Explain to me about edging around foundation

[Deleted]

I'm really not clear about whether you're supposed to or not supposed to plant around the foundation of the house. Obviously, don't plant things like trees, bamboo (and I lump giant shrubs in that category) but then people often plant tulips and ferns and such. If you can plant flowers, why aren't you supposed to just let the grass grow up to the foundation?

Mostly I'm asking because I can't keep my flower beds even weeded much less the ENTIRE area around 2 sides of the house that aren't planted plus 2 sides of the garage. At some point part of the house foundation boundary strip was mulched and the garage part had rocks or mulch piled but its not doing any good. I don't have the money to try to get it all planted in with some kind of ground cover that would suppress weeds for the next several years as I want to focus on other parts of the yard.

[mlvmd]

We have bushes that don't have a large root structure. I see a lot of azaleas (which get boring after a while with how prevalent that are here), boxwood, or Japanese holly.

[treedimensional]

In most cases, I use evergreen shrubs as foundtion plants. I do NOT use puny plants, like seasonal flowers, at the foundation. In period gardens, certain styles of architecture do not use foundation plantings.

[caddywompus]

I've heard that you shouldn't plant things right up close to the house, if you live in an area that has termites. They say that if the plants are up close to the house, then bugs can get in the cracks and into the walls. Also, if you have wood siding then the sprinkler water can cause wood rot.

[mrspez07]

Here in Denver metro, a lot is dependent on soil. But as a general practice, we don't design plantings within 3-5' of the foundation (varies depending on project type). In new home construction, during LS design review, for others doing design/install, we prohibit/discourage the same, especially turf.
# 1 reason is irrigation systems. Constant dampness will impact foundation and soul settling, as will risk of flooding from that system.
If you plant rootball of a 3-5' diameter shrub that far from house, and irrigation no closer, it will fill in the gap and seem closer and irrigation is far enough away, it will just take a few years.
There of course are exceptions to the rules, like bamboo, when root systems are the concern instead of irrigation.

[treedimensional]

To clarify any confusion about what a "foundation planting" is:

A foundation planting is NOT getting the plants as close to the house as possible.

You shouldn't be planting ANYTHING closer than 3'-4' away from the foundation.

Very small growing plants can be planted 3' away, they grow into the distance. Larger shrubs need to come further away, 4'-6' out from the foundation. The foliage fills in.

Placement is based on size of plants at maturity, NOT at time of installation.

[magdala]

Termites are a problem in our area. We dug a six inch trench around the foundation of the house and filled the trench with granite pea stones held in place with pressure treated wood. We then planted the gardens around the this trench. The gravel provides a pathway when we need to repaint the house, cut the shrubs back, and work on the windows. We have original windows in many places. Odd sized windows are super expensive to replace. These original windows are constantly needing work of some type. We regularly cut the shrubs back away from the house. We have large azaleas and hydrangeas that thrive with annual trimming.

[lmdbww]

To be honest I have never heard this (except obvi, no trees or anything with huge roots). We have plants and shrubs along our foundation (as in, within 3'), and did at our old house as well.

[thatgirl2478]

Apr 1, 2015 7:18:09 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

To clarify any confusion about what a "foundation planting" is:

A foundation planting is NOT getting the plants as close to the house as possible.

You shouldn't be planting ANYTHING closer than 3'-4' away from the foundation.

Very small growing plants can be planted 3' away, they grow into the distance. Larger shrubs need to come further away, 4'-6' out from the foundation. The foliage fills in.

Placement is based on size of plants at maturity, NOT at time of installation.

This, all of this.

there are a bunch of reasons not to plant RIGHT NEXT to your foundation:

- maintenance is easier if you're not worried about stepping on / crushing plants
- you probably shouldn't purposely water your foundation and if you have plants there you'll need to water them at some point
- visually they end up looking like you velcro'd them to the foundation

And if you are planting beneath a window or anything you don't want to block eventually you'll want to keep an eye on that final growth size and add about 10% to account for the fact that the tags indicate averages .

