Landscaping the front yard adds to the beauty of a house and creates a good first impression. When landscaping the front yard you want to pay attention to the front door. The front door is the focal point and you want to make the area inviting and welcome. When you are planting trees and shrubs you want to do it right the first time because they are going to be there for a very long time. Plan first before you plant. There are some things to consider when choosing the right plant material. First is location. Does the area receive a lot of sun or shade, as this will dictate the plant choice. When choosing trees, shrubs and perennials you want to look for plants that compliment the house. Look at the colour, size and design of the house. If the house is symmetrical you want the landscape to match. Plant size is another important factor as you do not want the mature trees and shrubs to hide or take away from the entrance. Always read plant labels and see what the mature size will be in a few years time. Because it is the front door and will be looked at throughout the different season, look for plants that will offer year round interest. It is better to avoid plants with thorns such as roses and barberries as these can hurt visitors, as well as plants with poisonous berries. Many landscapes start with evergreens. There are the traditional cedars, but why not look for something a little different. Evergreens can be pruned into different forms such as poodle form, which has tufts of growth on a stem, or a topiary form, or a spiral form. There are some beautiful top grafted evergreens such as a weeping juniper, Little Gem Norway Spruce or Mugho pine. These top grafted evergreens have a topiary form. All of the the above mentioned trees have been pruned or grafted at the nursery and are available at the garden centres. They will require yearly summer pruning to maintain their shape so are a little more maintenance. Also available, are evergreens that do not take a lot of width such as 'Sky Rocket juniper' , 'Columnar Dwarf Mugho Pine', 'Columnar Norway Spruce', or 'Mini Twist Eastern White Pine', which has a unique look to it. These are all very attractive and are sure to make a statement.
Deciduous flowering shrubs such as spirea, weigela and hydrangeas, can add colour to the landscape. There are some beautiful hydrangeas in bloom right now including 'Little Lime' which only grows 150 cm tall and wide.. A beautiful hydrangea that stands out is the 'Limelight' in a standard form. It is a topiary formed small tree, with a single upright stem (approximately 1m tall) and on top of the stem is a ball of beautiful creamy white flowers.
There are lots of beautiful perennials and annuals that can add that a final touch of colour. Hostas are a beautiful shade perennial grown mostly for its beautiful foliage that will add season long interest. 'Stella de Oro' daylily is a good sun-loving perennial that blooms for many weeks. It grows 40cm high and has fragrant golden yellow flowers and green grassy foliage. The fragrance is an added bonus for people that pass by.
Before you plant, make sure the soil is a good quality, well drained soil because the plants will be in there for many years. When planting, consider the mature size of the tree/shrub and space it far away enough from the house so that there will be enough space to be able to work on house when the tree is full sized. If you plant too close to the house the tree/shrub will be under the eave and not get moisture from rain or snow.
Small changes can make a big difference. If you are unable to plant in the ground, a pair of good sized pots can be placed at the entrance. These can be filled according to the season, including winter with greens, berries and branches.
