Landscaping Ideas for Along Sidewalks Leading to a House

Plants

• Plants add a lush look to the sidewalk's borders. Lining the sidewalk with short shrubs creates visual appeal, and shrubs stand up well if someone steps off the sidewalk or cuts through the landscaping. Flowers are another common option; by lining the sidewalk with flowers, you add color and create a welcoming entrance to the yard. Choose flowers that bloom most of the summer, such as petunias, marigolds and black-eyed Susans.

Fillers

• A filler material covers the dirt to give the landscaped area near your sidewalk a polished look. Mulch is an inexpensive ground cover that also helps hold in moisture and keep away weeds if you grow plants next to your sidewalk. It comes in a variety of colors and materials, so you can customize the look of the ground cover. Apply the mulch a little at a time to avoid putting too much mulch, which can hurt the plants. River rocks or smaller pebbles are other options if you don't want to plant flowers in the area. For example, you can cover the ground with smaller rocks, then arrange larger rocks among them to create a miniature rock garden leading to the home.

Edging

• An edging material along the sidewalk and around the landscaping helps define the space and keep the materials in place. Brick pavers are often used as landscape edging, available in a variety of sizes, colors and styles. Inexpensive plastic edging is another common option. If you don't want any plants or other decorations bordering the sidewalk, a row of taller landscape blocks works well. You can also use a more natural-looking stone or large rocks to line the landscaped area along the sidewalk.

Dressing Up the Ends

• The ends of the sidewalk give you the opportunity to create a landscaping focal point. For example, a lamp post on either side of the walkway at the end nearest the road provides security lighting and dresses up the entrance. An archway or decorative gate also works well at this location. Placing raised planting beds made of retaining-wall bricks or landscaping timbers on either side of the sidewalk entrance is another attractive option. A large flower bed on either side of the walkway, at the end nearest the house, frames the home's entryway. If you don't want to dig up the grass, choose two large flower pots for planting.