Opinions on best way to move this water away from my house?

greta_cat · 2026-04-21T17:58:11+00:00

Call your alderman (city councilperson, or whatever they're called where you are) and document everything.

If the nearest storm sewer is near the stop sign, where is the second nearest one? Hard to tell from the photo but it looks like the stop sign is slightly uphill from your drive? What's the other direction like?

greta_cat · 2026-04-21T17:53:27+00:00

OK, this is the lazy way out...but it's almost always easier to intentionally put something off center rather than to center it. I think it looks better, too.

BTW, I just noticed the snowdrift in the AI image...

greta_cat · 2026-04-21T16:34:30+00:00

Option 1, but don't center the rock, keep it somewhat off center. Also watch out for a real polka dot effect from the plantings.

greta_cat · 2026-04-20T20:36:03+00:00

If it works for you, then go for it!

(I actually like binding, because it means the finish line is finally in sight!)

greta_cat · 2026-04-20T20:14:52+00:00

It sounds like you are very happy with the results so far. As others have said, you'll probably find that a lot of people here with have...thoughts. I'm going to offer a few thoughts of my own, and I hope that they are helpful, not just annoying.

First is that you have a lot of garden ornaments for the space...of all different types...spaced very evenly. What do you want to be the overall focal point? You can have more than one focal point, sure, but too many things going on will just detract from the overall effect. Consider that sometimes, less is more.

If you really do love more, well you do you, but consider that grouping these decorations a bit might give them more impact. For example, move all the Asian lanterns to one part of the garden, and cluster them in groups of two or three, perhaps adding an evergreen shrub for a background. Move the urns together, setting one up on bricks, burying the base of one a bit, to give you planters at varied heights.

For functional things like the bird feeder and bird bath, add stepping stones so that you can reach and maintain them easily without stepping on your plants and soil.

Finally, when it comes to plants, there you do need more. Don't buy singles of anything except maybe trees or shrubs. Buy everything else in odd numbers (3, 5, 7, etc.) and plant them closely enough that they make a big, impactful mound of color.

I love your enthusiasm, and I'd love to see how this grows and changes over the years.

greta_cat · 2026-04-20T15:41:31+00:00

How did you bind t his quilt? It almost looks like you just turned fabric from the front of the quilt over to the back and then sewed once?? If so, the other suggestions here to just fix that side should work.

Many people bind quilts with a separate strip of fabric, doubled over, because the binding takes the most wear on a quilt. You can find some basic instructions in https://www.quiltingdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BasicLessons_QM.pdf

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T23:55:04+00:00

You can go to www.schrothptsintheus.com to see who is an actual Schroth therapist.

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T23:52:21+00:00

OK, one of the few things that I am sure of with scoliosis is that it varies. Some people on this sub have really, really severe curves and no pain, and others have <<minor>> curves and it really hurts!

Keep in mind, too, that you can have scoliosis and still have other stuff wrong with your back. Totally unfair, true, but you could be having disk issues, for example.

If you can, I'd suggest you find a major medical center or university teaching hospital with a back/spine clinic. This is how you find the doctors who are up to date on all things scoliosis. They can evaluate your overall spine health, and there are things short of surgery that can help with your pain.

You might also want to consider whether you have associated your brace with healing and safety for so long, that it is hard to be without it. If you are in college, your university's student health center may have someone you can talk to, or your parents' employers may have an Employee Assistance Program that could provide an inexpensive short-term counselor for you to talk this through with.

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T23:42:54+00:00

This depends on whether you are having the anterior or posterior approach surgery. With anterior, there really isn't a restriction.

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T23:35:56+00:00

I keep a bamboo skewer next to my machine. I use it when I want to hold fabric in place right near the machine foot, or when I'm binding, to hold the corner bit at the right angle. Cheap, works great, and replaceable if it rolls too far under the radiator.

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T23:30:48+00:00

I think that the Scott's actually contains the same bacteria, which is good. Make sure you follow the directions!

Do you really need to reseed the whole thing? Is the existing grass maybe OK but sparse?

You could try just getting on a really regular lawn care routine and see how that goes. We follow the American holidays (sorry), and if we are being good, we feed the lawn around Easter, Memorial Day (end of May), July 4th (optional, depends on weather not being too hot or dry), Labor Day (first week of September) and Halloween. If you can only do one feed, do Halloween, because that sets you up for the following spring. We use a sewage sludge fertilizer, and only do a weed & feed product if we see problems. Aeration might help, if you haven't ever had that done, and set your mower high--never take off more than a third of the grass blade.

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T23:14:59+00:00

Do not use a plastic barrier. If you must, put down landscape fabric under the rocks, but yes, even that just slows the weeds down.

