tree trimming | 1970 home renovation

by | Feb 8, 2023 | 1970 home renovation, Exterior, My House | 60 comments

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As soon as we saw our soon-to-be house in the real estate listing, we knew that landscaping would be one of the projects.  We loved this house and the neighborhood because of the mature trees and landscaping, but some of the landscaping around our house is well overgrown.  We are planning on keeping a lot of it, but some of it needed to be removed because it was either too close to the house or it was beyond trimming.

We received a mailer from a tree trimming company a few weeks ago and I decided to give them a call to get a quote on having the large pine tree removed that is in front of the garage.  (You can just see the edge of the branches on the right of the photo.)  We felt like we could remove the holly bush in front of the porch on our own, but we were a little nervous about cutting down and cutting up such a large pine tree.  We also had a large dead branch dangling in one of the maple trees that we wanted to be removed for safety reasons.

Brick ranch exterior | miss mustard seed

A rep from the tree company came out that very day and gave an estimate for the pine tree that was higher than we expected.  We were prepared to give the we’ll think about it and call you back answer, but then Jeff asked about the six large maples.  We know they will eventually need some trimming and work, so Jeff wanted to get an opinion on their condition and the cost to trim them.  The cost of trimming the maples was much less than we expected (mostly because it’s off-season for the crew) and, since that was the bigger job, the rep would throw in the removal of the pine tree for a minimal fee.  Well, let’s see if they’ll lump in the removal of the holly bush into that as well!  We were able to put a proposal together to have the six large maples trimmed and the holly and pine removed for a reasonable price.

Jeff and I agreed to hire them for the work on the spot.  While trimming the maple trees wasn’t a high priority, it is something that would always be looming over us as something that needed to be done.  These are huge, older trees that need to be trimmed every few years to help them develop a better branch structure and increase airflow among the branches to reduce pests and diseases that can damage the tree.  If we want these trees to be on the property for a long time, we need to take care of them.

large maple tree in autumn | miss mustard seed

I got a notice over the weekend that our tree work was scheduled for Tuesday.  When the crew showed up, I couldn’t help but peek out the window as they were working.  They were so fast that I missed the falling of the pine tree!  The holly and pine were gone in about 20 minutes!

tree trimming & bush removal | 1970 home renovation | miss mustard seed

What a difference to be able to see the porch.

tree trimming & bush removal | 1970 home renovation | miss mustard seed

With the pine and the holly gone, the overgrown bushes in the front of the house looked even more overgrown and out of place.  My plan was to trim them back first and then remove them if we needed to, but I had a feeling they were beyond trimming.

tree trimming & bush removal | 1970 home renovation | miss mustard seed

Since the crew was so quick at removing the pine and holly and had all of the gear on site, I decided to text the rep to ask if they would remove the bushes.  For an additional fee (that was well worth it), they would remove the bushes and grind out the stumps.

tree trimming & bush removal | 1970 home renovation | miss mustard seed

When I shared my decision on Instagram Stories, several people who worked in the landscaping field confirmed that was the right thing.  Landscaping does have a life span and these bushes have outlived theirs. I am so excited to have a clean slate in the front of the house and I’m looking forward to visiting a local nursery and putting a plan together.

tree trimming & bush removal | 1970 home renovation | miss mustard seed

Of course, taking down trees and shrubs that were hiding the house means that the things that need to be done are a bit more exposed.  The siding, which you can see behind the shadow of removed shutters, was once a lovely green, but it’s yellowed to an unappealing pea soup.  We’re also going to remove the storm door so we can make more of a feature of the solid wood front door and make the walkway to the front door a bit more welcoming.  I’d also like to plant a pretty, small tree in front of the wall of siding to break it up a bit. It’s going to be fun to bring to life and watch it evolve over the years.

tree trimming & bush removal | 1970 home renovation | miss mustard seed

When we have warm days, we’re going to start cleaning up the rest of the yard and start the power washing and painting.  So, let’s talk about paint!  I’m still sampling colors, but this is the direction I’m heading…

Farrow & Ball Exterior color inspiration | miss mustard seed

Exterior inspiration photo via Palette Home.