[Deleted]

So what are you supposed to do with that 3-4 foot clearance around the foundation if its not supposed to have grass and what not? We only water flower beds and only when needed, we just let our lawn live green or brown as the weather dictates. I'll try to pip sometime this week, but its been raining in Seattle this week so I don't want to tromp out in the puddles. So what is one supposed to do about weed suppression because they are BAD BAD BAD?

It sounds like small things at least are ok, like tulip bulbs? And that my future plans to put a peony in place of the laurel bush is a bad idea.

[treedimensional]

Apr 1, 2015 12:14:40 GMT -5 @ksta said:

So what are you supposed to do with that 3-4 foot clearance around the foundation if its not supposed to have grass and what not? We only water flower beds and only when needed, we just let our lawn live green or brown as the weather dictates. I'll try to pip sometime this week, but its been raining in Seattle this week so I don't want to tromp out in the puddles. So what is one supposed to do about weed suppression because they are BAD BAD BAD?

It sounds like small things at least are ok, like tulip bulbs? And that my future plans to put a peony in place of the laurel bush is a bad idea.

You do something similar to what is in the picture. You LEAVE SPACE.

DON'T squeeze smaller plants together to fill in gaps. Don't plant in tight rows. Don't crowd them. Let air circulate around and between. This will reduce fungal growth on the plants and on the house. Like THATGIRL said, you need to be able to put your feet in between the plants to do maintenance like weeding and painting.

If the area is full of weeds you need to prepare the bed first- get rid of all the weeds and decompact the soil. THEN install the plants and mulch between them. Proper prep will greatly reduce maintenance weeding later on.

If all this is too much work for you, hire someone. A qualified landscape designer will draw the layout and recommend the plants, and a landscape contractor will install and maintain it.

[hbomdiggity]

How is this for a foundation planting? It's a giant bird of paradise and was definitely pushing up and against the foundation.

the second pic is the current state. Replaced the bop with a hibiscus. But overall it looks wimpy. We don't love the large bougainvillea to the right (apparently it's the kind that wants to get really big but the landscaper trims it back monthly.

nevermind. i cant upload pictures from tapatalk for some reason.

[emoflamingo]

God I wish that treedimensional had stopped the previous owners of our houses from planting. Old house had 5 hostas in one small box (two of them were tiny because they couldn't grow anywhere!) and the new house has a row of peony bushes with tulips planted in between each one. WHY?! Too many plants!

Anyone want some peony bushes and tulips??

[simpsongal]

Mar 31, 2015 19:51:17 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

In most cases, I use evergreen shrubs as foundtion plants. I do NOT use puny plants, like seasonal flowers, at the foundation. In period gardens, certain styles of architecture do not use foundation plantings.

Any problem with putting perennials like black eyed susans between or in front of evergreen foundation plants?  I was planning on filling in to had some seasonal color.  FWIW, we've got mostly mature foundation plantings.

[karinothing]

Interseting about foundation gardening. We have grass up to our foundation, but I am not entirely sure it was intentional. Needless to say the house has survived 20 years that way, so I assume it will last longer. I haven't seen a house w/out grass up to the foundation, so I don't think grass is a huge offender.

We are hoping to plant some foundation plants later this month (assuming I ever have a free weekend). But we want to do some hydrangeas, hostas, and azleas. And them maybe some impatients in the front. I found a plan on Better Home and Gardens that I think we are going to use.

[Deleted]

I'm not purposefully being obtuse, I swear. So there is no solution to having at least this 2 foot swatch of ground rimming my whole house that is supposed to be empty and no way to keep it from filling in with weeds? I don't use anything non-organic, I won't use nasty chemicals like Roundup, etc.

Also, I had planned on planting a rose bush under one window so both the fragrance could waft in the open window and its thorns would deter anyone thinking it was a nice window to climb in through.

