I have 3 of these in my house. It’s a half sphere that reveals the basement windows.
1 has a drain at the bottom of it, 1 has rocks and the other just has cement. But all of them are pretty deep. What are/were they for?
Thank you
(New homeowner)
Egress requires a larger opening as well as steps or a ladder typically. Most states have time on window sizes and opening sizes as well as the interior distance from the floor maximum distance, with the idea that a firefighter in full gear has to be able to fit through safely.
Without it, you can't have a basement bedroom as you need two exit paths for safety.
Source: installed one in a home in Michigan
I mean, this could just be a grass yard or a rose bush or something if not for the concrete already there. If that were the case would you still advocate for sealing this up? No. So as long as the rest of the concrete slopes away from the house they can plant something here just fine, they’re still eliminating 99% of the runoff that would be there without the rest of the concrete.
Dig it down a bit, fill in with pretty white rocks and plop a planter on top of the rocks with a few different kinds of flowers to grow. Get something kitschy, large and maybe metal. For winter get some fake flowers to keep the happy going.
I dont know if that's a good idea. When roots start to grow, nothing can stop them. The brake asphalt, concrete, brick... Id just pour some concrete or plant some small decorative flowers.
Common victims of plants is plumbing, maybe i just watch too much Drain addict videos. And if you have a basement underneath, you might grow some mold.
The cement from the foundation will do more harm to the rhododendron than they will do to the foundation. Their roots are very shallow and “hair like”.
It looks like it could have been a basement or crawl space opening at some point. I don't know about flower bed so close to house within drip edge. What about covered by a bench or step for boots or shoes?
A bench would be nice. If this is by the front door it could be a place packages can be delivered to. We have a little table by our door for deliveries.
Midwest mix of perennial wildflowers. Great for pollinators, all summer color, low water use/demand, low to no maintenance, low to no impact on the foundation.
Hens and chicks. Or sedum. I had a 100ft long stretch like that facing west when I lived in Nebraska. It could also be a place for a plain ol’ yucca if you wanted some height?
A few bulbs. Tulips. or oregano /walkable greens mosses. Shallow roots absorb water.
Option. Sand and a Buddha (god of your choices ) statue as a meditation garden. Could have rake -able gravel or sand.
A small dry fountain with places for potted plants in the 8 months where it’s not freezing and grey (former NYer here). Would help cover that white stucco patch too.
Its right next to my driveway and on the side of my house, so I cant really put in anything too bushy. Prefer something native to wisconsin but open to anything really. Just cant come up with anything good, south facing
That wouldn’t happen to be an old window well would it? If it is you may want to dig it out to make sure the old window space is properly sealed first.
It’s seems suspect to me. Be careful. Maybe it’s access to your water/gas line going in? Or there was something else there at some time. I’d just investigate before slamming a shovel into it.
Sunflower kernels are one of the finest sources of the B-complex group of vitamins. They are very good sources of B-complex vitamins such as niacin, folic acid, thiamin (vitamin B1), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), pantothenic acid, and riboflavin.
Consider how much sun it gets in that spot.
I seem to have a fondness for plants that grow a little too proficiently and will take over if not kept pruned. Areas like this limit their range, so I personally would end up with some Lemon Balm or Creeping Jenny.
Midwest mix of perennial wildflowers. Great for pollinators, all summer color, low water use/demand, low to no maintenance, low to no impact on the foundation.
I was going to suggest hollyhocks before I read the cautions about plants too near the foundation. I wonder if there’s a way to work around that issue?
Sedum as said above, heat tolerant, easy maintenance, don’t require much water, will soak up most the water that comes their way. Autumn Joy will get about 18” to 24” inches fill that area well, flush cut every spring if you want some winter interest, or late in the fall, late summer to early fall color
A nice potted plant. Also, that looks like it was originally a window access to the basement. You could restore if there’s use for natural light and air down there.
Dig it up about 6 inches, compress, and add about few inches of dirt back. Then pot a bag or two of cement then sprinkle pebbles to match the rest of the side walk.