The colors used in the inspiration photo above are a little different, but they give the overall impression I was looking for.  The brick is Off White with Wimborne White and White Tie trim and the front door is painted in Railings (although it looks much lighter in the photo.)  I imagine Off White or White Tie siding (and possibly brick) with bright white/All White trim and Card Room Green front door and shutters.

The question isn’t whether to paint or not to paint.  The trim and siding have to be cleaned and painted.  It’s tired, chipping, and faded.  It’s overdue for a good power washing and painting, which I’m sort of excited about tackling.  Call me crazy, but I’ve wanted to paint the exterior of a house and now, with a single-story home, I can do it!  The question is, do I want to paint the brick as well?  The brick doesn’t look fantastic in this very professional mock-up photo, but it is a nice brick that might just need a good cleaning.  The plan is to simply clean the brick and paint everything else before deciding.  I want to take decisions slowly before I dive into something.

exterior paint mock-up | miss mustard seed

But, I can dive into “painting the brick” in a mock-up and, I have to admit that it’s likely this is the direction we’ll go.  In a strange reversal of roles, Jeff is all in on painting the brick and I want to wait until we have everything cleaned and the siding and trim painted before we paint the brick.

exterior paint mock-up | miss mustard seed

The mock-up makes me want to paint it all, but I need to wait to see it all play out in real life.  We have to do the projects one at a time, so there is no need to commit to something until we need to.  There’s plenty of other work to keep us busy…

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    60 Comments

    1. Cindy

      A small Japanese maple would look very nice in front of the blank wall. I know you want to get rid of the storm door but consider an all glass storm door or one that had a screen built in. We replaced our front door with an Anderson full glass with built in screen and it’s great for the nice days when we want some cross ventilation in the house.

      • Tricia

        I have a full glass storm door on the front which I had installed for safety. I didn’t like opening the door and possibly having someone rush inside. It gives me and my husband a feeling of safety especially since we are seniors. We live in a nice neighborhood but with all of the crime we thought the door would help be of some security. You can still see the nice front door.

        • Lynne

          Marian, love your color choices. The house will look so much brighter. I do think that your “siding wall”, which comprises over a third of the house, needs more than a tree. The tree would just hide the siding wall m any years from now. Why not make the siding wall beautiful? Make it look like part of the house with beautiful windows, shutters, landscaping.

    2. Monica

      I love my full view storm doors – one in the front and one in the back. I can have the glass in them so the wood doors can be open on nice fall and spring days for extra sunshine, and with the screens in, there’s always a nice cross-breeze through the house. Your house looks like it can breathe now that all the overgrown landscape is gone. Can’t wait to see everything freshened up!

      • Suzy

        I thought of a Japanese maple for there, too. Would be perfect and such a wonderful colour display against that expanse. What fun your blank slate will be!

    3. Anna Coughlin

      Several years ago Young House Love painted their brick house in Richmond, VA. I recall a lengthy blog post about researching paints especially for brick. See if you can find it and have a read. It was very informative.

      • Cathy Reeves

        Yes! It was Bioromeo I think and it was transformational!

      • Dj

        I was just about to post the same thing! They used something different than regular paint which was better for the brick and allows it to breathe.

    4. Barbara in SE PA

      Yes, paint it all! A Stewartia tree would be lovely in front of your large blank wall. Consider adding a pair of tall iron trellises against that wall to balance things out. They would give that side some weight until your tree is more established.
      Good luck. This is such a fun project!

    5. Janet Squire

      Great move to get ALL of the shrubs removed – very smart.

      I vote for NOT painting the brick, it’s a LOVELY feature and adds texture and character.

    6. Jamie

      Marian, of all the projects and renovations over the years -this is the most exciting to me! I also have an old ranch, very similar to yours that needs some landscaping updates. You always have great taste – can’t wait to see what you do!! Thank you for sharing your gifts!!

