As you saw a few weeks ago, we removed our old screen door and painted the inner door a bright lipstick red. We also tore down the scalloped header and shared the results. But Project Pimp My Porch isn’t finished — the front walkway still needs to be relaid because it’s uneven and unattractive. While we work up the energy to remove the jagged slate and install a wider, more level path, I decided to tackle some much-needed front landscaping.
Azaleas look spectacular for a solid three weeks in April, but once the blooms fade they need trimming. I spent an afternoon cutting back the bushes about three inches, the standard post-bloom prune. Then I finally did something John and I had discussed for two years: I drastically cut back the three large azaleas on each side of the front steps. I hacked them back so far they left six big piles of trimmings, but it was necessary.
The jumbo azaleas are stunning during their peak, but for the rest of the year they become a monotonous wall of green that hides the porch railing and makes the house look squat. With the heavy pruning, the porch is visible again and the house appears taller and more inviting. The dense, unbroken hedge is gone.
The azaleas will fill in and bloom again next season, but I won’t let them grow so large that they hide the charming porch railing, like carpeting that covers beautiful hardwood floors. With the bushes pushed back, there’s now room to add seasonal annuals for pops of color and varied texture. Once my forearms stop burning and my biceps stop twitching, I might convince John to help me tackle the walkway. Stay tuned.