Creative Front Yard Landscaping Tips
Landscape designs created for front yards generally focus on a whole different set of needs than designs created for backyards. Front yards are most always the main entry for the home so front yard landscapes are usually designed for entry and access. Also, being the first thing that folks see when they visit or pass by your house, the front yard landscape usually gives them a first impression of your home as well as your landscaping. Front yards are where everyone enters and leaves the home, though most people don’t usually spend a lot of time there. In many applications, the front yard can get most if not all of its design by designating the necessary entries, walkways, driveways, and other access points and then simply creating the rest of the design around all of these elements.
The way you plant in the front yard most often depends on placement, shape, and other aspects of your home. It’s important that all the elements in the landscaping, which includes the plants, complement the home. Trees and shrubs have the ability to create unity between the house and its surrounding by helping the building seem more a natural part of the landscape and softening the hard lines.
There are two areas that need special consideration when you’re creating your landscape design plans – the corners of the house and the entryway door. Basically, the door is the focal point of the house and it often good practice to place short plantings on either side of it. For the corners however, tall plants are a great choice since they help soften the corners as well as lead the eye toward the front door and the plants surrounding it.
A few trees in the right locations is good in landscaping ideas for front yards also because trees are one of the few elements large enough to proportionately frame the home. They can be used to place visual interest on the home making it the most outstanding feature in the landscape. As a basic rule, it’s good practice to plant trees with a mature size that is in proportion with the scale of the home. Shade trees should have a mature height that will help keep the home cool but not so tall that they will end up dwarfing and overpowering the house. On the other side of the coin, planting shorter trees can make the house appear taller and possibly out of proportion as well.
Become familiar with different tree shapes and plant those that can match the closest with the design of the house. Houses with steep roof lines and dormer windows will normally call for pyramid shaped trees like birch and spruce. For the low lines of a ranch type dwelling, trees that are horizontal or round formed, like maples and dogwoods, are great choices.
Aside from the other plants and trees, an open lawn area is also important in most landscape design styles as it can create a good setting for the house. A lawn on the front yard with uncluttered flower beds, shrubs and ornaments can create the illusion of extra space. When planting shrubs, keep in mind that they may seem to be out of place if not planted in designated planting and flower beds.
As with all successful landscape designs, beautiful front yard landscaping ideas start with the design. Whether your plan is to do the entire landscaping project all at once or in steps, a finished design is necessary to keep the project on track. Without directions, you’ll most likely end up with a patch work landscape. Take the time to think about all we’ve learned in this tutorial and draw your plan first.
Front yard landscapes often place the main focus on creating an inviting entry while also accenting the view of the home. And coming up with a perfect design plan can be as simple as designating the necessary entry and parking areas and then creating the planting schemes around them.
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