Front Yard Landscaping Ideas

Professional Front Yard Landscaping Ideas

It may seem difficult to come up with a front yard landscape design.You will find that I discuss some of these front yard landscaping ideas on other pages of this site. However, here I have tried to put many ideas and tips together for you to consider on your own project.

The front yard presents to the world your home, your landscaping and a bit about you. It is the one people see as they walk and drive by. It is the one you see each and every day. Your front yard garden design also presents itself to your family and guests.

It can have many looks. It might be welcoming and friendly. Your front yard garden design may have a formality to it. Or it might very natural looking, blending with the natural settings around it.

The lines may be straight or curvilinear.

There are so many front yard landscaping ideas to consider and so many areas to think about.

And all of these areas, without a doubt, should blend well with your home, its style and its architecture.

Click here to go to the new Landscape Design Questions & Answers section!.

Driveway

The shape of the driveway, its design and the driveway paving are all considerations. Driveway paving may be loose stone and rustic or it might be a more rigid surface. You can go with the simplicity and less expensive choice of asphalt for a firm driveway. Your front yard landscaping ideas may include driveway pavers, either for the entire surface, or just in specific areas as design elements. It might consist of brick paver designs and patterns, granite, travertine pavers, or other stone. It may have driveway edging as a necessity to keep loose stone in check, or it might have a decorative border, such as belgian block (granite blocks).

Walkway Designs

You can read more about walkway designs here.

Planting Design

The plantings up against your house, or the foundation plantings, should be considered carefully. I think this an area that many people have problems with. That is because to attain a very good knowledge of trees, shrubs, perennials, and vines takes much time and effort.

To create a planting design that works, you need both design and plant knowledge.There are a few wonderful plant reference books that I would highly recommend.

Please visit my page garden design book if you are looking for one.

If you understand a few basic concepts of design it will help narrow down your plant choices. Here are some front yard landscaping ideas and concepts that you can use:

When selecting plants for the back layer of foundation planting, only select plants where their mature height is what you ultimately want. Do not choose plants that will grow in height above your windows. Try to select shrubs that are evergreen which means they will keep their leaves in the winter.

If you have deer, select deer resistant plants. Consider your sun and shade conditions and select plants for the appropriate condition. This is also true for your zone. Look up what zone you reside in and remember it. Plant in groups of three to five at a minimum.

If your planting bed is deep (and it is nice if it is) think about the plants as being layered in rows. The taller plants should be in the back with the lower ones towards the front. Pay special attention to the mature plant size! It is hard to imagine that the lovely small plant you see in the garden center can actually grow to seven feet tall!

As you layer, think about using plants with different textures. For example, a Daylily with its long leaves compliments Boxwood, which have numerous small leaves. This is a good way to approach a front yard design.

I have written a new ebook on Designing With Evergreen Shrubs. Please take a look as it is extremely informative, with lots of professional ideas, plant recommendations and pictures.

Seasonal Color & Front Yard Landscape Designs

Color throughout the season is something that is very nice to have, even in the front yard. Most people think of flowers for color. However, shrubs and trees can add to the color in your landscape also.

Perhaps the bark of a tree is eye-catching. Or a tree might have a wonderful red leaf color. Plants can also produce red berries which are very showy. Some produce blue berries!

Regarding perennials, just know that they die down and do not look very attractive in the winter. However, if you have enough shrubbery and trees in the landscape, this will not be so terrible. Select perennials that bloom in each of the seasons, including bulbs for early and mid Spring color, summer perennials and annuals, and Fall blooming plants.Please visit my page on flower garden design. to learn more about different types of flowering plants that can be used.

1. Add plantings at the beginning and along your walkway. A tree at each end adds scale to the design.
2. Depending on the layout and size of your land, you might consider a planting bed in the lawn. This works well when it is connected to side beds or woods so that everything flows well together.
3. Don't be afraid to give your front yard landscaping design a Cottage garden design or English garden design look with lots and lots of perennials. Some are quite low maintenance and create a great look, such as Maiden Grass.
4. Add some garden ornaments. It might be a sculpture which either is prominent or is tucked away in a bed, only viewable as you walk past it.
5. Arbors are something nice to consider as an entrance to the backyard, but seen from the front. Place fencing or plantings on either side and anchor these to the house or another building.

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