My husband has been really unhappy with the front landscaping at our home, so he removed all the old boxwoods, roses, butterfly bushes, and lilies (see the first picture). The other pictures show what it looked like before he cleared everything out.
We’d love some help planning new plants for the front! Our home is historic, located in the Shenandoah Valley (zone 6b), facing directly west, and gets full sun. We’re looking for hardy, low-maintenance options that can withstand our hot, dry summers and are deer-resistant. Any ideas or recommendations?
Thanks! We’ve been renovating it ourselves over the years. We’re foster parents for sibling groups and needed enough room for everyone. I’m also a teacher.
Thank you! Yes, it’s got a long history. It was a private home first, then a school for girls after the Civil War. After a big fire, it was rebuilt in 1906-7. It was almost a ruin by mid-century, but in the 1960s new owners started bringing it back. They added a big section in the back in the 80s, and there’s been a lot of creative ‘remodeling’ over the years.
We moved here to take care of my parents, and we’re not fully used to the winters here since we were living about 500 miles south before. We have a big vegetable garden out back and a heated greenhouse in the front for the tropical plants.
We turned the greenhouse into a sensory play space for the kids we foster. We added a climbing structure, swings, and even a secret entrance hidden behind an old wardrobe with a slide coming down. It’s designed to be a safe place for kids dealing with tough situations.
We’re on a tight budget and time is always short. I teach full-time, my husband recently retired, and we do most of the renovations ourselves. We’re also caring for my elderly parents and just said goodbye to my mother-in-law, who we looked after for many years. It’s been a tough year, but we’re trying to get the front area looking decent before winter hits.
JoshSawy said:
Why not hire a landscape designer to come up with a few ideas?
I wish we could, but it’s not in the budget right now. I’m a public school teacher, and with caring for elderly parents and kids in college, things are really tight.
Maybe add arbors over the windows to block summer heat. You could plant Luffa or another vine—it grows fast in summer and dies off for winter sun. If not Luffa, maybe wisteria? It’s beautiful but keep it in pots away from the foundation.
For a budget-friendly approach, check out FB Marketplace for local perennials. You’ll save money, and you know they’re suitable for your zone. Also, getting some mulch and defining a flower bed along the foundation could make a big difference. Renting an edger could help with cleanup, and if the lawn is uneven, a sod cutter might help.
Adding shade can help retain water and create little ecosystems. I’m in a colder zone (4a), but I’d totally go for willows and other delicate flowers if I lived somewhere warmer!
