Golden Euonymus under a window? No.

Spring in Oregon City is here, and you know what that means: it’s time to take a good hard look at your yard and have the talk with your overgrown shrubs. You know the ones I mean. The ones that started out so cute and tiny, like a baby Labradoodle, and now seven years later, they’ve morphed into the landscaping equivalent of Clifford the Big Red Dog. Only... less charming and more leaf-droppy.

Let’s talk curb appeal, low-maintenance landscaping, and what I now like to call the “Proportion Predicament.”Because this? This is what I wish I knew before planting my flower beds.

The Golden Euonymus Fiasco (A Cautionary Tale)

Once upon a time, in 2016, we planted Golden Euonymus ‘Aureomarginatus’ in the flower beds in front of our home. At the time, they were adorable. Their bright yellow-and-green leaves played nicely with our sunny yellow front door and the cool gray paint of the house. A match made in curb appeal heaven, right?

Wrong. Fast forward to 2024 and these shrubs wanted to GROW, GROW, GROW not caring that our dining room windows are right there, trying to allow in all the natural light possible.

Also they’re messy. I mean seriously messy. The Golden Euonymus sheds leaves constantly and looks unkempt a few hours after you clean up under them (again.) And who has time to be outside raking under plants every weekend? Not me. Not you. Not any homeowner who values their Saturday sanity. Here's a "Before" and "After"

Golden Euonymus (left) are messy.

Why Proportion Is the Unsung Hero of Great Landscaping

Here’s the kicker: when I bought these plants, they were the right size. Perfectly proportioned. I measured (kind of). They fit (at the time). I was naieve. But just like puppies and teenagers, plants grow. And sometimes, they grow a lot more than you expect them to.

So please, for the love of your future curb appeal and your present weekend schedule, note the plant’s full-grown size on the tag and take it seriously. Ask questions. Take photos. Hold up a ruler if you must. Your future self will thank you.

Rehoming: Because Every Plant Deserves a Second Chance

Our unruly Euonymus gang has now been re-homed to a Home Space and Reason podcast listener with a WAY bigger yard and no windows to smother. We dug them up, gently transported them, and gave them a new lease on life—along a fence where they can stretch out and thrive. And we did it all between rain showers because: Oregon.

Let me tell you, removing those shrubs immediately created a neater, cleaner look from the street. A+ curb appeal upgrade. Boom.

What’s Next? Tulips and a Bird Bath. Definitely Less Maintenance.

Now that the flower bed is cleared out, I moved a Joe Kozey from the backyard (that wasn't happy in his spot either.) He'll be tall and skinny eventually. I got a new Summer Ice Daphne for a nice smell under the window. (Max height 3-4 ft.) Lastly, I transplanted a round miniature evergreen that had been in a pot for 8 years into the ground to let him grow more. He was getting root bound.

The Takeaway for Oregon City Homeowners

If you’re thinking about selling your home in the next few years (or just not looking to spend your life pruning and raking), curb appeal matters. But so does low-maintenance landscaping. In the Pacific Northwest, especially around Oregon City, the weather is your friend in the form of rain—but your enemy in the form of plants that grow like teenagers on a protein shake diet.

So here’s your realtor-approved checklist:

• ✅ Choose plants that don’t outgrow your space (ever)

• ✅ Keep windows unobstructed for natural light and curb appeal

• ✅ Opt for native or low-maintenance species (bonus points if they’re pollinator-friendly. See my blog post about attracting hummingbirds!)

• ✅ Don’t be afraid to rehome if something’s no longer working

• ✅ Measure first. And for the love of Dolly Pardon, read the tags' maximum plant size when it's fully grown.

Remember, if you ever need help deciding what boosts curb appeal and keeps your weekends free, I’m your girl. I specialize in helping Oregon City homeowners present their homes in the best light—without needing a landscaping crew on retainer.

Let’s create that first impression that has buyers saying, “Ooooh,” not “Oh no.” It always feels good to have the house on the block that everyone thinks is always top notch. That can be you (and me!)

Golden Euonymus can easily be trimmed but that doesn't stop the mess underneath.

More details: The Golden Euonymus scientific name is Euonymus japonicus. They are evergreen and hardy to -10 degrees, growing 4-6' tall x 36' wide. (See why I should not have planted them in front of our window?!)

If you enjoyed this, you might also like my weekly (intentionally short) newsletter called "Little Bits of Home Functionality." You’ll see a video with a tip, or a trick and as always, I pose questions for you to think through about your space and your reasons. {Subscribe HERE.}

I love to geek out on all things house and home. Episode number 25 of the Home Space and Reason Podcast is all about Creating Great Curb Appeal. I will link it below.

Episode 25