Some projects start with a blank slate. Others start with a mature garden that just needs a clearer structure and a more intentional plant palette. This Wilmington driveway border was the latter — a space the homeowners cared about, but one that had slowly become uneven, crowded, and hard to maintain.
The plan for this refresh was put together by One Thousand Hands and focused on three things: cleaner edges, healthier plant groupings, and a garden with year-round interest.
Site Prep (and a small visitor)
As we lifted and moved plants, we found the typical mix of soil and root conditions you expect around a mature tree. Along the front edge, a small toad had settled itself right where the new border would go. A nice encounter — we simply moved him and kept working.
Improved Plant Layout
We kept the new palette simple and dependable:
- Hellebores (Lenten Roses) for evergreen mass and late-winter color
- Hinoki Cypress for upright structure
- Golden Mop Cypress to brighten the edge with chartreuse texture
- Heuchera to support gradual color shifts through shade
- Existing hellebores and daffodils were reused where they still fit naturally
The goal was to keep the garden feeling like their garden — just more intentional, balanced, and easier to maintain.
Belgian Block Edging
To give the bed a clean, permanent outline, we installed hand-set Belgian block edging along the driveway curve. Every stone was dug in individually, tapped level, and pitched slightly to shed water away from the walkway. It prevents mulch creep, holds the soil line, and makes the whole bed easier to maintain.
Finished Space
The front walk and driveway now have a garden that feels grounded and well-kept. The plant groupings are cleaner, the lines are sharper, and the space should fill in beautifully without becoming high-maintenance.
