Landscaping Ideas for the Fronts of Bay Windows

Keep It Simple

• Options are determined by whether the bay window is on the ground floor or an upper floor, and if the home itself is downtown, near a lake or in the mountains. Work with the existing landscape for optimum results. A lawn trimmed with flower beds, boxwood or herbs may be pleasing enough to some people, but try ground covers in large checkerboard squares or geometric shapes for a distinctive look. Avoid using dozens of trees and shrubs to create a simple landscape focused on one feature, such as a specimen tree or a fountain or pond to gaze out upon.

Enhancing Views

• Frame the distant views if you are lucky enough to have them. Tall cypress trees or a dual line of several flowering cherries on either side of the bay window can help direct the viewer's gaze outward. If you're in an urban setting, add color for seasons, such as bulbs in spring or Japanese maples for autumn -- these should be placed away from the home itself so you can view them easily from the window. Don't hide the window by planting too closely in front of it or covering it with shrubs that will mature to block the views. Trees for shade can be placed well to either side.

Blocking Undesirables

• When your bay window is placed so that the view isn't entirely perfect, you can block certain sections by planting combinations of trees and shrubbery on top of berms (raised ground sections) to hide the particular eyesore or to have more privacy. Plant these at the perimeter of the yard in non-uniform designs. Evergreens are ideal for such uses and serve well as backdrops to flowering deciduous trees that include dogwoods, tulip trees, ornamental plums and others. Check your USDA climate zone for the best choices for your region.

Formal Beauty

• Stand at the edge of your street or yard facing the side of the house with the window. Find the mid-section of the bay itself, and lay out matched opposite plantings to either side. This creates a more formal look, such as those found in palace gardens. Use geometry to lay out lines, angles and types of plants. Matched statuary can also be placed to either side. Maintenance on this type of landscape may be demanding, but it's often quite worth it, especially if you own a grand home that deserves the finest trees, bushes and perennial beds.