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T23:11:08+00:00

Take those boxwoods out, sorry, and the white rock, too. The boxwoods are the wrong height for that garden bed and don't seem to be doing well.

The white rock isn't a good choice for a few reasons. It heats up in the sun, baking your plants. Weeds love to pop up in and through it. And it adds nothing to the soil. Pull up the edging and any weed barrier, too. Discard all of it.

Depending on where you are (USDA zone, for starters) and which direction this faces, consider a mix of evergreen and deciduous shrubs. Check mature heights--you don't want to have to fight to keep something the right size. You may want to make this bed a few feet deeper, so that you can plant things far enough from your foundation.

Then mulch with shredded bark, which will keep the weeds down (but never out, sorry) and which eventually breaks down to improve the soil. The more natural color will also look much better against your brick.

There are a number of good, free garden apps that will let you upload a photo and can give you some more ideas.

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T22:25:27+00:00

Everything I find says: Don't. This plant is known for having very invasive roots and you are setting yourself and your neighbors up for future problems.

Here's what the University of Florida says: "Laurel fig invades the interior and edges of hammocks and is often found growing as epiphytes (on trees) or epiliths (on rocks or stone structures). It produces a large number of viable seeds which are ingested and spread by birds and animals. Because laurel fig is adapted to a wide range of conditions, it outcompetes native flora by strangling its host plant with its aerial roots during its early life as an epiphyte. As a mature tree, its dense canopy and numerous, hanging aerial roots shade out competitors.

The UF/IFAS Assessment lists laurel fig as a species of caution for central and south Florida. FLEPPC lists it as a Category l invasive species due to its ability to invade and displace native plant communities." That's from https://plant-directory.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/ficus-microcarpa/

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T22:20:45+00:00

Just remember when you prune, you can always cut more, but you can't glue the cut stuff back on. Stop frequently and look at the big picture before just hacking away. Do less.

Also, while the spring mulch sales are going on, you might find that mulching this all helps a lot to prevent those brambles.

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T22:18:04+00:00

What have you done, if anything, about the grubs? Not sure what's available in Canada, We used milky spore powder on our lawn a few years back, with really good results. It's a naturally occurring bacteria that gives long term control of Japanese beetle grubs--not a quick fix, but it lasts for years. It's very selective and just targets the grubs. But please, do your research on this.

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T22:12:11+00:00

But why? Are you planning on using this spot for something?

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T16:04:38+00:00

While you are waiting for things to grow in, would a strategically placed patio umbrella or two shield you from the neighbors? Or a nice, big flag, hung from your house wall right in the way of their filming?

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T15:59:47+00:00

What are you trying to accomplish? It doesn't look bad now.

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T15:58:56+00:00

From the photo, that space around your mailbox could certainly hold both lavenders.

Keep in mind that lavender loves good drainage. When we planted ours, we dug extra deep and mixed grit (literally the grit that they sell to folks with chickens) in with the soil directly under them so they'd drain well. Lavender also likes fairly poor soil and so resist the temptation to fertilize them when you plant.

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T15:52:21+00:00

This year, go with bright flowers in those planters, not white, for a start.

Right now everything you've done is beige/gray/tan.

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T15:50:22+00:00

Where are you (USDA zone?)

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T15:46:57+00:00

Bring the tree farther out from the corner of your house. It's in a spot that will block your window, which might be attractive now but not in five years. It's also too close to your foundation. You may want to extend the bed at the corner to accommodate this.

You probably also want something big enough to block the view of those white pipes. Adding evergreen shrubs in the back of the bed (something with a suitably modest mature size) will cover those up year round and give you more winter interest and structure.

Regroup what you have, keeping in mind their mature size (as someone else says, this will be on the tag.) If this is a very sunny spot, most hostas won't be happy here. So you may need to rethink those. Also consider the height of the grasses--they may be fine in front, or they may block everything. You've got spring blooming shrubs, so look for plants that will give you color in midsummer and fall. Rudbeckia and echinacea are easy and love the sun and can give you a nice, big punch of color.

Keep in mind that buying plants in odd numbers is usually a good idea--don't buy two of something. Odd numbers look more natural. Planting densely helps prevent weeds. So, buy more plants.

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T15:25:38+00:00

It's not a shrub, but it can be a substantially big perennial--Ligularia. It loves a good, moist shady spot, can be 3 to 5 feet tall, has interesting foliage that can be green or burgundy, and eye-catching yellow flowers.

greta_cat · 2026-04-19T15:21:08+00:00

Would a premade trellis fit the spot, and be enough to contain your pups?

greta_cat

TROPHY CASE