Many of us look at home remodeling projects as an exciting way to improve our indoor environment. It’s easy to say goodbye to outdated kitchen cabinets, an old stained bathtub, or the ugly light fixture that never worked. But something changes when we enter our yards. Somehow we look at that scrawny shrub by the back door, the butchered crepe myrtle in the front yard, and the overgrown hedge blocking the walk differently. We see them as living objects that don’t deserve to die. We have empathy for the plants that live in our yards.
I have a potential client, a very successful lady with a lovely home. She had totally remodeled the inside of her home and it was beautiful. She asked me to come by and give her some ideas about her garden. She mentioned needing some hedges to provide privacy and a general overhaul to provide her with the type of garden that matched her home.
This lady had a hodgepodge of plants she planted over time. She gave these plants a great deal of her time and attention and resources. While nurturing these plants and watching them grow, she developed an emotional attachment. Unfortunately, some of the plants she selected were not good choices and, as they grew, they contributed to the clutter. The plants she selected for the privacy hedges did not fill in and provide adequate screening.
Being quite honest, I told her to take out many of the plants she had lovingly grown and recommended different hedge plants to provide privacy screening. The thought of pulling them up and disposing of her special projects was not something she was ready to do.
Now, I don’t hold anything against this lady for not letting me remodel her garden. Until she is ready to let go of plants that don’t work for her situation, I can’t help her.
Be aware of emotional attachments to the plants in your yard. Step back and take a good look with a fresh eye. Get the opinion of your best friend or son or coworker or neighbor as to what they think about that over trimmed ligustrum by the garage that resembles an alien life form. You can get rid of the junk plants, clean up your yard, and start fresh!