!! Update !! New photos below.

Today was the day when I asked friends and family for help tearing out the old, huge, overgrown shrubs in front of my house. Yes, it was the hottest day of the summer! Wow, was it ever hot!

The day didn’t start out with much enthusiasm for success. After the first shrub was removed, I realized that this was going to be a much bigger project that first realized. The shrubs were enormous! As Jim began to dig down around the root ball we both thought that we might be lucky if we could get all the stumps out today. Just about that time my brother-in-law arrived with “every tool from the shed” in his work horse, an Oldsmobile Brevada. After slicing the last three shrubs with my reciprocating saw we began to dig around the last stump. After digging for about 15-20 minutes we wrapped a tow cable, courtesy Scott’s dad, hooked it up to the Brevada, and pulled the stump right out! (The crowds cheered!!! In my head that is.)

We had all 6 shrub stumps out by 11:00am, less than 2 hours! Simply amazing!

Scott and I worked on cleaning up the war zone that was my front yard for the next few hours. While the boys worked in the front yard, my Sister went shopping, bought deck stain, and stained the back deck. It turned out awesome!

After that was done we were ready to plant my new Boxwood’s, and Hosta’s. My Sister offered some great landscape design idea. Off-setting the plants made a huge difference in the end appearance. Since she had the planting totally under control, I went to get the mulch. 20 bags in the Brevada, no problem. I told you, workhorse!! While Sis was planting, Scott was edging my sidewalks and driveway. What a difference!

After the plants were in the ground I began to use Scott’s pressure washer on the front porch. It is amazing what a good pressure washing will do for concrete! The front porch looks about 200% better. I still need to clean the siding under the porch, but otherwise it is starting to look great.

After pressure washing the porch I found myself washing the driveway. Again, it is amazing how dirty concrete gets over time. I ended up washing the entire driveway and stairs and sidewalk at the back of the house.

I couldn’t be more happy with everything that was done today. It was an enormous amount of work and would have taken me weeks, probably months to complete without all the right tools. Thank You so much to Jim, Sis and Scott! I could not have gotten so much done without all your hard work. I’m much closer to listing the house!

So after all that blah blah blah… here are the before and after photos:
Before. Yes the shrubs are VERY overgrown. I didn’t trim them this year because I knew I was tearing them out.
After. Old shrubs gone, new shrubs and mulch, new posts and rail can be seen, along with a very clean driveway.
New stained deck.
New boxwood’s and hosta’s.
Similiar lighting showing the after.
Front Porch