 | The space in front of your home can be more than a few well-mown squares of lawn. Front yard gardens allow gardeners to go public with their work enhancing their home setting with a landscape that suits the character of both homeowner and home. You can transform your front yard from a flat plain of grass to a lush one-of-a-kind garden visible to neighbors and passersby.
Why garden in your front yard? Why not? Lawns are the norm, of course, but when you want your home and landscape to stand out, gardening in the front provides beautiful enhancement to the setting. And when the family gardener runs out of room in the back, the front yard is prime real estate for a green thumb to get things blooming. Front yard gardens are a unique and natural way to set your home apart from the other houses on the block.
First thing’s first. Consider your space; most likely you’ll want to attract attention to your home—not overpower the house. Planning a garden design is first and foremost. You may need to consider border plants that will grow alongside the path to your door. If you have trees, you’ll need to consider what will grow best near them and under their shade. If you’re ambitious, you may want to plan for a small garden pond or fountain. You may even wish to consider a garden-friendly porch replete with hooks and trellises for plants that like see the world from a certain height. In any case, it is helpful to begin on paper.
Visiting a local garden center or online garden store is a great way to find ideas you can incorporate into your plans. True, the plants are the essential feature of any garden, but enhancements also influence the look of the space. You might want to consider statues, bird baths, benches—even lawn animals or garden gnomes if you are so inclined. Even containers come in a wide range of colors, materials and styles, so you will need to make some decisions about what you’ll want to showcase.
Saying farewell to your lawn does not mean your space need be a field of flowers. There are many ornamental grasses that make a fine ground cover and are also quite easy to maintain. Phlox is a beautiful bloomer in springtime, but its clumps sport green foliage in summer and fall and need little maintaining. Consider your soil and you’ll know what plants will thrive in your setting—given adequate conditions of sun and water of course. Whether you border cold Canada or sunny Mexico, you can accommodate your front yard with plants suited to your climate.
Maybe you love the look of a front yard garden, but you don’t have time to maintain it. You can still install a garden that is easy to maintain; in fact, it may be as easy to keep up as a traditional lawn. Gardening with prairie plants need not require much attention if you choose low-maintenance varieties that are not particularly invasive or aggressive.
Choosing plants for the front is not much different than choosing them for the backyard—except your front yard garden will be seen more often. You may want to incorporate a great focal point like a tree or shrub. An ornamental cherry tree makes a lovely centerpiece. But even if you opt for a flatter look, you can design your flowerbeds to flow naturally around your home and porch. You can also include fences or hedges to divide your front garden into special sections.
Incorporating stone into the design is as aesthetically pleasing as it is practical. A cobblestone path is the perfect way to lead people to your door. Stone planters are formal and work well for large homes. Also, simple flat stepping stones are easy to install and may lead visitors on a walk through your front garden; consider them for smaller cottage-style homes.
Front yard gardens are also pleasing throughout each season. Your lawn isn’t much to look at in winter, but there are many trees and shrubs with pleasing forms and textures that will enhance any winter landscape. You can, of course, incorporate plants for each season into your garden so there is something lovely to see throughout the year. Once you get your garden installed, don’t be surprised if it spreads. Front yard gardens are so lovely and unique that chances are your neighbors will want to create their own.
|  |
|
|
|
