Ideas for Flower Beds Along the House

Herb Garden

• Garden beds close to the house provide an ideal location for planting herbs. Mix herbs with brightly colored flowers for an attractive, functional and beautifully scented bit of garden. Herbs just outside your door will be more easily accessible for use in cooking or crafts than those planted in more remote spots. Incorporate flowering herbs to contribute to the color and texture of the bed. Members of the mint family will spread aggressively, creating a robust addition to your flower bed. Coriander will grow about 2 feet tall and if left to flower produces purplish flowers. Lavender is a multi-use herb that you can incorporate into recipes or use as potpourri. The plant will grow up to 3 feet tall with spikes of slender flowers.

Year-Round Color

• Keep your home looking fresh and vibrant with a flower bed planted to produce year-round color. Plant choices depend on your location and winter-hardiness zone. Those in colder climates will need to rely on evergreens to keep beds looking lush. Plant a base of perennials but, to add color when perennial beds fade, incorporate annuals throughout the space. Zinnia adds bright punches of color at a reasonable price tag. Impatiens, verbena and petunia spread well and will add a rainbow of color to your landscape. Do not overlook colorful foliage as another option for adding dimension, texture and color to your flower beds. Try coleus, berry plants and bougainvillea.

Add Lighting

• To highlight not only your foundation gardens but the architecture of your home, install attractive and subtle lighting to your beds. Well lights, which are buried to sit at ground level, are discreet options that will add a touch of illumination without creating a tripping hazard. Solar lights provide a gentle light that can be used to highlight a particular plant or garden feature, such as a statue or birdbath. Lighting in foundation beds also adds a sense of security to your property, keeping outdoor spaces illuminated without being distracting.