When you are thinking of what shrubs to plant in front of your house, keep the shape of your house in mind. The shape of a house is largely dictated by its windows, so you may want to avoid plants that look like kids’ drawings. A house with symmetrical windows, on the other hand, may need more formal plants. A mirror image of the house will be most striking with symmetrical plants. Avoid placing lone beds in the lawn, either, as they will block the view of the house.
Inkberry
Inkberry shrubs are native to the United States. They thrive in areas with wet soil and full or partial sun, and they’re low-growing. Despite their name, they’re surprisingly easy to grow. Inkberry shrubs come in three different varieties, including ‘Gem Box,’ ‘Strongbox’, and ‘Half-Blood’. These evergreen conifers grow from 2 to 4 feet tall and are great for the front of your home. Unlike some flowering plants, inkberries don’t have large flowers, so they’re best suited to accent the front of a house, like a trellis or boxwood.
Smoke bushes are hardy and thrive in zones 4 to 8 and need little care. Smoke bushes grow best when they receive six hours of direct sunlight each day. Smoke bushes are not pruned at the early stage, so they don’t require much care. Rosa Knock Out is a low-growing variety that needs minimal care. At three to four feet tall, it requires little maintenance and produces blooms year-round.
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance evergreen, look no further than the dwarf spruce ‘Little Gem’. This evergreen is a low-maintenance choice with a pyramidal growth habit. Its two-toned flowers add an elegant touch to any front yard. This shrub can be planted as an accent or as a foundation plant. If you’re looking for a smaller plant, dwarf Alberta Spruce might be perfect.
Japanese yew
Pruning your Japanese yew is a must for this lovely shrub. Ideally, you should prune the plants in spring before their new growth begins. Pruning in spring will keep the shrub bushy and help it fill in the gaps in your garden. Though you do not need to prune the yew every year, pruning in spring will ensure that your yew doesn’t get too woody or die off inside.
The Anglo-Japanese yew is a great choice for front yard plantings because of its low maintenance and adaptability to any style of house. Its foliage is needle-like and glossy green, and it has a habit of spreading when it is young. It grows in zones 4-7, but will need some protection from the cold during the winter. This tree is also deer resistant, so it’s ideal for areas with poor winters.
To plant your yew, cut a scion or a cutting about eight inches long. The resulting cutting should be as wide as the root ball. After making a hole the size of a pencil, place it in the hole and water it thoroughly. Once the cutting has developed a root ball, move it to the final planting site. Keep in mind that you should water the yew a couple of times a week or less to avoid over-fertilizing it.
Boxwoods
If you’re planning to plant boxwoods for your front yard, you should know that they are hardy and low-maintenance. These shrubs can reach heights of five to six feet and grow in USDA zones five through nine. The small, creamy white flowers are inconspicuous. Boxwoods prefer partial shade and do best in dappled light. You can also add gravel to the bottom of the pot to improve drainage. The first step is to dig a hole twice the size of the root ball. You should then mix the soil and compost. Then, you can plant your boxwoods. Be sure to place your plant in the hole with its root ball in the center, not below it. If it begins to sprout, you should add soil to the hole.
If you’re planting boxwoods for the front of your house, you should keep in mind that direct sunlight can cause damage. To avoid this problem, plant them on the north or west sides of your house. You can also plant them on the south side. If you’d like to plant them close to your house, you can also try sun-tolerant boxwood varieties. One such boxwood is the Korean boxwood “Wintergreen,” which can survive in USDA zones four through nine.
Choosing the right boxwood for your front yard is crucial, as many varieties have different site requirements and growth habits. Some thrive in full sun while others prefer partial shade. While boxwoods are usually deer-resistant, many types are susceptible to a disease called boxwood blight. The disease results in brown spots on the leaves of the plant. The symptoms usually disappear within a few months, but the damage done is permanent and unrepairable.
Azaleas
There are a variety of Azaleas shrubs to choose for the front of your home. These shrubs have a vase-like shape and are usually two to five feet tall. They grow in moderately acidic, moist soil, and they produce flowers from spring into summer. Azaleas are very easy to care for and bloom in a wide variety of spring and summer colors.
Before planting your azalea, be sure to water it thoroughly. This will help prevent the development of leaf diseases. Azaleas will also benefit from mulch that is at least two inches thick. You can use pine straw or shredded hardwood bark, but colored mulch will not work. Mulch will help prevent rodents from chewing on the roots and will break down the soil. Azaleas prefer moist soil so make sure you keep your azaleas well-watered.
It’s important to take care of azaleas as they can become sun-scorched in summer. While their shallow roots don’t absorb much water, too much sunlight can cause them to dry out and die. If you can’t avoid sun, consider mulching your azaleas. This will prevent your plants from losing moisture in the leaves. Azaleas will tolerate shade but will still need a light source in the morning.
Hydrangeas
If you want a lush, low-maintenance shrub for the front of your home, try hydrangeas. They bloom in the late summer and early fall and come in a wide range of colors. Plant them in zones four through nine. They grow best when planted near other plants, such as Japanese maple or small evergreen trees. In addition to their lovely flowers, hydrangeas make great shrubs for the front of the house and are suited to most climates.
Planting hydrangeas in the front of your house will add curb appeal to the entire property. They can be used as shrubs in borders or in porches, or they can be grown in containers that complement your home’s landscaping. Make sure to choose the right size and shape for your container, or they’ll end up being too small and unattractive. When planted in a container, they will easily blend in with the rest of your landscaping.
If you want to plant hydrangeas in the front of your house, you’ll find several varieties with different colors and heights. The ‘Annabelle’ variety, for example, has showy white blooms and a compact growth habit. It can grow to four to six feet (1.25 – 1.8 m) tall, but it’s not recommended for full sun exposure. There are also several types that climb, so it’s important to know your zone before buying.
Japanese maple
If you’re looking for a tree to plant on the front of your home, try a Japanese maple. Their rounded, tree-like shape adds a bit of balance and interest to the front of a house. Because they grow slowly and stay small, they’re the perfect choice for front entryways. However, be sure to plant your tree in a location with adequate space. You’ll need enough room to give it the space it needs to thrive.
When choosing Japanese maples for the front of your house, keep in mind that they prefer dappled shade and need consistent moisture. While they tolerate full sun and may receive afternoon shade, most varieties need some shade in order to avoid crisping. Moreover, red cultivars of many weeping varieties need some shade to develop their deep red color. Their fibrous roots are highly compatible with most shrubs. So, whether you’d like to add some red shrubbery to your front yard, Japanese maples will be a great addition.
Aside from enhancing the appearance of the front yard, Japanese maples also add shade and beauty to the front porch. They can be planted next to the house to protect them from harsh winter winds. They can also be grown in pots. A Japanese maple can even grow to be as tall as 300 feet if it’s placed close to the house. If you’d like to have a larger canopy, you can plant several Japanese maples in one pot.
