Landscaping Entryways And Access Areas
Your home’s entrances should provide easy access through your yard and landscape. First impressions count for a lot, so aesthetic appeal surrounding your landscaping ideas and entryways is important. It is easiest to begin with the highest traffic access area: how you will reach your home from your driveway. Next, assess the paths and walkways to and from all access areas of your home. The plantings that surround these spots should lead a persons eye towards your entries or exits. If you have a side entrance that you use as often or more than your front door, consider those areas as well. Colorful blooms, walkways, foundation beds, and outdoor lighting may be used.
To create some height with plantings, start by building up towards your house. Start plantings low and then increase the height of your plants as they get closer to the house. This will help direct attention to your entryway. Use caution here as any garden beds bordering a walk or path can distract from your entrance. Try to think of the beginning of your path or sidewalk as a starting point leading as an opening directing you towards your door.
Your entryway should be inviting as well as safe. If your neighborhood is poorly lit, some good lighting and moderate visibility can help ensure your safety at night when walking to or from your parking area. If your home has any type of utility room, mudroom, laundry room, or outdoor kitchen that matches up to your front or rear entrance, plan for something that’s easy to look at as well as functional for traffic flow. Â
So what is the best way to guide visitors through your access and entry areas? Most professional landscaping companies basically follow a simple pattern here. Walks, hedges, borders, edging, fences, trellises, screens, and railings are all good ideas. Add a planter to frame and highlight entry to certain areas. Raised beds, screens, and fences can also be useful for masking places that are more utility based from sight.
When planting to define and accent access and entry areas, space them with the mature size and spread of the plants in mind. This is often an overlooked consideration in landscaping plans. As your walkways will usually lead to or near your house, plants should be placed far enough from your foundation so that you can maintain both the plants and the house. Plants should be spaced far enough from your house and outbuildings so that you will be able to tend to them once they have reached full size. Over time, hedges and larger shrubs can create a natural screen while fences create an immediate boundary.
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Tags: entryways, landscape entry, landscaping entry, landscaping ideas