| In my last article on front yard | | | | Roots are a powerful force that can find |
| landscaping I discussed laying out | | | | their way through rock. They also don't |
| driveways and sidewalks as your starting | | | | seem to have much trouble with |
| point and how it could possibly help | | | | foundations. |
| create the entire framework for your | | | | Most plants, of course, require water. |
| front yard design. So assuming that | | | | Watering, and especially flooding |
| you're to that point, we'll move on to a | | | | plants and beds around foundations |
| few considerations of a major secondary | | | | creates a potential for a damaged |
| element. Plants. | | | | foundation. This doesn't always happen |
| When choosing and setting out plants in | | | | but it does happen. If you're going to |
| the front yard or any landscaping for | | | | have plants close to the home, spot |
| that matter, you need to consider more | | | | watering individual plants, a drip |
| than just how things will look. You | | | | system, or even a low profile spray is |
| should also consider other factors such | | | | safer than flooding the entire area. |
| as sun or shade, duration of sun or | | | | Lime leach from concrete is a problem |
| shade, soil type, purpose, the elements, | | | | that I see quite often. It's such a |
| and what specific plants will require or | | | | common problem because it takes a long |
| do in the future. There are also a other | | | | time to show up. Over time, lime leaches |
| considerations such as how close to | | | | out of the concrete into the soil |
| plant to the home and its foundation. | | | | causing the soil to become alkaline. If |
| When setting out plants in the front | | | | the ph of the soil gets too high, plants |
| yard, place small shrubs and bushes 4 to | | | | will start to look sick and yellow. |
| 6 feet away from the home. If set closer | | | | Usually, keeping the beds tilled with a |
| than this, they could be deprived of | | | | lot of organic matter will buffer and |
| sunlight or rain because of a wide | | | | prevent this problem. Adding sulfur and |
| overhang from the roof. They could also | | | | organics to beds that are already |
| get fried from intense heat reflecting | | | | affected will help turn the problem |
| off of the wall. Placed away from the | | | | around. |
| home in a wider staggered row rather | | | | The main thing to keep in mind when |
| than a narrow row, they also add a 3d | | | | setting out landscaping plants, along |
| effect to the landscape that makes the | | | | with how they'll look, is what they will |
| home seem more substantial. | | | | do in the future. Whether it's front |
| Another consideration that most folks | | | | yard landscaping, backyard landscaping, |
| don't think of is the long term effects | | | | or any other part of your landscape, |
| of planting around the foundation of the | | | | keeping these main points in mind could |
| home. | | | | possibly save you a lot of frustration |
| Keep in mind the space that plants and | | | | and money in the future. |
| their roots will occupy at maturity. | | | | |