Before You Landscape Have A Plan
If you’re thinking about upping the curb appeal of your house or redoing the back yard for a big event, here are some landscaping ideas from Peggy Krapf. She’s a member of the Virginia Society of Landscape Designers and owner of Heart’s Ease Landscape and Garden Design in the Toano area of James City County.
Show off the house. Make the front door the focal point from the street. “Frame” the house with the landscape — don’t obscure it.
Do it stylishly. Consider the architecture and surroundings of the house — formal, cottage, contemporary, etc. — when selecting plants to create a landscape “style” appropriate to the setting.
Think about color. Select plants and flowers that echo the paint or brick colors on the house. Fill large containers on the porch or steps with annuals that repeat the front door color for a designer look.
Big is best. Create wide, sweeping, curved bed lines in proportion to the size and scale of the house. Bigger is usually better.
Space properly. Plant shrubs at least 3 to 4 feet away from the foundation of the house and allow enough room between plants for them to reach their mature size. Read plant tags carefully! Don’t overplant — plants will grow!
Stagger sizes. Plant dwarf, slow-growing or low-growing plants under windows; use taller plantings at corners or along blank walls. Use pyramidal plants carefully as accents.
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Saturday, May 31st, 2008