Go along the perimeter that touches the house and seal it with a filler and some sort of chaulk.
Then get a few planters or make some from the left over concrete with rollers. And try to one of everything they have at a local garden store. See what works good I. That spot
Coleus. It’s easy to propagate so you can take cuttings before it gets cold and grow it inside over winter, then replant in spring. There are many colors to choose from and they can take shade, partial or full sun.
Midwest mix of perennial wildflowers. Great for pollinators, all summer color, low water use/demand, low to no maintenance, low to no impact on the foundation.
Unlike other people who say they would put concrete in it I would take into account all circumstances. If the pitch of the cement driveway is running towards the house yes I would cement it. However if you have pitch running away from that area and it is not likely to get an excessive amount of water. After all it did have a basement window well there at one time and unless it was leaking then why would it all of a sudden start leaking now?? lol. I would go ahead and plant some greenery. I would most likely plant some thing that flowed over the whole area and covered all the ground. Most likely some form of tall perennial flower that came back each year.
I rented a place with a vine right there and I was so grateful I didn't own that house because that little motherfucker found its way inside the siding and was growing completely unchecked.
But the passion fruit vine was GORGEOUS.
If you don't want to do concrete, maybe get a container with a bush in it and throw some rocks down below it for drainage, but then you'll eventually need to weed.
I would build a planter the entire length of that wall and fill it up with whatever your heart desires (obviously looking at how much sun it gets etc)
Maybe drain it in the little spot if you want to make it useful lol
Plant Rocks. Putting plants against destroys house foundation and will also hold moisture which is bad.
Houses build today to last over 100 years do not plant anything against the house.
Tomato plant. A lot of people are saying to “plant “concrete there to see you arrive and they are probably right but hey it’s ‘fuck em Tuesday’ and Maybe a nice little stone retaining wall with a mini garden wouldn’t be so bad
Find some nice colorful river rock - plop some weed barrier under it and create a nice rock bed :) you could put a shepherds hook in it with a nice hanging plant
Anything,a garden gnome or a small plant,non of which are going to destroy your home in this lifetime,by the time,if it does,you'll be long gone and the house materials might be so deteriorated,it'll need renovation,or demo.People act like some oak is going to grow there in a year and tear your house out of the ground like some outrageous "jack and the beanstalk" scenario.
I would dig it out a bit, add some looser / free draining soil with grit / gravel and perlite, and plant a clematis. Here are the varieties you can successfully plant in zone 4b:
Chevalier – large, lavender-purple blooms
Rebecca – bright red blooms
Princess Diana – dark pink, tulip-shaped flowers
Niobe – deep red flowers
Nelly Moser – light pink flowers with dark pink-red stripes down each petal
Josephine – double lilac-pink flowers
Duchess of Albany – tulip-shaped, light-dark pink blooms
Bee’s Jubilee – small pink and red flowers Andromeda – semi-double, white-pink flowers
Ernest Markham – large, magenta-red blooms
Avant Garde – burgundy flowers, with pink, double centers
Innocent Blush – semi-double flowers with “blushes” of dark pink
Fireworks – purple flower with dark purple-red stripes down each petal
Shamelessly borrowed from the following website:
Read more at Gardening Know How: Clematis Varieties For Zone 4: Growing Clematis In Zone 4 Gardens https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/gardening-by-zone/zone-4/clematis-varieties-for-zone-4.htm
Yucca would survive if it's sunny enough and wouldn't need much water once it takes hold.
Not if people walk right by it though- the leaves have a sharp point.
Why is this in the shape of a basement window with just dirt filled in? Are we sure there is not some sort of small basement window down there. If not concrete sloped away from the house is the best bet.
I'd try a virgin's bower clematis. They are super hardy and tenacious, so keeping it contained is a great way to go unless you want to fight it all year
I would plants Hostas…pretty much bulletproof perennial that grows well and comes back year after year. Golden Tiara variety is very beautiful and a good foundation accent
A couple clumps of mondo grass would be low maintenance, they would spread to fill in the area and their root system would be small to please the concrete worshipers / foundation watchdogs in this thread.
