Tiered Front Yard Landscape Ideas

Sloping Tiers

• Design a soft sloping tier across the front lawn using plants of a similar height. One idea is to create a pattern with the plants you choose. For instance, choose a type of decorative grass and make rows with it across the allotted space. Plant your choice of flowers in between each row of grass. Colorful red, yellow and orange versions of astilbe paired wildflowers, dahlias and violets work well for this style of planting. Or, plant spaces alternately with flowers and grasses to create a checkerboard effect.

Step Tiers

• Create step tiers with wide wooden boxes placed on either side of stairs leading to the front sidewalk. Plant a rainbow of different colors in each box. Use some of the tiers for perrenials and some for annuals to ensure you won't have to replant the entire garden each year, but you will still be able to change out certain boxes for whatever appeals to you. Perennials such as hostas, roses, peonies, daylilies and coneflowers work well with annuals like geraniums for a colorful flower garden.

Retaining Wall Tiers

• Tiers developed with a retaining wall allow you to create separate plant groupings. One idea is to create a landscape of greenery. Choose a range of grasses, shrubs and plants in different hues of green. Plants like hostas and ferns pair well with shrubs like dogwood and boxwood, both of which come in variegated varieties. Add a pop of color to the green garden by planting one type of colorful flower. Whether you choose a fuchsia peony or vibrant orange lilies, choices are available to add a punch of color.

Plant Tiers

• Create the appearance of tiers using plants of different heights to form distinct tiers. Determine how much front yard space you wish to landscape with a tiered look. This will give you an idea of how many levels you will need to build. Begin with the tallest plants, shrubs or bushes for the backdrop. Flowers like hollyhock or delphinium are quite tall and will do well at the back. Use a variety of mid-range height plants to fill out the middle levels. Finish with low, flowering plants such as lobelia and petunia for the lowest level.