DIY Network

Kristen Locke: Plan, Costs and Products Meet Kristen Locke and find out the gardening challenge plan. From "Garden Sense" episode DGAR-305

Walter and Kristen

Meet Kristen Locke, a pharmacist who just moved into her new ranch home. It has a hodgepodge of shrubs scattered around the edges and built-in planters from the '50s. Kristen enjoys gardening but needs help with her entire front yard.

She needs help to tame her landscaping and she wants to add lots of flowers and color. Kristen also needs some guidance on selecting the proper tools to maintain her new landscape.

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Gardening Challenge

Before--Front yard

Before--Porch Flower Box

After--Front Yard

After--Porch Flower Box

Required Project Timeline

Kristen's project took less than eight hours to complete.

Project Details

First, the Garden Sense team extended the right bed in Kristen's front yard to give it more balance. Then they moved the mature shrubs in the landscape like the goldflame spirea and three burning bushes. By relocating them the front was filled in and more balance was added without spending a lot of money.

Secondly, a mass of color was added to garner some instant curb appeal. Bright perennials were added to the built-in planter for a color boost.

Finally, some plants were picked that really frame up the house. Ranch homes such as Kristen's are usually boxy and squat. None of the plants chosen from the nursery will get big and overwhelm the house.

And in the planters five different flowers were added, including Kristen's favorite--the Gerber daisy.

Gardening by Zip Code If you're looking to start a gardening projectbut don't know your gardening zone—visit the National Gardening Associations's USDA Hardiness Zone Finder. Enter your Zip Code to identify the proper zone.

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