Porch Side Landscaping Ideas

Plants

• There are a wide variety of plants you may choose to use for your own porch side landscaping project. If you are the type of person who enjoys gardening, your options are practically unlimited. However, if you don't have the time or the inclination to work in a garden, there are a variety of plants and shrubbery which require very little care and maintenance. When choosing the best plants for your yard, you should also consider the amount of sunlight required by each variety. Use the National Gardening Association's plant finder to choose the plants that will work best for your individual needs.

Water

• Water gardens are a popular landscaping option which may be integrated into your porch side landscaping. One way to do this is to start with a small water garden in a container and build the rest of your landscaping around this. Your water garden may be an above-ground container, or you may choose to place it in-ground. A variety of rocks, water plants and fish may be added as well.

Lighting

• Once you've put in all of that work to plan and put together your porch side landscaping ideas, you will want to show it off, both day and night. There are many ways to light up your landscape to show it off at night, so consider your options carefully. Landscape lighting can be powered by electricity or by solar power. Choose an area you would like to highlight, and then determine the best placement for your lighting. In some cases, this will mean placing lights in the ground facing up, while in other cases, you may choose to hang your lights from the porch, facing down.

Practical Concerns

• Porch side landscaping can have a practical as well as aesthetic use. For example, you may choose to plan your landscaping with the purpose of blocking noise or wind from your porch. Fully lit landscapes have also been proven to lower the risk of your home being burglarized or vandalized. Additionally, accidents are less likely to occur in a fully lit yard.