    7. Jamie

      I forgot to mention, my house is also a tan bric. I used Romabio lime wash, it’s a great product!!

      • Deborah South

        Hi,

        I really like this post about the old trees and bushes and painting ideas. I’m a Realtor so I see a lot of homes inside and out. One thing that most people don’t know or can’t imagine to be true is Trees are quite powerful energetically. Look at the roots they create that destroy concrete and even foundations. In Feng Shui which has been studied for thousands of years says that if you have any large trees next to your home and/or looming over your home can actually cause illness and death to those that live in the home. They can such the energy right out. Everyone had their own sensitivity levels. Glad you took the trees down. I see one tree to the right of your garage that looks really big. Please take this seriously. We need to spread the word. Huge trees have a place, it’s in the forest. Also if you added to windows on right right side it would balance out the look of your home. The garage kinda looks like a big box. Hope that help. Happy healthy yard, happier life.

        • Jo Ann Bastan

          Paint it all one color to balance the weight. It looks too heavy on the right side otherwise.

    8. J. Oakley Higgins

      And put those downspouts underground and get the water out and away from the house, and the pipes out of the way of the landscaping. I like the image of the whole house painted the same color. What is the program you use to create those different images? Also, I can’t tell where the pine tree was located.

    9. Janice

      Too bad about the pine tree, it must have been attractive.

    10. Kaelsma

      I would paint a mural on that blank wall.

    11. Cheri

      I know how good it feels to have overgrown landscaping removed! It looks like fresh palette to me!

    12. Marilyn

      We used Avorio white Limewash by Romabio on our brick. We love it. It doesn’t wear and peel like regular paint. They do make a 20 year mineral paint for a solid look also. Check them out. Lowe’s and Home Depot carry it but I believe it’s a special order. I ordered through Ring’s End in Connecticut and they will mix it in any Benjamin Moore color. Shipping was free for over $250. Very nice and very fast service. The Romabio people recommended them.

    13. Rachelle Fisher

      I’m loving watching you fix up your home. I have one thought. Are you planning on replacing the columns on the front porch with something a little more substantial? I’m from the South and we’re all about front porch sitting.

      • Donna

        Yes, I had the same thoughts about the columns. The proportions are not good for the house. But I loved the mockup of painting the entire house. Sometimes painting the brick makes the entire house “live” larger.

    14. Sandra Whittington

      I can see adding shutters to that wall. They would be in a permanent closed position to make it look more balanced with the house. In our subdivision people are upgrading their shutters and there are some really nice looking shutters out there with nice hardware.

    15. Jenny

      Before you pressure wash that T-111 wood siding, do consult a good painter. My son’s house is that kind of siding and when we painted it about 6 years back we just wire brushed and used a pad sander on a pole to hit the high spots. Pressure washing can raise the grain of the wood too much and do more harm than good to the wood.

    16. Laura

      I like the brick on your house. I would prefer that the siding be closer in color to the brick. The white/off white makes it appear as an added on after thought. Perhaps with shrubs and an ornamental tree in front of the siding it may not stand out as much. I am not a fan of storm doors.

      • Monica

        Exactly what I was going to say. Adding a couple windows on the side of the garage would also break up the big open side of the garage.

    17. LD

      The white is a little much with the brick. The green would be better IMHO. Also like other comments, look into the limewash. Everyone is painting brick, I just don’t understand, because you are adding more maintenance. At least the limewash will let the brick peak through and is not a maintenance nightmare. Good luck in whatever you choose.

    18. Dena

      You have some beautiful trees in your area, but I think removing the trees and bushes was a win-win. They were old and tired, and surely you now have more light in your studio. As far as painting your brick, I understand your hesitation — you can’t un-paint it. That being said, I know you will find the perfect solution. I do agree with others that mentioned re-working your downspouts and maybe more substantial porch posts. Whatever you decide to do, I know it will be gorgeous and I can’t wait to see the final result!