[polarbearfans]

I'm interested in what to do too. Last Fall I had all the trees and shrubs and weeds removed from around the house. Seriously who thinks it's a good idea to plant large skinny pine trees up against a house and giant bushes?! All the weird algae growing on the house is gone finally!

I have to have all the drainage pipes redone too since roots collapse the underground system. We are pushing it out until Fall and will stick with our rigged up sump pump drainage pipe until then. Plumber told us it would be fine for about a year.

I was just going to mulch to keep the weeds at bay... Did not realize that was bad

[humpforfree]

Hmm. I was planning on (someday) doing concrete planters like these in the front of our house. I wonder how that is effected by the 3-4' space? Do planters go up to the house then?

[treedimensional]

Apr 2, 2015 9:12:39 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

Mar 31, 2015 19:51:17 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

In most cases, I use evergreen shrubs as foundtion plants. I do NOT use puny plants, like seasonal flowers, at the foundation. In period gardens, certain styles of architecture do not use foundation plantings.

Any problem with putting perennials like black eyed susans between or in front of evergreen foundation plants?  I was planning on filling in to had some seasonal color.  FWIW, we've got mostly mature foundation plantings.

It's no problem at all if that's what you want! I put taller plants in back and a lower "layer" in front, so there is some visual depth and dimension. KWIM? And you can get seasonal color in shrubs. Some bloom (shade evergreens are great for this) and some have colorful foliage.

[treedimensional]

Apr 2, 2015 13:28:48 GMT -5 @ksta said:

I'm not purposefully being obtuse, I swear. So there is no solution to having at least this 2 foot swatch of ground rimming my whole house that is supposed to be empty and no way to keep it from filling in with weeds?

I don't understand what 2' swath of empty ground you're talking about.

And weeding is an ongoing chore, just like laundry, dishes, and vacuuming. You're never "done". It's another aspect of home maintenance.

[TBM]

Apr 2, 2015 17:20:35 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

Apr 2, 2015 13:28:48 GMT -5 @ksta said:

I'm not purposefully being obtuse, I swear. So there is no solution to having at least this 2 foot swatch of ground rimming my whole house that is supposed to be empty and no way to keep it from filling in with weeds?

I don't understand what 2' swath of empty ground you're talking about.

And weeding is an ongoing chore, just like laundry, dishes, and vacuuming. You're never "done". It's another aspect of home maintenance.

I think she means that everything you read tells you not to put plants, wood mulch or gravel next to the foundation, so there would be an empty space full of weeds all time, and is wondering what to do to help cut down on the weeds.

I have been coming across the same information while hunting for a solution to the dirt on the bottom of the house and weeds up against it thing.  At least weeding is easy here with our sandy soil, or would be if they didn't sprout up a foot tall after a rain, practically overnight.  It is still a pita, sinced we have so much other work to do right now.

[Deleted]

Apr 2, 2015 17:49:00 GMT -5 TBM said:

Apr 2, 2015 17:20:35 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

I don't understand what 2' swath of empty ground you're talking about.

And weeding is an ongoing chore, just like laundry, dishes, and vacuuming. You're never "done". It's another aspect of home maintenance.

I think she means that everything you read tells you not to put plants, wood mulch or gravel next to the foundation, so there would be an empty space full of weeds all time, and is wondering what to do to help cut down on the weeds.

I have been coming across the same information while hunting for a solution to the dirt on the bottom of the house and weeds up against it thing.  At least weeding is easy here with our sandy soil, or would be if they didn't sprout up a foot tall after a rain, practically overnight.  It is still a pita, sinced we have so much other work to do right now.

Yes, that's what I meant! I get that weeding is ongoing chore, but between all the flower beds and my raised veggie beds, I just can't also get to the full perimeter of the house. Nature abhors a vacuum and completely bare dirt/mulch (which didn't seem to keep down weeds even for a full season) perimeter just fills up in the blink of an eye or one nice rainy Seattle week.