It is important to know how much sun or shade you get in these areas. Without that it is hard to offer landscaping ideas, since some take sun, some take the shade, and others will take a little of both.
Do you get at least four hours of sun all together throughout the day? Or is it very shady? Plants that do well in the sun need that four hour minimum.
Susan
Apr 01, 2008 Rating
Landscaping Ideas For Front of Home by: Anonymous
What are some low maintenance shrubs or other plants that I can use for the front of my house? I just had some very big bushes removed that were almost covering my front windows and I would like something that would stay small. I don't want to have to do a lot of trimming.
Nov 09, 2007 Rating
Front Foundation Evergreen Shrubs by: Susan
Hi Gwen,
I am assuming you don't want the plants to get to be to tall. The following plants will grow in sunny conditions and are evergreen, so they won't lose there leaves in the winter and you will have greenery.
Blue Holly 'China Girl' will grow to be about four to five feet. It might be a little tall for your front foundation planting, depending on how high your windows are. You can always trim it slightly. I like it because it has pretty foliage and gets great red berries in the Fall. Another good choice wood be Boxwood 'Green Velvet'. This is a low maintenance evergreen shrub and will get to be about three feet tall. If you need something lower, Japanese Plum Yew is a nice selection, getting to about two feet. This plant is soft and looser than the Boxwood. Nandina 'Harbor Dwarf' is another low plant and it's narrow. It also gets Fall berries.
If you decide to create more depth and add lower plants in front of any of the above plants, you might consider adding Procumbens Juniper. This will take dry conditions. The herb, Thyme, comes in many varieties and they are all interesting. Thyme is fragrant and drought tolerant. Cotoneaster is another low growing plant. It has an open and loose form, producing Fall berries.