    19. Debbie

      Please don’t paint the brick!
      Maybe it’s just the southern soul in this girl, but I love a beautiful brick home. Brick adds character to a house that you can’t get with paint.
      I would clean the brick, then paint your trim the color you like best, then pop it with that beautiful green on the door. It will make that house come to life, especially if you get the proper landscaping company to help you plan out your new landscaping plans and tree placement.
      The house will be a showstopper!

      • Roseann Marsett

        I love the brick the way it is. It adds such texture to your front. I love the paint you’ve chose for the rest. I also love the neighborhood. The photos of your house in the fall are showstoppers. Gorgeous.

    20. Crystal

      Have you considered lime washing the brick? Love the idea of green, I’m really loving darker shades these days. Especially for homes with dark roof shingles. I recently saw a rancher with lime washed brick and a creamy white shade on the siding with black shutters and it was delightful! Have you considered black as your accent with creamy white elsewhere?( Except the door) It made the home look both current and classic.

      • Sharon

        I would like to suggest a Hawthorn tree for your front spot.
        In our last home, in Southern PA, I got to do a complete landscape makeover on our yard. It was so much fun to research, plan, and watch it playout over the 12 years we were there.
        While working with the landscaper we discussed my goal for year-round interest and color. In one of the areas where I wanted a tree, I was looking for something not too big but something that wouldn’t look blah all winter
        The hawthorn is a “showy”, small tree that has white flowers in spring, and red winter berries or fruits. The fruits, which resemble rosehips, stand out in a snowbound landscape. We also planted a maple, a dogwood and a Siberian fir and several hollies. They were all lovely, however it’s the hawthorn I miss the most!
        I know the pleasure you will enjoy as the seasons pass.

    21. Michelr

      When you begin your trek to the garden centers, I highly recommend Sunny Meadows Garden Center Boonesboro MD. They have a great selection, knowledgeable staff and it is always pleasant at the center. Their plants are very well cared for and healthy.

    22. Sue P.

      I think painted brick usually looks nice and didn’t think it would pose a problem. However, I read a recent blog post (don’t recall the web site) saying it’s not good to paint brink because of moisture retention. I can’t find that original post but if you do a web search using something like ” why not paint brick” or “why brick shouldn’t be painted” or something along those lines, you’ll find an explanation of the potential problems the wrong paint can cause.

    23. Jill

      Please consider using some Native Plants when you do your landscaping. there are many lovely species that would thrive in your setting. Their presence is critical to the feeding and habitat of our Native Pollinators and Songbirds.

    24. Tricia

      I have a full glass storm door on the front which I had installed for safety. I didn’t like opening the door and possibly having someone rush inside. It gives me and my husband a feeling of safety especially since we are seniors. We live in a nice neighborhood but with all of the crime we thought the door would help be of some security. You can still see the nice front door.

    25. Evelyn Laws

      Your house is lovely! Love the colors you have chosen. Another idea, would be to add a flowering small/medium flowering tree along side the blank spot. Especially if you are going to add some metal black fencing somewhere like in your dream picture ………. Having fun watching you redesigning your home!

    26. Kelly

      LOVE posts like this. Thank you for detailing the process!

      I’m wondering whether you’d be interested in changing the post configuration on the front porch. I wonder whether layout that didn’t bisect the bay window might be more appealing. I can’t be 100% sure from photos, but I’d venture a guess that those columns aren’t actually holding that porch roof up; the structural load is probably on the exterior wall. Might be worth asking about when the crew is there to relocate the stairs!

    27. lauraj300

      Hi,
      Could you put a window or 2 windows on the blank wall to match the other side of the house? Yes, paint the brick. I’m seeing a lot of painted brick in my neighborhood and I love it!

    28. Beth

      I like the brick color, I wouldn’t paint it. I suggest beefing up the post on the front porch to help balance the siding. Great job so far, I am enjoying the process!

