Yesterday I visited a customer’s home in Silver Valley, Maple Ridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a newly built house where the builder had already installed basic landscaping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The homeowner was concerned about soil sliding down from the sloped planting bed in the front yard. They were considering building a retaining wall around the bed, filling it with soil, and replanting the existing plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, there was one thing the homeowner had not considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The existing plants were not suitable for the space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the end, most of them would need to be removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many newly built homes today have large houses but relatively small yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The house I visited yesterday was similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The front yard had a lawn and a planting bed along a slope. The bed was quite narrow \u2014 about 3 feet wide at the narrowest point and about 5 feet at the widest<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet inside this small space were several plants:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Out of all these plants, only the boxwoods and lavenders<\/strong> could realistically be reused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a builder’s perspective, it makes sense. The landscape likely needed to look full and attractive quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But these plants were not suitable for such a small planting bed, especially one located close to the entrance and roof line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a retaining wall up to 3 feet high is installed, the space becomes even smaller. Fast-growing roots could eventually push against the wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Branches could block the entrance, plants could compete with each other, and some branches might eventually reach the roof gutters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During garden consultations, this is something I see quite often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most people judge a plant by its current size<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When they see a small plant in a nursery pot, they often think:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat’s small enough. It should be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But in landscaping, the future size of the plant<\/strong> matters much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trees and shrubs continue to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After 3, 5, or 10 years<\/strong>, they may look completely different from when they were first planted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In small gardens, the problem becomes more noticeable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n At first, everything may look full and beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But after a few years, plants may begin to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eventually, the trees may need to be removed. In some cases, nearby structures may even require repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When this happens, homeowners often have to pay for the problem later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Costs may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are expenses that could often be avoided with better planning at the beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A garden is not finished in one day like a house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plants grow over time, and the garden changes with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good landscape design considers the future shape of the garden<\/strong>, not just how it looks today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if a garden looks slightly empty at first, a space that fills naturally over time often becomes the most comfortable and beautiful garden in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Written by Andy Lee Yesterday I visited a customer’s home in Silver Valley, Maple Ridge. It was a newly built house where the builder had already installed basic landscaping. The homeowner was concerned about soil sliding down from the sloped planting bed in the front yard. They were considering building a retaining wall around the bed, filling it with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-124","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-garden-design-idea"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
\n\n\n\nPeople Often Look at the Current Size of a Tree<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhy This Is a Bigger Problem in Small Gardens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nThe Hidden Cost of Poor Planning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nA Garden Takes Time to Grow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Owner of Andy\u2019s Landscape Inc. \u2013 Landscape Contractor in Maple Ridge, BC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"