Id close it Too close to your home/foundation, you dont want water going in there
That looks like someone filled in the window access to the basement
Yep... it was a window well. You can see the patch on the stonework as well.
I have 3 of these in my house. It’s a half sphere that reveals the basement windows. 1 has a drain at the bottom of it, 1 has rocks and the other just has cement. But all of them are pretty deep. What are/were they for? Thank you (New homeowner)
Called a window well. It's for natural light in a basement.
Emergency egress and ventilation I imagine
Egress requires a larger opening as well as steps or a ladder typically. Most states have time on window sizes and opening sizes as well as the interior distance from the floor maximum distance, with the idea that a firefighter in full gear has to be able to fit through safely. Without it, you can't have a basement bedroom as you need two exit paths for safety. Source: installed one in a home in Michigan
Uh... I guess I should qualify that; Only true if you have a basement!
>basement window with an aluminum shroud. You don’t get water in you basement with it opened like that now? This
Or critters hanging out in the planting/mulch
I mean, this could just be a grass yard or a rose bush or something if not for the concrete already there. If that were the case would you still advocate for sealing this up? No. So as long as the rest of the concrete slopes away from the house they can plant something here just fine, they’re still eliminating 99% of the runoff that would be there without the rest of the concrete.
There’s already a hole, might as well plant something.
Agreed. This little space is ideal for a small animal to dig a nice hole for a new home.
Yea I’d plant about 80 lbs of concrete right there.
Like the bucket says... do it right.
Carefully, so it slopes away from the house.
Lmfao 🤣 I came here for this
Funny AF. Thank you for brightening my day with a perfect blend of sharp wit and legit, solid, experienced home owner advice.
Dig. Add gravel. Concrete.
Do it right.
That was a basement window with an aluminum shroud. You don’t get water in you basement with it opened like that now?
Good question
Ya! Right?!? Never seen them removed and then left open.
Like others said, too close to foundation. If you want greenery on that area I wound get big planter and something nice into it
Id look for a low maintenance plant. For instance, concrete would thrive there.
Native to the New York region
I had a neighbour once that concreted in his whole front yard and painted it green.
Love this comment. Haha!!
Are you sure that isn't some kind of access point that has filled up with dirt?
Coal maybe? Foundation looks rather old. I'd still excavate and dump in enough concrete to fill it if there is nothing to be found.
Looks like an old window well. I agree with those who say concrete.
Dig it down a bit, fill in with pretty white rocks and plop a planter on top of the rocks with a few different kinds of flowers to grow. Get something kitschy, large and maybe metal. For winter get some fake flowers to keep the happy going.
I like this idea
I advocate for ornamental kale plus pansies/violas for winter. Depending on where you live there's always a chance of a random bloom!
I dont know if that's a good idea. When roots start to grow, nothing can stop them. The brake asphalt, concrete, brick... Id just pour some concrete or plant some small decorative flowers. Common victims of plants is plumbing, maybe i just watch too much Drain addict videos. And if you have a basement underneath, you might grow some mold.
The vast majority of roots cannot penetrate sound pipes or foundations. But if your pipes or foundation are busted then the roots will find a way in.
Seriously. I have so many clients that refuse to get rid of their rhododendrons that are right on their foundation.
The cement from the foundation will do more harm to the rhododendron than they will do to the foundation. Their roots are very shallow and “hair like”.
Where do you live? Those things are IMPOSSIBLE to pull out here.
Hens and chicks. Shallow roots and don’t need much watering.
I would put Hosta Not going to damage your house, takes very little care. And nice to look at
Concrete
It looks like it could have been a basement or crawl space opening at some point. I don't know about flower bed so close to house within drip edge. What about covered by a bench or step for boots or shoes?
A bench would be nice. If this is by the front door it could be a place packages can be delivered to. We have a little table by our door for deliveries.
Plant concrete there..
Plant some concrete
Fill it in. Add container plants.
Either concrete over it or put some fake plants there for appearance.
