How To Landscaping: Foundation Planting

Our How To Landscaping series begins with a video going over some tips on foundation planting. Foundation Planting is essentially the back row of the landscape bed, the plants that cover the foundation.
Reasons we want plants to cover the foundation:
1. In my opinion, the foundation of houses is typically ugly. I can admit that the foundation on my house isn't the prettiest part of my house.
2. This brings dimension to our house. It will make my house not look quite as tall sitting up on top of the hill.
3. It softens the square lines of the house or building, which increases curb appeal and increases the welcoming feeling of the home or building.
Stay tuned for more videos in this series as we go over more about landscape bed material, landscape planting, bed edging, berms, irrigation and more.

[@hmh4206]

Beautiful work as always. Two comments from the peanut gallery….I like to cut up those used Amazon boxes and lay them flat on the ground before I add rock or mulch. The cardboard acts as a weed barrier and is good for the soil. Secondly, please remember folks, that the soil grade underneath should slope slightly away from the home so water can run away from the foundation. I learned that from experience 😮. I am far from an expert, just trying to share some best practices from my home.

[@TheLawnWhisperer]

Good tips, friend!

[@robertlark10]

Education thru labor. Looks great man!

[@garage-guy207]

House is coming along and looking great. Perfect info to educate those starting out and venturing into self landscaping. Not knowing what direction your house is facing, one thing I could add is that it is necessary to ensure that plants selected are appropriate for the exposure they are to be situate in such that their chance for survival is maximized ie: shade vs sun, winds (ie: boxwood are not big fans of winter winds) and so forth. Seasonal assistance with the use of burlap and wind screens, etc can also help survival rates, particularly for young plants. Look forward to your upcoming vids. 👍🙏

[@roseycoloredglasses]

I painted the foundation of my house with the same house paint and it looks great!

[@Broncos2315]

The rocks look fresh AF. 💪

[@janetgreenler7602]

Love your videos…!

[@armandborges6417]

Looks great

[@cpage_24]

Awesome work , I think rock is the best choice!

[@glendanewton8632]

Love boxwood’s! I had some removed last year that were very old (30 yr) & diseased. And, yes they were in a foundation bed. I miss them 😢! Hopefully I can replace successfully!!

[@naturegirl7777]

...Winter Gem, Green Mountain, and Sprinter (Sprinter is grown by Proven Winners; the others aren't branded) are good varieties for disease resistance. 🌳👩🏼‍🌾💚 =^..^=

[@peterhoz]

Constructive criticism: use yellow text with a thin black outline on each letter, like a dropshadow (like SBS TV Australia uses for its subtitles). That way it never clashes with the background. White text on a white house is near impossible to read 😉

[@siggi5395]

Good work.😁

[@keithecklundii5225]

Looks good man. I just planted some new sky pencil hollies as well. Look into Espoma Organic Starter fertilizer. It contains beneficial mycorrhizal fungii, which helps those baby plants get rooted in fast. It's great stuff. Best of luck getting that new lawn established. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

[@naturegirl7777]

...I swear by it!...it's Bio-tone, Justin...you canNOT go wrong with it -- or any Espoma product for that matter. I've been using it the last few years, and I can really see the difference. Great that you bro't it up, @keithecklundii5225. 👌🙌👩🏼‍🌾💚 =^..^=

[@keithecklundii5225]

@@naturegirl7777 - Agreed. I have been using it for years. Have not lost any plants due to transplanting and I have transplanted in some conditions that allot of plants would not make it in. Excellent stuff.

[@noracomeau2986]

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[@Camping814]

Looking good, thanks for the tips! Do you have a link for that hose reel?

[@naturegirl7777]

(...I was waiting for the sidewalk hose-off at the end...) 👌🙌 👩🏼‍🌾💚 =^..^= [MD 6b]

[@trentchitwood513]

Big dog! love your vidjas. Careful with that black landscape rock. I have a theory and some past experience where it gets too hot and dries out any and all moisture too quick not allowing it to get to the plants. Just ask my Father and Mother in law. They are regretting installing it currently as they have lost half their perennials and trees within two months of installing it. Also, currently seeing a lot of concerning issues around town with boxwoods. We just recently had to remove some green mountain boxwoods from Campus. Boxwood leaf minor, spider mite damage, and boxwood blight is all in play. I've always been a huge fan of boxwoods, but this season has me and other's re-thinking the future of planting boxwoods moving forward. Those couple of extremely cold winter days might have played a role in the susceptibility of pest's as well. At least I hope that's the reason we are seeing such a struggle with them this year.

