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