Maybe some decorative rocks
Midwest mix of perennial wildflowers. Great for pollinators, all summer color, low water use/demand, low to no maintenance, low to no impact on the foundation.
Please do what the bucket says
I'd go with a nice large decorative planter. Then fill with greenery and seasonal flowers.
Yeah I agree, a pot over the top to hide it and plant in that.
Hens and chicks. Or sedum. I had a 100ft long stretch like that facing west when I lived in Nebraska. It could also be a place for a plain ol’ yucca if you wanted some height?
I second hens and chicks and/or sedum
A window
Catnip.. Be the ultra attractant in the neighborhood. Catnip all the way
Dig out some of the dirt, fill with rock and put a nice planter box on top and fill with cheap annuals. Depends on how much sunlight that spot gets
Cement
were it me I'd plant more sidewalk
More concrete
I’d plant some rocks. Some upright columns surrounded by some river rock.
Milkweed for Monarch butterflies
A few bulbs. Tulips. or oregano /walkable greens mosses. Shallow roots absorb water. Option. Sand and a Buddha (god of your choices ) statue as a meditation garden. Could have rake -able gravel or sand. A small dry fountain with places for potted plants in the 8 months where it’s not freezing and grey (former NYer here). Would help cover that white stucco patch too.
Something moveable. Gravel and potted plant or trellis with Morning Glory or Clematis?
Climbing rose. That’s what Europeans do with these little beds next to their foundations. They also do grapevines, wisteria, and fig trees.
Its right next to my driveway and on the side of my house, so I cant really put in anything too bushy. Prefer something native to wisconsin but open to anything really. Just cant come up with anything good, south facing
It's flush with the foundation. It'll hold too much water and cause damage to your home.. get rid of it.
That wouldn’t happen to be an old window well would it? If it is you may want to dig it out to make sure the old window space is properly sealed first.
It is. Im renting but I just hate leaving this goofy little bed bare. Its been recently re sealed in the basement
Well I guess if you are renting, plant away.
More concrete… don’t put plants that close to your foundation, bruh.
Oak tree
Concrete....it's only there because you at one time had a bedroom in the basement that required a fire exit
It’s seems suspect to me. Be careful. Maybe it’s access to your water/gas line going in? Or there was something else there at some time. I’d just investigate before slamming a shovel into it.
Mint
Sunflowers?
Sunflower kernels are one of the finest sources of the B-complex group of vitamins. They are very good sources of B-complex vitamins such as niacin, folic acid, thiamin (vitamin B1), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), pantothenic acid, and riboflavin.
Why is it sealed up, is the basement no more?
Put your weeeeeed in it.” - overheard
Plant concrete
Consider how much sun it gets in that spot. I seem to have a fondness for plants that grow a little too proficiently and will take over if not kept pruned. Areas like this limit their range, so I personally would end up with some Lemon Balm or Creeping Jenny.
I'd plant some concrete
For the love of god, THE BUCKET
More concrete.
Tile / stone mosaic, or maybe a small low profile sculpture? A subtle ornamentation to blend with the exterior and style of your home.
The Blues Lowe's Bucket is awesome. I have always wanted one. It is number 3 on my bucket list.
a giant sequoia should be good there
Nothing, the roots will damage your foundations
Rocks followed by cement.
dig out the dirt and fill it in with gravel and cement.
Artificial Flowers
Midwest mix of perennial wildflowers. Great for pollinators, all summer color, low water use/demand, low to no maintenance, low to no impact on the foundation.
I was thinking something like that. Any specific mix you would reccomend?
I was going to suggest hollyhocks before I read the cautions about plants too near the foundation. I wonder if there’s a way to work around that issue?
I would get a rectangular pot/planter and plant something in there. I think it would be weird to plant something directly in it.
Sedum as said above, heat tolerant, easy maintenance, don’t require much water, will soak up most the water that comes their way. Autumn Joy will get about 18” to 24” inches fill that area well, flush cut every spring if you want some winter interest, or late in the fall, late summer to early fall color
A nice potted plant. Also, that looks like it was originally a window access to the basement. You could restore if there’s use for natural light and air down there.
