Pruning Overgrown Foundation Shrubs and Planting Seasonal Flowers

Overgrown shrubs creating a "tunnel effect" at a front entry need careful pruning. Depth tolerance varies by species—identify the shrub first (take samples to a nursery). Some recover slowly from hard pruning; timing matters (usually late winter/early spring for deciduous, after bloom for spring-flowering).

For continuous bloom: don't plant annuals directly over bulbs—they compete for water and nutrients. Instead, interplant: bulbs in drifts with perennials/annuals between. Good combinations: tulips with forget-me-nots, daffodils with daylilies, alliums with ornamental grasses.

Choose long-blooming perennials: Coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Salvia, Coreopsis, and Catmint. Deadhead for repeat flowering. Mulch beds to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.