Make any front yard more inviting
By: Garden Gate staff
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Make any front yard more inviting
Make the trip from the driveway to the front door easy and beautiful! A sturdy walkway and something interesting to look at, especially for guests as they wait for you to come to the door, are necessities.
The before photo at left shows some of the challenges in this zone 7 front yard. A path of small stepping stones was difficult to walk on. The front door was easy to locate, but once visitors got to the landing, the view around them was pretty bland. And from a distance, strong architectural lines came together and detracted from the visual flow of the house and garden.
Click and drag on the photo to see how the area became more inviting. Then keep clicking to get more info on the transformation.
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Soften harsh lines
This small flowering cherry (Prunus spp. and hybrids), with a loose, graceful form, replaced a large clipped evergreen. The tree does a great job of softening the hard lines of the roof and wall. Because it’s broader than the evergreen it replaced, it also provides a backdrop for the garden.
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Place height where you need it
Many of the plants in this entry are low, so the entrance is visible even from the street about 50 ft. away. But a tall holly (Ilex spp.) softens the appearance of one of the most prominent angles, where the porch meets the house. Its pyramidal shape draws attention to the door, too.
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Keep attention focused
As guests step from the driveway onto the 4-ft.-wide bluestone and brick path, the tree blocks their view into the distance, putting all of their focus on the garden around them.
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