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Landscape Design

front yard design help!

10 years ago

Greetings!

I purchased this home late last year, and am now looking to make it less of an eye sore. I'm completely new to this and have little to no knowledge about this kind of thing, so any advice would be appreciated.

The photos below are from different stages of removing the weeds and other plants. I plan to start completely over.
Toward the right of the house, I'm thinking about planting hedges, especially to cover the stained brick (drives me crazy). Thoughts on those? I have been drawn to more colorful shrubs.

In front of the porch and to the left, I have no clue what to do with this area. As mentioned earlier, colorful is great.

Suggestions on what I should plant?

Zone: 7
House faces SW.

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Comments (16)

thunder_dd87
Original Author
10 years ago
potential hedge area
thunder_dd87
Original Author
10 years ago
front of the porch
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Since the side of the house shown here has a mostly geometrically symmetrical design the garden in front of it should also, in order to avoid a conflict of style in the same scene. The pattern of shapes made by the face of the house itself could actually be mostly or partly repeated on the ground in front of it, using flower beds, pathways and clipped hedging etc.
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I did something similar, just had the beds made then did the plant selection and planting myself. I think it's a great way to reduce costs. Ideally, ask to have compost added along with the new topsoil and have them till the entire bed. When you have a new house the soil around it get very compacted from the equipment used to build the house. If you have new soil and compost added and tilling done, all the soil in the bed will be soft and easy to plant in. Often when you have a landscaper plant they will only amend around each plant, this way you're entire bed will be plant ready and not just where they put plants. That makes it nice when you want to plant small annuals. You'll probably want the beds in front of the house to be at least 8 feet deep, 12 is better if you want any trees or large bushes. If you just want low plants you can go with less depth(maybe 5 feet). Plants tend to look best when they aren't in a perfect row, unless you are going for a really formal look. It would be best to draw a picture of your lot with the house and hardscape on it to see how the beds look in the diagram, like a floorplan of your yard. Once you put in your plants, you can add your own drip irrigation system if you are not having irrigation put in for the rest of the yard, it's very easy and only costs about $100. Well worth it when you consider how much you have to water new plants those first couple years. If nothing else, lay out some soaker hoses. Take your time adding plants, research what grows well in your area and see how much sun and shade different parts of your yard receive. I have no idea what grows well in New Orleans, but I'd guess you'll have lots of options!
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I always love teddy bear magnolias. Awesome dark green foliage on top, soft velvet brown underside. The flowers are brilliant white and fragrant. On the pacific west coast they are slow growers, but that could be because of the cooler winters. I don't know how they will do in warmer climates. Pull up the box shrubs and turn it into a perennial bed something like agapantha, day lilies black eyed susans for summer colour. Depending on what is causing the grass at the end of the drive to be thinned, if its just because of the shade of the tree then look for a good shade tolerant seed for that area. I am always partial to Kentucky blue grass for full sun grass. Depending on how much sun / shade that patch there gets you could even put in a bed to welcome you into the driveway, fill it full of the hostas you love and for the winter try some hellebore. Check out my blog post titled The Perfect Lawn, I lay it all out there. If you need any further help send me a message. Hope that helps.
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You can do a lovely landscape using plants that thrive in shade. Bigroot geranium, toad lilly, Ajuga, hosta, lungwort, coridalis, lamium, epimedium, brunera, astilbe, hellebore, japenese ferm grass, bunchberry, variegated sedge, and many more. Search Zone 4 shade plants. Some flower and seed vendors catalogs show detailed plant lists to create shade gardens. Determine what you like, and then work with a local landscaper or purchase yourself and install your garden.
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thunder_dd87
Original Author
10 years ago
left side
PRO
Yardvaark
10 years ago
Please add the most important photo -- the one taken from farther back that shows the overall house face, some space at each end, and the whole front yard.
emmarene9
10 years ago
I think your potential hedge area does not have enough room for a hedge.
thunder_dd87
Original Author
9 years ago
The hedge area is about 34" deep.
I will post more photos tomorrow! thanks everyone.
thunder_dd87
Original Author
9 years ago
Yardvaark, what did you mean when you said "some space at each end?"

I took a bunch of photos. My house is a corner lot, so it is sort of awkward. Thinking about planting trees or hedges along the fence line as well. All just in my head thus far.
thunder_dd87
Original Author
9 years ago
another of the front.

This post was edited by thunder_dd87 on Thu, May 22, 14 at 20:33
thunder_dd87
Original Author
9 years ago
closer view of the side.
thunder_dd87
Original Author
9 years ago
sort of the view you get driving past our house. Not really loving the curb appeal.
thunder_dd87
Original Author
9 years ago
another
thunder_dd87
Original Author
9 years ago
along the fence.
User
9 years ago
thunder,
I would definately plant a tree right in the middle of the front lawn. You probably get alot of sun most of the day there, and the tree would provide needed shade.
You can plant a decideous tree now.
Just not too close to the house, and get something that doesn't get too big.
How much work are you willing to do?
Seriously, are you one to work on your yard on the weekend no matter how hot it is?
I would plant some evergreen shrubs where the brick drives you crazy, arborvitea globe comes to mind, but there are many others.
Congrats on your house! It's beautiful!
Remember, it will take years to get it to look perfect, and then you may change your mind and start over again....
PRO
Yardvaark
9 years ago
I would seriously consider widening the walkway approach as it turns toward the front door to the full width of space marked by posts. At minimum, back off the gardening in that area and return it to turf. It's very pinched with the beds closing in like they are.
thunder_dd87
Original Author
9 years ago
butterfly, thanks for your input! When you say middle of the front yard, do you mean looking at the house straight away, or from the oncoming road--more toward the right of the house? And yes, I'm totally willing to work in the sun for hours. Suggestions on trees that won't get too large?

Yardvaark, wow, thanks! I never even thought of that but it makes perfect sense to widen the walkway from the mailbox up toward the house. It would definitely make it more inviting and less maze-like.
PRO
Yardvaark
9 years ago
There is so little room between the walk and the garage a tightly clipped architectural shrub might be your best bet near the corners. (A perennial that doesn't get too tall or sprawl is another possibility.) Here are a few more ideas...

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