A well-designed lawn and landscape welcomes visitors before they enter your home. Features, such as flowers, shrubs, trees, walkways and driveway gardens, contribute to the overall impression of the property. Consider the following tips for creating an inviting landscape:
• Choose a look for your landscape that complements the style of your house. A coastal cottage would be inviting using a crushed shell walkway boarded with low maintenance boxwood or sweet-smelling lavender. A modern home would be welcoming with a hardscape pathway with dwarf mondo grass filling the gaps.
• Every home has areas you'd prefer to keep hidden for more appeal. Ligustrum offers quick-growing, dense coverage ideal for concealing utility zones, while non-spreading bamboo works well for screening fences or providing privacy.
• Consider the senses when designing your landscape. Fragrant flowers planted near the walk add a pleasant aroma, small fountains create the soothing sound of water, and soft lighting creates a warm and inviting ambiance. Benefits of planting basil and rosemary are twofold: they’re not only fragrant, but also repel flies, making them a great choice to place near any entrance of your home.
• Create container gardens at or near your front door. A colorful mixture of plants will attract the eye and clearly lead visitors to your entrance. Combine different colors, textures, and sizes (thriller, filler, and spiller) for a great eye-catching container garden.
• Adding colorful flowers throughout your landscape creates an inviting and attractive landscape. Whether you plant beds of zinnias in the summer, have pots of marigolds and coleus in the fall, have azaleas that bloom in early spring, or have camellia shrubs that bloom in winter, colorful pops of plant material always attract the eye.
• Don’t forget that trees and shrubs grow! Know the growth pattern of the trees and shrubs in your landscape so they do not block the view from windows or hide the front porch or front door as they mature. If you are placing wax myrtle and/or camellia shrubs in planting beds under windows, be aware that these fast growing shrubs and will need to be maintained so they do not overwhelm the area. Likewise, trees located in the front yard need to have the tree skirt lifted so there is a clear view of the landscape, house, and front door.
• Ensure that walkways are not overcrowded and are sufficiently wide to allow two people to walk side by side comfortably. When using a trailing plant like lantana as a border, it is essential to maintain regular pruning to prevent the plants from encroaching onto the path and inconveniencing visitors. Selecting appropriate plants for walkway borders is particularly important if ongoing maintenance may present challenges.
• Consider the entrance of your driveway as an excellent opportunity to establish a welcoming and visually appealing landscape. This serves as the initial point of contact and sets the tone for visitors' first impressions.
Careful landscape planning accentuates your property's strengths while mitigating its limitations, thereby improving overall curb appeal and visual attractiveness. Make your friends, family, and guests feel invited to your home before they even reach your front door!
~Happy Planting!
