Hello, all! This is my first post, but I am excited to get more involved. I am in a new home in the Virginia Beach area (border of zones 7 & 8) and we have so many flowerbeds that are in desperate need of updating and maintenance. I want to start with the front beds flanking the driveway.

I loathe these barberry bushes and the knock out roses look like they need to be permanently knocked out! It looks like, at one point, the previous owners tried liriope as there are a couple of random plants thrown in.

I'd love some suggestions on what would make these beds look nice without too much upkeep year-round. My hope is that I can get them looking acceptable in the next few weeks. It certainly isn't what I want to see every day!

Thanks in advance for the assistance. Just wandering around the forums, I can't wait to get new ideas for the rest of our yard!

I should also mention, the bed behind the mailbox does not seem to thrive as much as the opposite side - the roses and barberry have been growing at a considerably slower rate.

Thanks!
- Heidi

Sunflower,

I'm new to this site also. But, I'm sorry that no one answered your cry for help. So, am I too late to offer up any ideas? Have you already tackled that spot?

If you haven't already gotten busy, then let's start at the beginning. With Fall coming upon us, that is the time of year to transplant and still have plants live through it all. If you don't want to use these plants elsewhere, then got to Craigslist and post free plants for the digging. Let someone else dig them up. You'll have enough to do putting plants back down.

LOVE the mailbox. It makes a nice focal point.

I'm in zone 8b. A little warmer and probably a LOT drier than you. I'd recommend measuring it out and putting it down on graph paper. Now, set that aside while you look through websites for NATIVE plants. They know your soil, the weather and most will draw or feed some sort of life, ex: butterflies. You could easily plant one taller plant and flank with some shorter ones. Evergreen or not, bring the height down to the curb/driveway where an edging would be nice to finish it off.

This is a very doable project. It won't take as much time as you think it will. But, don't get your plants at the local big box stores. They sell plants from China. You want your yard to look like Virginia Beach. Right? You could take your graphed paper to a native plant nursery. They can help you with selecting some plants. All you need it just ideas. Then, let it steep for a while before you settle on what you want to plant. You can take the list of suggested plants and on the same scale, drawn the mature size of whatever plant you are considering. Cut it out and move it around on your paper. Soon, you'll know where to put it. Just be sure to add something that is repetitive like edging or the interim sized plants. It will give your yard some flow to the eye.

There are a lot of butterfly plants that you could put down. If you are on the migratory path then, you'll be able to enjoy watching the life that comes into your yard.

Good luck. I hope you post the "AFTER" photos.