The right kind of plants in front of your house can make a dramatic visual impact and is indicative of the style statement of the occupant. Plants which are placed close to the foundation of the house are known as foundation plants. Since they are placed so close to the house, you need to keep in mind several factors, so that the structure of the house is not disturbed in any way.

For instance, the roots of some plants can spread and can cause damage to the foundation of the house. Roots can cause plumbing problems by damaging water pipes if they are too close to it. Some roots also take up a lot of moisture causing excessive dry soil at the foundation. Plants placed close to the house may need excessive and frequent pruning, so that the air circulation in the house is not obstructed. This disfigures the natural shape of the plant and may look unaesthetic. So the choice of the plants is crucial when the planting is close to the house. You cannot afford making mistakes as investments in plants as well as your house is sizeable.

Before you begin planting, study your house layout thoroughly and mark your plumbing lines. You can take the assistance of your utility agency and mark the utility lines around your house. Then using the drawing of your house layout, mark out the beds where the foundation plants will be planted. You can take the assistance of computer programs which will help in choosing and planning of the layout and plants.

You may want to highlight your entrance with a trellis or arbor. Plants near the entrance should be low so that there is sufficient visibility of the entrance. The walkway can be accented with the right kinds of shrubs, which should not obstruct the pathway or get entangled to clothes when people walk. Corner plantings should help blend the house with the surrounding landscape. Ornamental trees are ideal for this space. Make sure the air-conditioning units or heating units are not obstructed by plantings which are too close to them.

You also need to have a view on the future. With time saplings grow into mature trees, so there should be enough room for them to grow. Overcrowding resulting from over-enthusiasm on part of the house-owner is a common landscaping error. Sometimes shrubs placed too close to the house can get misshapen because of the sliding snow. So your placement plan should make sure that plants are not too close to the house and not too close to other plants.

The options available for foundation planting are many. Good choices are star magnolia, sourwood, dogwood, redbud, crape myrtle, and Japanese maple. Coniferous trees like hemlock, juniper, spruce, yew can be used as larger foundation trees. However, the choice of plants should be such that there is an overall harmony and balance in the visual appeal.

If you like garden design....These pages might also interest you:

Allium Directory, Amaryllis Directory, Begonia Directory, Crocus Directory, Daffodils Directory, Dahlia Directory, Hyacinth Directory, Iris Directory, Lily Directory, Tulip Directory

Also See:

Allergy Free Garden Design, Choosing Color Combo,Desinging with Seasonal Flowers, Design an English Garden, Garden Design Project, Gardening in Small Spaces, Complete Garden Makeover, Napa Garden Design, Favorite Plants for Landscaping, Perk Up a Flower Bed, Natural Garden Design, Using Pathways in a Garden, Design a White Wonder Gardens, Your Own Outdoor Coffee House, Designing to reduce noise, Designer Lanscape ideas, Do it Yourself Lanscape Design, Garden Design Foundations, Keeping Your Garden Size in Check, Gardening With Little Space, Outside the Box Landscape Design, Side Yard Design Ideas, Stone Patio Design, Theme Gardening, Trends in Landscape Design, What to Plant on a Slope, Winning Landscape Design