Swapping Out Boxwoods for Low-Maintenance Foxtails With a Full Bed Cleanup

Sometimes the plants you have just aren't working anymore. The boxwoods in this backyard had run their course - one was already dying off - and the whole bed area needed a reset. Our client wanted something that looked good without demanding constant trimming. That's a totally reasonable ask, and it pointed us straight toward foxtail ferns.

Foxtails are a smart swap for high-maintenance shrubs. They have that full, lush texture that reads as intentional landscaping, but they don't need to be trimmed and shaped on a regular schedule the way boxwoods do. We pulled the old shrubs, cleaned up both the front and back beds, and got everything prepped before putting the new plants in the ground.

For the color, we added a mix of red, white, and purple blooms throughout the bed - low to the ground, tucked along the front edge of the mulch line. The contrast between the dark fresh mulch and the flowers makes the whole space pop. A clean bed edge goes a long way, and a thick layer of new mulch ties it all together and keeps weeds down between maintenance visits.

What we ended up with is a back yard that actually feels like somewhere worth spending time. The beds are neat, the plants are healthy, and our client isn't going to be looking at a trimming schedule every few weeks. That's the kind of outcome we're always going for - a yard that works for the person living in it.