    29. IreneL

      I am on team lime wash for the brick. The lime wash will not peel or chip and it looks more natural and high end because the brick shows through. Google Images of lime washed vs painted bricks to compare. I live in the South (GA) where red brick abounds! The landscaping will be a fun project and between that and the painting, it will be beautiful! I do agree w a reader who commented on the porch post placement. If you do keep them, either where they are or repositioned, you might also consider beefing them up to have a bit more presence and more aesthetic. The house has good bones and a lovely yard area – your touches will surely make it a stunner over time!

    30. Dianne

      I live in the mid-South were heat and humidity are hard on everything! About 20 years ago it became very popular to paint houses light colors. It looks pretty, but dirt and mildew are more visible on paint.

      Imagine trying to clean mold and green moss off the side of a white painted house. Pressure washing blows the paint off the bricks. Have you considered how to clean painted brick?

    31. Taria

      The thing to remember about painting brick is that you will have one more thing to keep up. You will need to paint it often. I love natural bricks and wouldn’t myself paint them. Now the T-1-11 I am not keen on. Our little cabin in the mountains is that and what a bear to keep paint on.
      Harsh winters just beat the heck out of the paint on that. I’m pretty sick of painting that it. I know whatever you do will be great.

    32. Cheryl

      Wow, that opened your space up and it looks fantastic! Love the color choices!

    33. Teresa

      Removing the overgrown holly really made a difference in opening up your home. I like the comment you made that landscape does have an expiration date and it’s a great reminder! Our home will be 31 years old this April and we had to have a Bradford pear removed (please never plant one of these) and replaced it with a weeping cherry tree which I love. Also, we had to remove some overgrown azaleas and few rhododendrons that had died.

      Someone else mentioned Young House Love’s blog when they painted their former brick home in the Richmond, VA area before their move to Florida. I can tell you that I saw the home personally (I live in the same county) and it looked amazing. They gave a rather detailed post about painting their red brick Colonial so it might be a good source for you.

    34. Julia

      Great idea to remove the tired landscaping. I agree that adding windows to the siding side would have a nice balance. Whatever you choose it will be beautiful!

    35. Lynne

      Marian, love your color choices. The house will look so much brighter. I do think that your “siding wall”, which comprises over a third of the house, needs more than a tree. The tree would just hide the siding wall m any years from now. Why not make the siding wall beautiful? Make it look like part of the house with beautiful windows, shutters, landscaping.

    36. Cabrown

      While I like the color you chose I don’t think I like it with the natural brick color, it makes it look dirty. And the brick painted the same color as the rest of the house I think is too much white. Just my opinion for all it’s worth. I think you have great taste so whatever you decide will be great. I am not a professional! Lol

    37. Linda Scott

      Taking out the landscaping was a great idea! Painting the entire house the cream color makes it appear larger, however, I understand your hesitation. Love the colors you chose. How about a Dutch door in that beautiful green and forget the storm door? With new landscaping it will look beautiful!

    38. Liz Hall

      I LOVE lime washed & or painted brick. With your brick the same color as the garage the house looks more cohesive as a whole. The garage will look less like a giant box. Hardiboard makes a great siding that is very durable.

    39. Nancy L Johnson

      My new next-door neighbor transformed the used brick on her house with a charcoal grey stain formulated just for brick. When she began, I had serious doubts, but the stain is much softer than paint, and it looks fabulous. She used another shade of grey on the stucco and added a black front door. This transformed a nice home into one that is truly striking. Have you thought about using stain on your brick?

    40. Tina

      When you said you were having tree trimmers to come and remove the pine tree and the holly and thin the maples, all I could think was please remove the hedges too! I was pretty sure they were past trimming just from the size and would be mostly dead in the middle and backside. Not to mention we can see the porch and the front door too. You can see where there might be issues with gutters and down spouts and pooling water or splash back causing the mold on the house.
      It does make the garage appear quite a bit larger than before. Others commented about adding windows, but perhaps consider horizontal Hardi plank siding up to the eaves then board and batten above to the peak. It is a traditional look that would compliment the brick of the rest of the house. Since you are removing the storm door you can always add an invisible screen door that can be pulled across as needed. I wouldn’t make a decision on paint until power washing the brick, porch, patio, and the sidewalk. I would use the mineral paint or a solid limewash and not paint, your house needs to breathe. Sometimes can you tell us which direction your home faces? That will be an important consideration for your landscape plans.

