The "5-year" plan

When we moved into our house in 2005, we had agreed that it was a 5 year plan. In five years, the house would be painted and landscaped to our tastes. It would be done...

It's 2011.
The projects are never-ending, we have a dirt mound in our driveway the size of a suburban, It's dark out and we're still working... hit it.

Welcome to our journal about dirt, gardens and beer.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Project #1 this spring. Hedge Row.

Arborvitae is a good choice for a hedge row because it doesn't need pruning to keep its shape.  They can reach 15 feet or more when they are mature.  As the hedge fills in, you have a solid wall of green to enjoy year round. The dense canopy of an arborvitae tree provides cover for birds and mammals year round. 

Arborvitae trees come in many different shapes. Some, like the American arborvitae, are wide, cone shaped. Others, like the pyramidalis, are thinner. The globe arborvitae is rounded.  For my projects I will be choosing the Techny Arborvitae.


The techny arborvitae is a fast growing arborvitae tree. They generally have denser foliage than many of the other species of arborvitae, and make the best hedges.  I plan of making a wall of green between our house and our neighbors house, as well as planting some along the side of our home to give us some shelter from the street.  When planted three and a half feet apart in a row, the techny arborvitae will grow to be a full shield in only a few years.  Once planted, a techny arborvitae requires little maintenance.
There you have it folks.  PROJECT 1.

  • START: Start by April 15.
  • MATERIALS LIST: About 12-15 arborvitae. Ground cover / perennials to add to the foreground of the planting beds.
  • ESTIMATED COST: Thank god for Menard's gift cards for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
  • PROJECT DETAILS:  Dig up strips of sod along both the north and south side of our property. Likely, a sod cutter will be rented to make the task of sod removal a bit easier. The north side will provide privacy from the street whereas the south side will provide privacy from the neighbors.  The trees planted along the south side will also help to shade some of the plants in the front beds that are currently getting too much light (azaleas) After the beds have been dug, the soil must be amended. After the bed has been prepared, they will be planted.  First the trees will be installed, followed by the perennials then ground cover.  After the install, both beds will be mulched.
  • PROJECTED TIME LINE: 4 weeks allowed.
  • WORKERS FOR PROJECT: 2 (just honey bunny and me)


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