There are many different types of trees and shrubs to choose from when landscaping your front yard. These types of trees and shrubs can be fast-growing, low-growing, or flowering. It’s important to find the right variety for your climate and landscape design. Listed below are some of the most popular varieties for the front of your house. Just keep in mind that some of these plants can be difficult to grow and may not look very attractive in your area.
Evergreen varieties
You can use the evergreen variety of a tree for the front of your house. This variety is slow-growing, requires care and maintenance, and is often expensive. It requires a couple of years of care before it is fully grown, and it will continue to need some care for years after you transplant it. Choose an evergreen that is well-suited to your climate and position to avoid extreme winter winds or exposure to the sun.
American arborvitae, also known as eastern arborvitae, grows to ten to fifteen feet and is versatile. The biggest concern with this evergreen is deer browsing. You can avoid this problem by covering the tree in burlap and spraying it with deer repellent. You can also plant yew as foundation plantings. The foliage is dark green, but the berries are red. It is a favorite with birds.
The dwarf Mugo pine is another attractive evergreen variety. It grows four feet tall and ten feet wide, and is hardy. Other evergreen varieties that can be used for the front of the house are the Japanese juniper and yucca, which can grow to twenty feet tall. In addition to their unique shape and unmistakable berries, junipers are easy to maintain.
Boxwood and roses are easy to maintain. Boxwood can reach six to eight feet, and do well in full or partial shade. The taller upright arborvitae trees look great along the front of your house, and are an excellent backdrop plant. Boxwood is also low-maintenance and can be pruned. Its soft feathery foliage looks wonderful with the addition of colorful flowers. Whether you’re planting them for winter or summer, evergreens add instant curb appeal.
Low-growing varieties
If you are limited by space in your front yard, low-growing varieties of landscaping shrubs for the front of house are the best choice. These plants are low-growing and will add a touch of color to your front yard. Lavender shrubs have a signature scent and can grow up to a foot in height. Lavender is a good choice for wildlife gardens as its flower clusters attract bees and butterflies.
Low-growing Japanese barberry: This low-growing variety of the popular Barberry is hardy and low-maintenance. Its foliage is deep green and changes color with the season. This shrub is hardy in USDA Zones 5a to 9b and can tolerate partial shade. It grows three to four feet high and up to one-and-a-half feet wide, making it a suitable plant for front yards.
Gardenia: Whether you want privacy or a flowery accent, this shrub adds a touch of fragrance and color to your front yard. Whether you want a hedge or a screen, a plant like a gardenia can add a pop of color to your front yard. They come in several different sizes and will fit into most landscapes, regardless of their size or shape.
Dogwood: An evergreen shrub that grows to almost 5 feet tall, Elgantissima Dogwood is a popular choice for front yard landscaping. It can tolerate both partial and full sun, and it blooms in spring. The bark is red in the winter, and it produces white berries. The foliage changes to a gold color in the fall. When pruned, these shrubs provide a stunning backdrop for front-yard landscape designs.
Fast-growing varieties
If you want to conceal unsightly trash cans, hide weeds, and create privacy, try fast-growing shrubs for the front of your house. These plants not only offer privacy, but also provide food and shelter for pollinators and wildlife. And don’t forget to plant them in spring for some added color after the long winter. A quick and easy way to add a splash of color to your home is by planting shrubs on the front of your house.
Some of the fastest-growing varieties of landscaping shrubs for the front of your house are fast-growing varieties of eucalyptus, boxwood, yew, and cypress. For a lush, winter-friendly landscape, consider planting dwarf black spruce, a low-maintenance evergreen. These trees have delicate, feathery leaves and can survive most types of climates.
Depending on the time of year and your climate, you can choose between a dwarf azalea or a massive columnar yew. Dwarf varieties will add character to your front yard and will require very little maintenance. You can also consider dwarf ninebarks or squat, round-shaped arborvitae. Despite their fast-growing habits, they can be pruned in small gardens and make stunning accent plants.
Bayberry is a small, deciduous shrub native to Eastern North America. It can reach up to ten feet tall but there are ornamental dwarf versions available. The flowers of bayberry shrub are beautiful and last for months during the summer. Its foliage is gray-green year-round, and its roots can even tolerate standing water. The leaves are also highly ornamental. The berries are edible and attract birds.
Flowering trees
A flowering tree can add a beautiful splash of color to the front of your house. The flowering dogwood, for example, can be a striking addition to a front yard. The flowers of this shrub are pink or red and can grow as tall as 20 feet. The foliage is dark green, but it is not tolerant of standing water. Another popular shrub for a front yard is the weeping cherry. The weeping cherry is a novel shape combined with beautiful spring flowers.
There are many other varieties of flowering trees that are suitable for landscaping the front of a house. The Holly shrub is an iconic choice for front yard landscaping shrubs, and is well-known for its red berries in the winter and its beautiful green leaves in the summer. This evergreen shrub grows in partial or full sun and requires minimal pruning. It is a versatile evergreen that grows well in zones three to seven.
Some flowering trees are invasive and best planted in partial shaded areas. Redbud trees, for example, add a splash of spring color to a front yard. They’re easy to grow, drought-tolerant, and have plenty of flowers. Many redbud cultivars bloom in the spring and summer, and you can select one for your yard. Other flowering trees include the Blue Chinese Wisteria tree, which has fern-like foliage and cascading purple blossoms. Another good choice for landscaping a front yard is the Cleveland Pear tree. It features white blossoms in spring and mahogany leaves in fall.
For front-yard landscaping, junipers are a great choice. These low-growing shrubs can be grown in zones four to eight. Junipers produce berries in fall and winter, so a low-growing variety is ideal for the front of a house. Lilacs, on the other hand, are taller and have pretty cut flowers. Azaleas, meanwhile, have bell-shaped flowers that range from white to purple.
Low-maintenance varieties
When planning landscaping shrubs for the front of your house, consider planting low-maintenance varieties, such as boxwood and rhododendron. These types of shrubs are low-maintenance, meaning they don’t need constant trimming and care, yet they offer curb appeal. These plants come in a variety of sizes and are available in both deciduous and evergreen varieties.
Choose low-maintenance varieties of shrubs based on the hardiness zones of your region. By considering the climate of your area, you can choose shrubs that thrive in your front yard. You can also choose shrubs for privacy or for seasonal blooms. Whatever your preference, you’ll find shrubs to complement most homes, including those with small gardens and pots. A low-maintenance shrub will provide a charming welcome to your visitors and create an inviting curb appeal.
If you’re trying to avoid weeds and don’t want to spend much time maintaining your landscape, try dwarf Norway spruce. This low-maintenance shrub doesn’t grow more than three feet tall and is ideal for foundation plantings and entrances. It has a dark green, pyramid shape and beautiful white flowers. These shrubs are low-maintenance and can also be used as accent plants or foundation plants.
Hydrangeas are another excellent low-maintenance variety. Most varieties are deciduous, although some are evergreen. These shrubs are also versatile, as they can match almost any color scheme. They grow in zones 3 to 8 and produce white and pink blossoms in mid-spring. Regardless of their color, they are low-maintenance and can enhance the look of your lawn.