For the longest time, I hesitated to share our front yard landscaping project. I kept thinking, it’s not finished yet—as if there would ever come a day when I could declare it truly “done.” The reality, of course, is that gardens and landscapes are never finished. They’re living things, always evolving, stretching towards the sun, battling weeds, or quietly surprising you with a new bloom. That’s part of the magic.
So instead of waiting for perfection, I thought I’d share where we are right now—a before-and-after snapshot of our home’s front transformation, the progress we’ve made, and the plans we still dream about.
The First Impression: From Vinyl Siding to Warm Cypress
The most dramatic change you’ll notice is actually not the plants at all, but the house itself. When we first bought the place, the exterior was weighed down by layers of vinyl and clapboard siding. Craig took on the project himself, pulling it all off and replacing it with crisp nickel gap cypress siding. The transformation was immediate—the house suddenly looked warmer, sturdier, and much more in sync with its surroundings.
Along the way, he also replastered the foundation, enclosed the front porch with windows and a new door, and even built a small awning to frame the entryway. To finish it off, he designed new front steps and a paver walkway that now feels like a proper welcome. This summer, we’ll be painting the trim and soffit a soft, neutral beige that will tie it all together.
It’s amazing how those structural updates paved the way for the landscaping. Suddenly, the yard felt like a blank canvas waiting for color and life.
Tackling a Big Problem First: Drainage
Before I could even think about flower beds and shrubs, we had to deal with the biggest headache of all: drainage. The yard originally featured massive stone planters on either side of the porch. They looked heavy and dated, but the real problem was that they funneled water directly toward the house.
In the winter, that meant ice and flooding. With the rainstorms we’ve had this year, it could have been disastrous. Fixing this was non-negotiable.
We hired a local company, Arborscape, to remove the planters. It turned out to be a job for a tractor and a dump truck—not something we could’ve tackled on our own. It was money well spent because once those were gone, we had a fresh start.
Building the Foundation with River Rock
With the big planters removed, we focused on drainage. We decided on river rock pea gravel, which we sourced from a local building supply, Britton’s Lumber. We spread it about three inches deep, extending five feet out from the foundation to help guide water away from the house.
To keep it tidy, we installed steel garden edging, which neatly separates the gravel from the planting beds. That simple border makes a world of difference—it keeps everything looking intentional instead of haphazard.
Removing the old grass, weeds, and rocks was no small feat. We rented a tractor from Home Depot (and let me tell you, worth every penny). Craig was able to clear and haul everything in a fraction of the time it would’ve taken us with just shovels and wheelbarrows. Watching him maneuver that little machine around the yard was oddly satisfying—like fast-forwarding through months of labor in a single afternoon.
Planting with Purpose: Low Maintenance, High Joy
When it came to planting, my main goal was clear: low maintenance beauty. I wanted to design something we could enjoy year after year without it feeling like a second full-time job. That meant leaning into hardy perennials and native plants that thrive in our climate.
Here’s a peek at what’s gone into the beds so far:
- Bird- and butterfly-friendly perennials to bring a little life and movement.
- Hydrangeas, because honestly, I can’t resist them—they’re timeless.
- A few of my favorite native plants that will settle in and come back stronger each season.
There are still plants on my wish list. I’d love to add some tickseed and chamomile, both for their charm and their easy-care nature. But I’m not rushing. Part of the joy of landscaping is letting it unfold at its own pace.
Lessons Learned Along the Way
If this project has taught me anything, it’s that landscaping is less about achieving a final picture-perfect yard and more about creating a space that grows with you. Just like life, a garden is always shifting. Some plants thrive, others fade, and sometimes what feels like a setback (like tearing out those heavy stone planters) clears the way for something so much better.
It’s also reminded me that it’s okay to bring in help for the big stuff. Whether it’s a professional crew with a dump truck or just renting the right tools, some jobs don’t have to be DIY hero moments.
And maybe most importantly—it’s worth celebrating the progress, not waiting for the elusive “done.”
Looking Ahead
As I stand on the new paver walkway and look back at the house, I feel a sense of pride in how far we’ve come. The cypress siding glows warmly in the afternoon light, the pea gravel sparkles after a rain, and the perennials already hint at the seasons to come.
Will there be more planting, more changes, more weeds to pull? Absolutely. But that’s exactly the point. Landscaping is alive, and that’s what makes it beautiful.
So instead of waiting until every trim board is painted and every flower planted, I’m sharing our yard with you now, as it is: a work in progress, and a story still being written.
