A lot of my concrete work is in response to some problem in the garden i can't solve with plants.
Pretty much all design and planting is on the "squeaky wheel principle";
whatever hurts most gets attention first.
Here's a prominent place (right in your face at all times) where I formally had two exquisite arborvitae.
They grew to full, glossy health and glory, a big "ball" and a pillar. Then the deer ate them.
I planted five dwarf Alberta Spruce, in a curve along a rr-tie edge. Not quite as good but deer proof.
During the few days of 98-degree weather this June, they all came down with spider mites and turned brown.
This takes years to remedy, meanwhile, "right in your face".
I researched other evergreens, no deer no spidermites and couldn't find anything I liked.
Here's the spot, browning A.S.s down on the right
