Creative Landscaping In Access Areas
Your home’s entrances should provide easy access through your yard and landscape. First impressions count for a lot, so aesthetic appeal surrounding your landscaping plans and entryways is important. It’s best to begin with the highest traffic access areas such as from your house to your driveway. Next, assess the paths and walkways to and from all access areas of your home. The plants that surround these spots should guide a visitors eye towards your entryways or exits. Side entrances that are used as much or more than your front door, should also be considered. Shrubs, flowers, pathways, border beds, and lighting can be used.
If planting for height, build up towards your house. Start lower and gradually increase the height of your plants as they get closer to the house so as to direct attention to the entrance. Pay close attention here because garden beds bordering a sidewalk or pathway can draw attention away from your entrance. The best I can explain it is that the beginning of your walkway is a starting point leading your entry as an opening leading you towards the door.
Safety and invitation should both be considered for your entry. Some moderately good lighting and visibility can help ensure safety at night when walking from your parking area into your home. If you have a mudroom, laundry room, or utility room that is next to your front or rear entry, plan for making it look good as well as functional for traffic flow.
How do you guide and lead folks to your access and entryway areas? Most professional landscaping contractors basically follow the same pattern here. Sidewalks, privacy fences, border gardens, edging, walls, trellises, screens, and also rails are more choices. You can use planters to highlight entryways to certain areas. Raised plant beds, screening, and fencing can also be helpful for hiding places with utilities from sight.
When planting to define and accent access and entry areas, space them with the mature size and spread of the plants in mind. This is often overlooked in landscaping. Since paths, walkways, and other access areas will usually lead to or near your house, plants should be planted with enough distance from your foundation so that you can maintain both the plantings and home. Plants should be planted far enough from your house and other buildings so that you can take care of them once they are mature size. Shrubs and hedges given time to grow provide a natural boundary and screen, while fencing offers immediacy once installed.
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