Ideas for Front Yard Landscaping - Foundation Planting

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