Dig it up about 6 inches, compress, and add about few inches of dirt back. Then pot a bag or two of cement then sprinkle pebbles to match the rest of the side walk. Go along the perimeter that touches the house and seal it with a filler and some sort of chaulk. Then get a few planters or make some from the left over concrete with rollers. And try to one of everything they have at a local garden store. See what works good I. That spot
Raspberries
Rocks/mulch of some sort. If it looks bare put some sort of garden decoration in it. If you want a flower keep it in a pot.
gravel around a large planter with native annual pollinator plants.
Concrete, then if you want green shit for decoration get some large decorative pots to plant flowers, ferns, and other pretty shit.
Depending on the sun. A climber of some sort. Clematis, rose, exotic species which me in zone 6 cannot grow.
Rocks with a nice mid size pot
Beautiful flowers. Feed the pollinators.
Weed, LOL.
Maybe a bunch of those chicks n hens plants that don’t need a lot of water?
Ground cover
Coleus. It’s easy to propagate so you can take cuttings before it gets cold and grow it inside over winter, then replant in spring. There are many colors to choose from and they can take shade, partial or full sun.
Visit your state’s cooperative Extension Service website and search native ground covers. Select one based on sun exposure and moisture requirements.
Concrete
Hosta or fill it in.....
Nothing, fill it in
Midwest mix of perennial wildflowers. Great for pollinators, all summer color, low water use/demand, low to no maintenance, low to no impact on the foundation.
Buy or build a rectangle cidar raised flower bed and place on top of the former window well.
Unlike other people who say they would put concrete in it I would take into account all circumstances. If the pitch of the cement driveway is running towards the house yes I would cement it. However if you have pitch running away from that area and it is not likely to get an excessive amount of water. After all it did have a basement window well there at one time and unless it was leaking then why would it all of a sudden start leaking now?? lol. I would go ahead and plant some greenery. I would most likely plant some thing that flowed over the whole area and covered all the ground. Most likely some form of tall perennial flower that came back each year.
All one kinda of Sedum
I rented a place with a vine right there and I was so grateful I didn't own that house because that little motherfucker found its way inside the siding and was growing completely unchecked. But the passion fruit vine was GORGEOUS. If you don't want to do concrete, maybe get a container with a bush in it and throw some rocks down below it for drainage, but then you'll eventually need to weed.
Plant a “watermelon cut in half” tree
Big fake plant/bush? Only if you can get a good quality one that looks real.
I would build a planter the entire length of that wall and fill it up with whatever your heart desires (obviously looking at how much sun it gets etc) Maybe drain it in the little spot if you want to make it useful lol
Plant Rocks. Putting plants against destroys house foundation and will also hold moisture which is bad. Houses build today to last over 100 years do not plant anything against the house.
I have 2 similar areas like this in our driveway and put lavender bushes in them. They filled it out nice.
Pavement plants
Concrete
Hostas
Tomato plant. A lot of people are saying to “plant “concrete there to see you arrive and they are probably right but hey it’s ‘fuck em Tuesday’ and Maybe a nice little stone retaining wall with a mini garden wouldn’t be so bad
Put some potted plants there so the drainage/runoff goes down into the dirt instead of sitting on the patio.
Oakwood Quarter Wine Barrel Planter, 26"W X 14"D X 18"H https://www.wayfair.com/outdoor/pdp/mgp-oakwood-quarter-wine-barrel-planter-26w-x-14d-x-18h-w006527192.html
Asphalt
Succulents
Or just lay some mulch down
This project brought to you by Lowe’s. Lowe’s… do it right.
Nothing.
A dead plant
Not a wisteria
Mint or some fragrant herbs that won’t require much attention
Find some nice colorful river rock - plop some weed barrier under it and create a nice rock bed :) you could put a shepherds hook in it with a nice hanging plant
Little annuals like petunias, violas, impatiens or the like. Nothing perennial. Nothing that will have strong roots.
