How to Landscape the Front Edge of Your House

Sketch the front edge of your house on graph paper to determine the locations of the design elements. Include existing fixtures, plants, gates and walkways so you work around them. Draw new accents you want to include such as plants, paths, birdbaths, fountains, benches, statues and containers.

Determine how much sunlight the yard receives at different times of the day and write it on the sketch so you can match plants that will thrive in that kind of light.

Enclose the space with a natural or artificial fence to increase privacy and security. Plant evenly spaced bushes to create a hedgerow, or install a 3- to 6-foot-tall fence composed of wood, wire or vinyl.

Construct a 10-foot-wide driveway with paver bricks, stones or crushed gravel from the corner of the yard to a side of the house to direct vehicular traffic off the yard. Make a 4- to 5-foot-wide walkway leading from the end of the driveway at the side of the house to the front door. Establish a round or square greeting area that the walkway leads to right outside the front door, large enough for four to six people.

Plant trees and shrubs around the front of the house, ensuring the planting sites meet their sunlight requirements. Keep the mature size of each tree or shrub in mind to keep it from outgrowing its site. For a balanced look, plant taller trees and shrubs on the sides of your house, and progressively smaller trees and shrubs near the front door to frame the entryway.

Install flower beds along the edges of the fence, walkway or exterior of the house to provide growing space for flowers. Outline growing spaces with wood, metal, plastic, stone or rock edging.

Establish a lawn over the remaining parts of the yard to connect the different elements. Plant grass seed over the area or lay sod.

Add decorative accents to the front edge of the house for added effect. Install a birdbath at a corner, and fill pots with tall or trailing flowers to spruce up dull corners. Install evenly spaced lamp posts along the driveway or walkway, or spotlights over the corners of the yard to illuminate the space.