How to Landscape a Large Front Yard

First impressions are not just for job interviews. Equally significant is the first impression your home gives. Front-yard landscaping is an excellent way to welcome guests. Well-chosen plants and an attractive landscape design create beauty for your home. A large front yard does not have to be a threat to your landscape project. Use the space, instead, to soften the straight edges of your home and create areas of interest. Simple, well-planned landscape designs make even a large yard feel warm and cozy.

Landscaping books and magazines
Camera
Graph paper
Measuring tape
Rope
Hand tiller
Landscape fabric and landscape pins
Landscape edging
Shovel
Plants and trees
Peat moss
Large gardening tools and hand tools
Tree stakes and twine
Mulch
Mulch rings

Instructions

- 1
  
  Cacti are beautiful plants to include in a landscape design in hot and dry climates.
  
  Look through landscaping books and magazines. Take pictures of the front yard from different angles, including the area for landscaping. These tools will help you decide which landscaping elements will look best in your front yard.
- 2
  Pick which plants, edging, decorative elements and mulch material best suit the design of your home. Research which plants will grow best in your area, and consider their size at maturity before making final decisions.
- 3
  Call the local utility company to check on the location of all underground utilities.
- 4
  Measure the area to landscape and develop a scale to use on a map. Construct a map on graph paper; indicate the location of all existing landscape features such as walkways, driveways and utilities. Draw the new landscape plan on the map including placement of all gardens, focal trees and shrubs.
- 5
  Using the scale map as a guide, outline the landscaping area with rope. Make the rope straight or curvy, depending on how you design the flowerbeds. Place a small marker of any to indicate trees or large shrubs.
- 6
  Remove plants, shrubs or existing landscaping in the way of the new landscaping. Remove rocks and sticks from the landscape area.
- 7
  Use a hand tiller to till the area inside the rope outline. This prepares the soil for planting. Remove the rope after tilling and replace it with landscape edging.
- 8
  Line the area for landscaping with landscape fabric. Secure the fabric with landscape pins.
- 9
  Establish larger plants in the back of the flowerbeds. Dig each hole for the plants about 2 inches wider and deeper than each plant's pot. Loosen the roots of plants before placing them into a hole, as this stimulates growth. Place a small amount of fertilizer around each plant after placing it into the ground, then thoroughly water.
- 10
  Plant trees in the desired locations. Dig a hole for each tree 3 inches wider and deeper than the pot. Place a shovel full of peat moss and some water into each hole before planting. Stake the trees with tree stakes.
- 11
  Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch over all the flowerbeds; ensure you don't cover small plants. Place mulch rings around the trees.

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