Landscaping an Entry & Foundation

Determine Design Criteria

• In designing landscaping for the entryway and foundation, attempt to match the aesthetic style with that of the house and consider the functional requirements dictated by the space itself -- slope, sun exposure, and existing vegetation, to name a few. Think of the practical ramifications of how the space will be used. Will there be children and pets playing inside a fenced yard in front of the house? Or, is curb appeal the main priority? In other cases, a desire for plantings that provide shade, cut flowers, fresh herbs or a habitat for butterflies and hummingbirds may dictate the design approach.

Choose Foundation Plantings

• Foundation plantings are used to soften the angular transition from the vertical walls of a house to the horizontal plane of the landscape. They can double as a screen for utilitarian components of the landscape, such as the gas and electricity meter or trash and recycling cans. Compact evergreen shrubs are commonly employed in foundation plantings, but they must be chosen according to the sun exposure and soil type of the site. These can be maintained as a formal, sheared hedge or allowed to grow in their natural shape, reducing the maintenance required. Choose the species based on their mature height, so they do not outgrow the space and obscure the windows or other features of the house. For foundation plantings in sunny locations, Fraser photinia (Photinia fraseri) is a widely adapted evergreen shrub for U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7b to 9b. For a shady location, try one of the many varieties of Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica), which is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9. For part shade, big leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is a good option in USDA zones 6 to 9.

Design the Front Walkway

• The form of the path between the front door and the street or driveway is often the single most defining feature of the front yard landscape, as it generally divides the yard in two and draws the eye towards the entrance of the house. The first design decision is whether to use a path with exclusively right angles and straight lines or one with curves. If the facade of the house is symmetrical and the front door is in the center, a straight path running perpendicular from the street to the door is a fitting choice. If fluid shapes and asymmetry define the space, a broad sweeping curve can be an elegant form for a path to the front door. A straight, symmetrical path can be accentuated by formal-looking plants, such as a dwarf variety of littleleaf boxwood (Buxus microphylla). For a less formal path, such as flagstone, try planting a fragrant ground cover like creeping thyme (Thymus spp.) in between or along the edges of the stones. These species are hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9 and 5 to 9, respectively.

Fill Out the Landscape

• Ornamental plantings and landscape features can fill in the space defined by the path between the driveway and the front door and the foundation plantings. Plant a bed of annual flowers along the path with taller perennials as a backdrop. Placing a focal point -- such as a small ornamental tree, birdbath or statuary -- near the middle of the planting area provides a visual anchor. Use annuals, such zinnias (Zinnia elegans), pansies (Viola wittrockiana) or cleome (Cleome hassleriana) for seasonal color. Perennial flowers that could be incorporated in the planting include Japanese anemone (Anemone hybrida), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) or lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis). These are hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8, 3 to 9 and 4 to 9, respectively. Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) or the "Forest Pansy" redbud (Cercis canadensis "Forest Pansy") are good examples of small flowering trees to compliment the planting. They are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9 and 4 to 9, respectively.