Landscape Ideas for Ranch Style Homes With a Picture Window

Preserve the Natural

• According to Old House Online, the ranch-style house is particularly distinguished by its anonymous and ground-hugging facade, with few windows facing the street and a more extensive garden area in the backyard. You can further help your ranch blend in with the natural surroundings with naturalistic forms around the windows. Balance the geometric shapes of the picture window with sprawling or climbing plants instead of neatly trimmed hedges. For color, consider wildflowers or species native to your area, which will bloom easily in the local climate.

Southwestern Style

• The roots of the ranch style are observable in the Spanish-style haciendas that were built extensively in Southern California during the 19th century. You can play up the style's background with plantings that reflect the area. If you live in a warm climate, consider cacti and succulents that thrive in the Southwestern United States. In cool, wet climates, consult with a local horticultural extension service or local nurseries about the best species for your area. For example, the Cereus peruvianus monstrose is one cactus that grows fairly well in relatively cool, moist climates. Planting in pots lets you bring less hardy species indoors during cool weather.

Two-Sided Displays

• Typically, when planting a flower bed beside a house or other structure, you can create an attractive, multilevel display of colors by staggering the plant height from high to low. When planting outside a picture window, you may wish to plan the plants' height and color based on two points of view: from outside and from indoors. Keep in mind that plants situated right next to the house are likely to receive at least partial shade, depending on the orientation of your home and the size of any overhanging eaves. Look for varieties that bloom in lower light conditions. Avoid higher shrubs, which can cut out visibility. If space permits, create a broader and lower-growing flower bed so you have a view of all the plants through the window.

Create Focal Points

• Especially on a fairly unadorned style, such as the ranch, a picture window usually provides a major focal point. Use your landscape design to complement the visual anchor provided by the window. For example, draw attention to a picture window by planting a series of plants of increasing height to either side of the window. Avoid flanking the window with very large shrubs or trees, which can make it appear small by comparison.