Landscape Architecture and Design - Front Yard Patio
I would like to add a patio/seating area to the front of the house. We are the 2nd owner of a 4 year old home. We would be replacing the sidewalk in addition to adding a patio. Initial thoughts are that the patio would be approximately 11'4" wide.
I'd love suggestions to:
- make sure the patio doesn't look like an afterthought
- downplay the orange in the brick
- make sure it looks cozy and inviting
- hide the new fence that the neighbor added along the side of our front yard
Hopefully I've added enough info and photos to explain what I am looking for. Thank you for your suggestions!
Thinking the patio would be in front of the window on the right and approximately 11'4" wide. Not sure how far out we'd have it. It would be a continuation of the sidewalk.
Adding a landscaping bed in hopes the fence becomes a backdrop rather than a focal point.
Comments (15)
Susan DeWeerdt
2 years agoRelated Discussions
Need design help for front yard landscape.
Comments (4)Judging by the (not-sunburned in full sun) archonotophoenix in the picture, I'm going to guess that if you're in the US, you're in coastal Southern California or coastal central California. The fence looks very modern. Is the house in keeping with that look also? If this space were mine to work with, I'd grow a bright red colored bougainvillea on the far right (San Diego Red or Purple Robe would really stand out against the white wall) and train it across the top of the fence. Then I'd use terra cotta pots and grow dramatic agaves like Agave attenuata, Agave blue flame or Agave desmettiana Joe Hoak. If my guess was correct and you are in fact in coastal California, the agave will not need irrigation. The bougainvillea might need water once a month once it's established....See MoreLandscaping in front yard lacks cohesiveness. I need some design help!
Comments (3)"What is the green plant in the foreground?" I forgot to mention, fill in all the blank space between whatever regrouped perennials and shrubs you were able to use, with groundcover. It could be something that already exists in the plot; you just add more. (I see something low growing at the foreground of the second picture but cannot tell what it is ... if a weed or a good groundcover.) Or it could be a new addition. I don't know what's there, or even where you are, so I'm not calling out a specific groundcover. Plants have to be moved at the right time and/or by the correct method, or they will suffer. Usually, with perennials, they will get over the suffering and move on. The stone curb has some pieces that look to be about 10" or 12" in dimension. It would look better if the entire curb had that uniform width. I'd reset the stones, trying to achieve that, if you have access to more of them. It would mean that some of the smaller stones get doubled up. I would also try to set their top surface with some uniformity. Weeds are always the bane of a bed that has exposed soil. Get rid of them as much as possible, up front. After the planting has concluded, cover all the exposed soil with a layer of plant-based mulch (wood chips, bark, hulls, etc.) Apply Preen according to mfg. directions. Preen is applied on a schedule so be sure to enter the reapply date in your calendar. I'm convinced this is where most people become dissatisfied with it and say it doesn't work. Also, it may not be as good during the first application simply because there will be spots missed. The subsequent application will bring improved results. My Lowe's sells a smallish Preen for almost $20. Home Depot sells a large tub of it (almost 3x the size) for under $30. I would recommend the latter as it is much cheaper per square foot....See MoreAre Front Yard Fruit Trees Landscape Design Acceptable? HELP
Comments (10)You can plant fruit trees anywhere the conditions exist for them to grow well - front yard, back yard, side yard....... There are no "rules" about placement :-) As to what kind of fruit trees to grow, check what's on offer at local nurseries and garden centers. Not all kinds of fruit trees grow well everywhere. If I lived in SoCal, I'd for sure have a couple of citrus trees - lemons/limes - and probably an avocado....See MoreHelp with front-yard landscape design
Comments (12)In general, I think the house proportions would be improved by "stretching" the landscaping toward the left (when facing front door), and minimizing landscape along long wall of garage. So perhaps plant a japanese maple or large flowering shrub (e.g. rose of sharon, hydrangea, decorative grass, etc.) six to eight feet away from the corner of your house. That will "stretch" the house in that direction. Two alternatives for the remainder: 1) Along the long wall of the garage, add a window box planter, and just use stone for the bed itself. Add a flower box planter under window to the left of front door, and a trellis over the garage door with flowering vine. Or 2) Plant easy colorful plants (e.g. day lilies, or hostas, decorative grasses, etc.) along long wall of garage, and favorite flowering plants and shrubs in planting bed to left of front door....See More
jackowskib
2 years agoSusan DeWeerdt
2 years ago
3onthetree
2 years agoSusan DeWeerdt
2 years agonsmiths81
2 years agoIs the red outline in the snowy picture where you are thinking of putting a patio? That seems like an odd location. As it would be hard to tie it to the house/existing walkways. But you know your space best.
If it was me I would put a patio using perhaps flagstone that matches your brick in the area circled in blue. I’d use stepping stones to connect the current entrance sidewalk to the patio and have the stepping stones continue on the other side of the patio around the corner of the house too. If a front patio fits your lifestyle and community I say go for it.
We just took out our front lawn (CA) and overgrown shrubs and installed a gravel patio, decomposed granite pathways, and drought tolerant plantings. We also added a boulder for additional interest. The plants still need time to fill in, but they’ll grow to fill much of the mulched area. We love it! We’ve met so many neighbors while working on the project as well as now that it’s complete. Our space went from unused to a neighborhood gathering spot.
There are definitely some really great examples of front yard patios here in Houzz, in a variety of styles and locations.
Susan DeWeerdt
2 years agoMamaham_NC_Zone7
2 years agoI agree with the above, I am having a hard time visualizing the front porch. My neighbors across the street do not have a porch but they put two nice adirondack chairs under the tree in their front and it looks lovely. They sit out there all the time to be social with the neighbors. I would take that red circle area and make it a seating area with a swing and vine and lovely perennial flower bed around it. maybe an informal walkway winding back to the house... also put some border hedges up on that fence for privacy from the neighbor. I wish I could do that fancy rendering because I cannot find anything that looks like what I am imagining... some inspiration..
Susan DeWeerdt
2 years ago@Mamaham_NC_Zone7 Thank you. I'm not looking to add a front porch, just a seating area. Your neighbors setting sounds lovely. I will be adding landscaping by the evergreen; however, if I add seating there I would have my back to the street and I'd be looking at our house.
Here is where I'm thinking of putting the seating area with landscaping on the left. Forgive the rough drawing as I'm trying to use my mouse ;) The curve of the seating area would mimic the curve in with sidewalk. The sidewalk will be replaced at the same time. I hope that helps. Not sure if the weeping cherry will be staying.
Mamaham_NC_Zone7
2 years agoYes it is hard to describe without a rendering. I was more thinking to have a seating area next to the evergreen diagonal that would face the sidewalk with a flowers/plants around it.
If you want it by the house... something like this is what you are thinking?
Akhilesh Joshi
last yearSome more explorations (I couldn't resist the temptation to explore more ideas on this beautiful front yard).
Susan DeWeerdtOriginal Author