Landscaping Mistakes To Avoid: Rethinking Oversized Foundation Plantings

That innocent little shrub you planted five years ago? It’s now blocking your windows and threatening your siding. Sound familiar? 

Here on New Hampshire’s Seacoast, we see it all the time—beautiful homes hidden behind oversized foundation plantings that long ago outgrew their welcome. What often starts as a quick-fix landscaping job using fast-growing, inexpensive plants like Taxus (Yew), Rhododendron, or Arborvitae can turn into a long-term frustration. These shrubs may offer instant coverage, but they quickly outgrow their space, block windows, damage siding, and overwhelm your home’s exterior. If your landscape feels more chaotic than cohesive, it might be time to rethink your foundation plantings. 

With the right design approach and proper plant selection, we can help you restore balance, beauty, and function to your outdoor space. Let’s dig into why this happens and what you can do to fix or avoid the problem.

Fast Growers, Fast Regrets: The Problem with Oversized Foundation Shrubs

In the rush to get a “finished” landscape, many builders, contractors, or well-meaning homeowners install fast-growing, inexpensive shrubs like Taxus spp. (Yews), Thuja occidentalis (Arborvitae), and Rhododendron spp.. These plants offer instant curb appeal with dense foliage and a few feet of height, but within a few years, they’re pushing against siding, blocking windows, and swallowing walkways.

Here on the Seacoast, where planting space is often tight and soils are compacted from construction, these issues are magnified. Add in our harsh winters and coastal salt exposure, and many of these popular shrubs either suffer or grow unevenly—requiring more maintenance than expected.

Smarter Planting: Fixing overgrown front yard landscaping in NH

The solution starts with long-term thinking and a little patience. Here are three practical strategies we recommend.
Choose plants based on their mature size, not how they look in a pot. A shrub that’s 2 feet tall at planting might hit 8 feet in a few seasons.
Want that full look now but don't want a jungle in five years? Try this: plant a fast-growing filler shrub alongside a slower-growing or long-term pick. Once the keeper fills in, remove the overachiever.
Some shrubs tolerate regular shaping; others don’t bounce back well. Know what you're getting into before you plant.

The Pros and Cons of Fast-Growing Foundation Plants

There’s no doubt these shrubs have appeal:

• Pros

• Instant volume and privacy

• Low initial cost

• Easy availability at big box stores

But over time, the cons tend to outweigh those early benefits:

• Cons

• Rapid, uncontrolled growth

• Pruning headaches—often several times a season

• Trapped moisture or insect pressure on siding

• An overgrown look that shrinks your house’s visual footprint

And perhaps most frustrating: removing a ten-year-old shrub that’s wrapped its roots around your foundation is no small task.

Better Shrub Choices For Seacoast New Hampshire Homes

Instead of falling back on the usual suspects, consider these size-appropriate, coastal-hardy options:

• Itea virginica (Virginia Sweetspire)

  A native beauty with arching branches, spring blooms, and fiery fall foliage. Tolerates wet soils and partial shade.

• Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet)

  Fragrant white or pink summer blooms and a compact habit—perfect near entryways or windows.

• Amelanchier spp. (Serviceberry)

   For a small tree or large shrub with seasonal interest: spring flowers, summer berries, and fall color.

• Dwarf Buxus (Boxwood) and compact Hydrangea varieties

  These modern cultivars offer tidy structure and long bloom times without overwhelming your foundation.

And don't forget: choosing native or regionally adapted plants often means less work and better resilience in our tough Seacoast conditions.

Help from Seacoast Gardener

If your shrubs are swallowing your house or you’re just tired of the annual pruning battle, it might be time to rethink your foundation plantings. We offer expert plant health assessments, pruning, and full shrub replacement services throughout southern New Hampshire. Whether you want to salvage a favorite plant or start fresh with a healthier landscape, our team brings deep horticultural knowledge and hands-on care to every yard we maintain.

📞 (603) 770-5072 | 🌐 www.seacoastgardener.com. Contact us today—we’d love to help your landscape grow smarter.