[@trentchitwood513]

Just finished your entire video. Haha. You totally talked about everything i just mentioned above regarding the rock and moisture. I guess that's why one should watch the video completely through before commenting. lol

[@mattfrekwentflier8342]

Your house is looking great so far, can't wait to see the finished product. A couple of questions about landscaping. 1. I noticed you didn't use any weed fabric? Can you please explain why not? 2. Is there a best time of year to plant landscaping? IE, for Cool Season lawns it's best to plant in Fall, Spring being 2nd best. Does the same apply to landscaping plants?

[@TheLawnWhisperer]

Id say for landscaping, spring is probably best. Fall would be great time too but it’s much harder to find plants, shrubs, flowers in store. I don’t like using fabric. I just have never been a fan. I don’t think it prevents weeds like it is marketed

[@johndarcy8974]

Landscapers have told me never to plant shrubs with stones. The stones heat up and dry out the roots. I’d be interested to know if you are adding drip irrigation.

[@justinbrowning1742]

Can you talk a little about foundation planting with respect to keeping water away from the foundation \ designing a bed properly to deal with that? I want to plant some hedge, etc along a wall but want to avoid unnessessary water affecting the foundation. Didn't see a prior comment on the subject. Thanks.

[@PrincernPrince]

Do you know if those rocks will stay that color for the life of the rock or do they turn darker over time with weather, weeds and spraying?

[@TheLawnWhisperer]

They are a dark color rock (about what you see when I sprayed them off). They are covered in dust initially so they seem a lighter color

[@lorrem2539]

You’re funny, I see what you did there with long pause……..LOL!😉

[@cecerice2727]

Window boxes!

[@rollinmetzger7392]

First time here. What’s your plan for weeds coming through the rock?

[@ryanseim439]

Always use a high grade weed barrier for stone applications.. never for mulch. But this is going to be a mess in no time

[@TheLawnWhisperer]

@@ryanseim439 I’m not a fan of weed barrier fabric in any application personally. Ever. Just my opinion. I don’t think I’ll have too much of a mess. No big deal. Regardless of fabric or not you will get weeds, so I recommend a good pre emergent in the spring time and will pull any that pop through

[@bryang5912]

I watch these mostly to see you slap stuff. Slap stuff. Got a nice slap on the dirt at the end there - had me worried but glad I watched till the end

[@fargnbastage]

What type of rocks did you use in your bed?

[@TheLawnWhisperer]

Slate chips

[@fargnbastage]

Got interrupted while watching and thought you'd probably mention it in the video...and sure enough "slate chips". I appreciate the response nonetheless and look forward to the next video. Redoing my beds now so this will definitely give me some ideas. @@TheLawnWhisperer

[@AromaFrank]

Can you pls share the names/links of the stones and plantings..? Thanks

[@TheLawnWhisperer]

I mentioned everything in the video.. Slate chips. Green mountain box woods. Sky pencil holly. false cypress

[@TheLawngestYard]

I’m here for the filter fabric comments…

[@TheLawnWhisperer]

Never touch the stuff!!!!

[@TheLawngestYard]

@@TheLawnWhisperer yeah I’m not a fan either! Big Preen guy 😜

[@Egonzales85]

4:12 ……….. ………..¡THATS WHAT SHE SAID! - Micheal Scott

[@TheSoloAsylum]

Paint the foundation house color and it pretty much disappears...then plant.

[@johnbunani1341]

That’s going to be a nightmare with weeds with no barrier of any kind put down. I know from experience 😅

[@TheLawnWhisperer]

I do not like weed barrier of any kind personally. I never used it at my last house and never had much weed issue. Use a good pre emergent in the spring time and pull and that pop through. I don’t like using weed barrier 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@johnbunani1341]

@@TheLawnWhisperer I thought you only had mulch in your beds at your old place? I don’t use a weed barrier in mulch beds either, only rock beds. Lot harder to drown out the weeds with rock beds vs mulch

[@TheLawnWhisperer]

@@johnbunani1341 I have a lawn and landscape business as well. In my experience you will get weeds regardless and it’s much harder to pull weeds with the fabric

[@BretttSucks]

Ferst