situation works out.

Shrubs and small trees in front of the fence might be damaged by the snow being piled up around them every year.

You could plant hardy sun-loving perennials, tall ones by the fence, medium ones in front of them. They will naturally die down for the winter and return in the spring after the snow melts. With the right combination of perennials, you can have something always blooming spring, summer and fall.

Maybe paint your house number bigger and brighter on the rock to the left.

Enjoy your new home!