How to Cover a Stone Foundation

Cover the stones with an exterior paint to blend the foundation with the rest of the exterior of the house. Use painter’s tape to cover the bottom of the house and surrounding landscaping with plastic to prevent paint stains. Apply a coat of paint primer with a spray pump to help the paint adhere to the stones. Once the primer sets, use the pump to apply a matching or complementary paint color.

Conceal the stones by planting hedges that mature taller than the height of the foundation. Choose thick evergreen hedges such as dense boxwoods or gray dogwoods for year-round color. Plant a border of low-growing flowers such as geraniums for a burst of color in front of the hedges.

Install low wooden trellises in front of the foundation. Plant climbing vine seedlings at the base of the trellis to add natural textures and growth that changes with the seasons. Sweet peas are fast-growing vines that produce purple flowers each year. English ivy is another option that’s slower growing but offers a charming, classic touch once the vines develop.

Add taller plants or trees to the corners to soften the angles of the home. Consider English oak for a more formal Colonial home or crabapple for a country cottage. Choose a location for the tree that accommodates the size to which the tree will grow.