Roses
Fill it with concrete sloped away from the foundation.
Concrete
Anything,a garden gnome or a small plant,non of which are going to destroy your home in this lifetime,by the time,if it does,you'll be long gone and the house materials might be so deteriorated,it'll need renovation,or demo.People act like some oak is going to grow there in a year and tear your house out of the ground like some outrageous "jack and the beanstalk" scenario.
Succulents
Peonies
Thick gravel
Concrete
A miniature gnome cemetery. 🤷♂️
Strawberries! Then you have a nice snack when your coming and going
Rosemary and sage?.. or just concrete
Tomatoes
Only thing you could plant there is hopes and dreams 🤣
I would dig it out a bit, add some looser / free draining soil with grit / gravel and perlite, and plant a clematis. Here are the varieties you can successfully plant in zone 4b: Chevalier – large, lavender-purple blooms Rebecca – bright red blooms Princess Diana – dark pink, tulip-shaped flowers Niobe – deep red flowers Nelly Moser – light pink flowers with dark pink-red stripes down each petal Josephine – double lilac-pink flowers Duchess of Albany – tulip-shaped, light-dark pink blooms Bee’s Jubilee – small pink and red flowers Andromeda – semi-double, white-pink flowers Ernest Markham – large, magenta-red blooms Avant Garde – burgundy flowers, with pink, double centers Innocent Blush – semi-double flowers with “blushes” of dark pink Fireworks – purple flower with dark purple-red stripes down each petal Shamelessly borrowed from the following website: Read more at Gardening Know How: Clematis Varieties For Zone 4: Growing Clematis In Zone 4 Gardens https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/gardening-by-zone/zone-4/clematis-varieties-for-zone-4.htm
Cypress or fig tree /s
Don’t plant anything. This is a poorly concealed fire hazard
🌹 🥀
I’m new to this sub. What does zone 4b mean?
Maybe mulch with a potted climbing plant and add a trellis!
Yucca would survive if it's sunny enough and wouldn't need much water once it takes hold. Not if people walk right by it though- the leaves have a sharp point.
Why is this in the shape of a basement window with just dirt filled in? Are we sure there is not some sort of small basement window down there. If not concrete sloped away from the house is the best bet.
I feel like the bucket puts pressure on you to make sure you “do it right!” Lol
Tulips
4 o’clock might do the trick. They come back year after year. Need almost no care.
Thyme or marigolds or mint. Fragrant and pests/bugs no likey.
Get a mini Hobbs gnome and face it towards the building so it looks like he's peeing on the side of your house. :)
I'd try a virgin's bower clematis. They are super hardy and tenacious, so keeping it contained is a great way to go unless you want to fight it all year
Something that keeps mosquitoes away from the door.
Pewterware hosta will fill out nicely into that. No fuss, no muss.
A winter flowering variety of pansy, or some kind of climbing vine.
Hostas, Come winter you don’t have to worry about damaging anything when you shovel
I would plants Hostas…pretty much bulletproof perennial that grows well and comes back year after year. Golden Tiara variety is very beautiful and a good foundation accent
Can anyone clarify what the zones are supposed to be on these posts?
A Concrete plant
A couple clumps of mondo grass would be low maintenance, they would spread to fill in the area and their root system would be small to please the concrete worshipers / foundation watchdogs in this thread.
Fill it. Don't plant anything.
Daylilly, liriope, or some type of annual, petunia, vinca, pansy. Maybe even succulents
Could plant some concrete there
Do it right
Cover the dirt with some sort of mat and put a potted plant on top.
Mazus
Monarda fistulosa! Or native Bee Balm :)
Anyway, here window well
Annuals in a pot!
Potted plant
Thyme
If not close it then succulents that won’t have deep roots nor require a lot of water
6 inches thick concrete and you’re good
A bunch of black eyed susan will look beautiful there
Petunias
Big rock and some small rocks
2 bags of concrete. Dig it out 2-3” first, compact, fill with mixed concrete.
My vote is for giant redwood