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Creative Landscaping In Access Areas
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Your home entrances should be designed to provide easy access through your yard and landscaping. First impressions count for a lot, so aesthetic appeal surrounding your landscaping plans and entryways is important. It’s usually best to start with the highest traffic entry area which is usually from your home to your parking area. Next, assess the paths and walkways to and from all access areas of your home. The plants around these areas should guide your visitors’ eye towards your entry or exit points. Side entrances that are used as much or more than your front door, should also be considered. Shrubs, colorful bloom, walkways, border and foundation beds, and lighting may be used.
If you plant to create some height, start by building up towards your house. Start lower and then increase the height of your plants as they get closer to the house. Doing this will help direct attention to the entryway. 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.
A sense of invitation and safety should both be considerations for your entryway. Some moderately good outdoor lighting and even a little visibility can help ensure your safety at night when going from your parking area to your home. If your home has any type of utility room, mudroom, laundry room, or outdoor kitchen that matches up to your front or rear entrance, plan for something that’s easy to look at as well as functional for traffic flow.
So how do you best guide folks through your access areas? Most professional landscaping contractors basically follow a common pattern here. Walks, hedges, borders, edging, fences, trellises, screens, and railings are all good ideas. You can add planters to accent entryways to certain places. Fences, raised beds, and screening can also be used to hide spots that have visible utilities from view.
When planting to define access and entry areas, consider the mature size and spread of the plants when spacing. This is often overlooked in landscaping ideas. 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 spaced far enough from your house and outbuildings so that you will be able to tend to them once they have reached full size. Over time, hedges and larger shrubs can create a natural screen while fences create an immediate boundary.
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