How to Landscape a Two-Story House

Plant various shrubs around the foundation of the home to complement the look and palette of the exterior. Choose shrubs such as heather, bluebeard or hydrangea to add color to the landscape, or look for a shrub such as boxwood or barberry to shape into a hedge along the foundation.

Soften the corners of the two-story home with large shrubs and ornamental trees. Large shrub varieties include elderberry, lilac and rhododendron. Choose small, ornamental trees such as cherry, plum or Japanese maple.

Place small plants and flowers around the entryway, and choose larger shrubs and trees to plant around the property as you move away from the front door. The various-sized plants will frame the entryway, and larger shrubs and trees will balance out the double level architecture.

Place shrubs in odd-numbered groups within flowerbeds or along the perimeter to balance out the landscape. Keep flowerbeds in focused locations throughout the landscape to prevent a scattered design appearance. Line the walkways or driveways with perennials and annuals such as daylily, angelonia, calibrachoa or astilbe.