Re: Landscaping question

SEGardener · ‎09-09-2021

Paint can seal foundation blocks. Do you have any kind of moisture problems in your basement or crawl space? If so I wouldn't paint the foundation blocks. Moisture wicks up to the drier foundation blocks and dissipates into the atmosphere. Plant shrubs - be careful of hydrangea depending on the sunlight too much or not enough. Personally I'd stick to an evergreen - there are plenty that are dwarfed gowing 24-40inches. They are the least maintenance and also are good drinkers for water at the foundation.

@theresa wrote:
So my landscaper posted a photo of the 90's look VS today's look of a home with lots of shrubs in the front. He removed them and the property looked so much cleaner. I decided to have him remove my evergreen shrubs and now I think the front looks too bare.

I have 2 azalea plants and white rocks. In the Spring will probably have him plant hydrangeas. Need ideas for low maintenance plants or small shrubs.

Now the concrete foundation is very obvious and the guy who mowed yesterday suggested I could have the foundation painted to match the vinyl siding. I spoke with my contractor today who painted the inside of my home and he said it's a very common service and he would match the foundation perfectly to make it blend with the siding.

Anyone else do this? I have a flat ranch and I keep my property pristine. Any ideas on low maintenance shrubs or plants much appreciated also

theresa · ‎09-13-2010

@SEGardener I don't have blocks as foundation it's solid concrete. My basement is finished and I asked this painter about mold problems/moisture. He said it wouldn't impact that issue. I had evergreen shrubs before that my landscaper trimmed 2X year. I really regret having him remove them. One was very large but the other 3 were fine. Lesson learned. He put down additional white rocks so now it's very bare. I hope painting the foundation is not going to be another mistake on my part but I don't know who else to ask unless I ask a contractor who builds homes.

Mom2Dogs · ‎03-09-2010

@theresa I have a long front yard foot print...Imagine the white house on a much smaller and less grand scale....very difficult to landscape. For years I had mulch and lots of greeney...over time I got older and tired of replacing mulch every single year and the cats used the mulch as their litter box.

I pulled out all the greenery, had nice black sparkly stone brought in and added 3 plants/seedum and a large rock. I have one small area that I had the landscaper put in dirt so that I could add a few plants (it is set apart with medium size rock) and I also have a large black planter that is seasonal...for height I plant a grass in that planter along with ivy geranium....at the other end I have a cement bench. It looks nice, at first I thought it looked stark but I have gotten used to it. I did add this year two additional black planters (tall) that flank either side of two pillars near the front door and added plants in them...helped soften the area.

I envy my neighbors, they have small manageable footprints. I think painting the foundation sounds like a great idea, that is one thing I wish we would have had done when the house was painted, but I did not think about it until it was to late....if I really wanted it done, I could do it...good luck!

SEGardener · ‎09-09-2021

@theresa wrote:
@SEGardener I don't have blocks as foundation it's solid concrete. My basement is finished and I asked this painter about mold problems/moisture. He said it wouldn't impact that issue. I had evergreen shrubs before that my landscaper trimmed 2X year. I really regret having him remove them. One was very large but the other 3 were fine. Lesson learned. He put down additional white rocks so now it's very bare. I hope painting the foundation is not going to be another mistake on my part but I don't know who else to ask unless I ask a contractor who builds homes.

I'd ask the contractor about paint peeling and how often it needs to be redone.

theresa · ‎09-13-2010

@SEGardener I asked that question to the painting contractor and he said the paint would not peel from the foundation.

SEGardener · ‎09-09-2021

@theresa wrote:
@SEGardener I asked that question to the painting contractor and he said the paint would not peel from the foundation.

I'd make sure that's in the bid/contract for the job and a warranty period is provided. Paint does separate from concrete because concrete is so porous. You may want to Google painting concrete foundations.