    41. Mary S.

      Hello, Marian
      Love all your posts about your renovation! Was reading some older posts and came across your one on tassels. I have a book on tassel making that I rescued from a library book sale. Has many detailed instructions and illustrations, full color. “Tassels” by Susan Dickens, 2000. It’s yours if you would like it. Send your address and I’ll send it along, a gift for you!

    42. Kim

      Wow, you have such a huge yard!! So many wonderful planting possibilities await.

      Keep in mind that brick needs to BREATHE, and you do have some lovely brick on that house.

    43. Pakster

      What a nice transformation! I agree with those who suggested removing or beefing up the porch posts and hiding the gutter extensions. I also think the garage doesn’t look like it’s part of the house and looks too bulky. My recommendation would be to put two trellises that mimic the size of the two house windows. You could plant climbing flowers or vegetables in the summer and hang decorative lights in the winter.
      I would also recommend watching Sarah Richardson’s Retro Ranch videos on staining brick. She picked the most opaque stain but had the option for allowing more brick to show through if that’s a look you want.

    44. hrplo

      I’m all for either an espaliered tree or shrub or a homemade wire trellis for a flowering climbing vine. That’s quite the wall to address; good luck!

    45. Beth

      It is really shaping up! Looks so nice with the trees and shrubs removed! I really think the brick color is very nice and neutral and would be a nice visual interest and a great accent I would not paint it. I love the idea of a small tree to break up the wall I would go ahead and make a flower bed around the tree fairly generous in size connecting it to the front of house and maybe down the sidewalk. I would contact Margaret from Snavelys in Chambersburg, PA she is very talented and Snavelys have an excellent selection of all shrubs and trees . They get in quite a few different varieties . For the basic shrubs and trees check out Lurgans! Really love seeing your progress on the house!

    46. Amanda

      A note about painting your trim a different color than your house. I always thought I would do that, but when the time came i happened to drive by a house similar to mine and I HATED it. So I looked a lot more, at houses that were the same style and time-frame as mine (and yours – the exterior of my home and yours are veeeeery similar and close to the same age). The typical trim on these houses is very utilitarian and plain, and I didn’t want to draw attention to that. So we did SW alabaster for trim, siding, and brick (it had already been painted before), with a duck-egg blue door. Pretty, but I think I’ll change the door soon as this was about 5 years ago and the door needs repainting. We are on the Gulf coast with a very hot and humid, harsh climate, and my painted brick is just fine.

    47. Debe

      A lot of houses around me have painted their brick white. It looks so fresh especially if they have black window frames. Wish I could do that but my fairly new windows are cream. Love you are starting the front yard update. You might follow Linda Vater on YouTube. She had a fabulous house and garden but just downsized to a house that basically has an empty front yard. She just planted 3 trees and is planning the plantings. She is in Oklahoma so a tad different zone.
      Enjoy seeing what you do!!!

    48. Sharon Maybaum

      I would paint the brick. I think you get better flow for the front of the house.

    49. Jane

      Do not paint the brick. That is my vote 🙂
      Remove the column in the center of the porch window and add more substantial columns on either side of the window plus one closer to the door. The spacing doesn’t need to be even because the window and door are different sizes. Create faux windows with shutters on the newly revealed siding. Then paint the trim and siding to complement the brick. Plant and enjoy! It’s looking great!

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    Marian Parsons - Miss Mustard Seed

    I’m Marian, aka Miss Mustard Seed, a wife, mother, paint enthusiast, lover of all things home and an entrepreneur, author, artist, designer, freelance writer & photographer.  READ MORE to learn more about me, my blog and my business…

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