The black spruce is the most common plant for front yards and has been around for hundreds of years. It can live up to 50 years under the right conditions. Another popular evergreen shrub is the Little Giant. It has feathery green leaves and grows naturally into a medium-sized ball. Boxwoods, which are a low-growing species, also make good choices. Whether you are going for a modern or traditional look, you’ll find something that suits your space.
Daylilies
Daylilies are perennials and come back year after year. They grow in clumps, which you can divide in spring or fall when the plants have finished flowering. Divide them by digging through the roots and replant them in a new location. Make sure to plant the seeds in a new location, as daylilies can be hard to divide. To divide daylilies, simply place a single daylily pollen on the stigma of another.
The foliage of daylilies begins to appear in early spring and lasts for months. Once the flowers appear, the foliage goes through a ratty phase. Cut it back by half or so and it will produce new leaves. The amount of flowering depends on the variety and how hardy it is. Some daylilies are winter hardy, while others are not. A good rule of thumb is to choose one that has a long blooming period.
If you want more flowers, divide daylilies every three to five years. Daylilies are aggressive spreaders, so you will need to divide them at some point. The best time to divide a daylily is after it has flowered. However, be sure to give your daylily plants at least six weeks to settle before winter. After that, you can replant your new daylilies.
Rosa Knock Out
A rose that is low maintenance, but boasts high color and scent, Rosa Knock Out belongs to the genus Rosa. This species is known for its compact, bushy shape, long bloom season, and resistance to blackspot and winter hardiness. It grows to about three to four feet tall and 90 to 120 cm wide. It blooms from early summer to late fall, and is easy to care for.
This rose has been a top choice for the past 20 years and is easy to grow. They are incredibly disease-resistant and do not need deadheading. They also bloom from spring to frost and are low maintenance, too. There are two varieties of Rosa Knock Out plants, the standard and the petite. Both have a red bloom and provide color to the landscape. They are the perfect addition to a front yard or balcony garden.
These plants grow in sunny locations. You will need six to eight hours of sun daily. Make sure the soil is well-drained and has some air movement. Knock Outs grow three to five feet tall and equally wide. If not pruned, they will reach eight feet! You should be sure to space them correctly to prevent overcrowding and keep them well-watered. If you’re unsure of where to plant them, ask your local extension office or garden center.
Flowering butterfly bush
If you’re looking for a colorful plant to adorn your front yard, Flowering Butterfly Bush is one of the best choices. It grows from five to eight feet tall and makes a statement in the border. It is a drought-resistant plant, but if you live in a cold climate, it can be damaged by winter. So plant it in spring, early summer, or mid-summer.
The butterfly bushes come in several colors, and their blooms are a wonderful focal point in your flowerbed. The ‘Miss Pearl’ cultivar has gorgeous, honey-scented, cool-white flowers that bloom for months on end. Despite its small size, this plant can withstand the heat and still perform well in your front yard. It is also an excellent choice if you live in a hot climate.
Flowering Butterfly Bush requires little maintenance and low-maintenance. Planting it in full sun will ensure its best growth habit, and it is drought-tolerant once established. Although it requires regular watering, this plant doesn’t need much more than an inch of water per week once it has established itself. The flowering season lasts from May to October. However, if you want to see the most flowers, you should plant it near windows and near pathways. Flowering Butterfly Bush is also deer-resistant, but some areas may consider it invasive.
The flowering Butterfly Bush is a wonderful plant to add to the front yard. It is an attractive shrub and attracts a wide range of pollinators. The fragrant flowers of the Flowering Butterfly Bush are often referred to as’summer lilacs’. These plants grow well in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 10. Their foliage is grayish blue or chartreuse. Flowering Butterfly Bush is a low-maintenance plant that offers year-round interest.
Boxwoods
If you want to give your front yard an elegant and classic feel, boxwoods are an excellent choice. Boxwoods range from one to twenty feet in height and two to eight feet wide. Boxwoods like partial shade, but can tolerate full sun if needed. In fact, they can thrive in brighter locations as long as they do not receive too much direct sunlight. Boxwoods are grown primarily for their attractive foliage. Boxwood leaves are leathery and lance-shaped, and some varieties are even variegated.
Boxwoods provide the perfect backdrop to other colorful plants. Their foliage is a plain sheet of green, but that doesn’t mean they should be ignored. They can also be planted with flowers, like hellebores, sage, rosemary, or thyme. They are surprisingly low-maintenance and can be paired with a wide variety of other plants. If you’re not sure which plants will look good together, here are a few suggestions:
Although boxwoods tolerate hard pruning, you should still give them the time they need. A good rule of thumb is to prune them in late summer and early fall before their foliage begins to turn yellow. Hard pruning should not be done in late fall, as this can cause bronzing in winter. Instead, use a pair of pruning shears to cut three to four-inch sections of stem tips and new growth. You can also remove lower leaves before scraping the bark.
Hollyhocks
If you’re looking for a perennial plant, you might consider Hollyhocks. These perennials can thrive in zones three to eight and are usually short-lived, living for two to three years. However, they can be treated as biennials in zones four through eight if you grow them in pots inside during winter months. In those areas, you can simply bring cuttings inside or start new plants from seed in spring. Hollyhocks can grow quite tall and can form a screen for your front yard, though they can also be planted outdoors, especially in the colder climates.
Hollyhocks are great for front yard planting because of their ability to hide your home’s foundation and increase curb appeal. However, they can suffer from rust if not kept in a dry, warm location. To prevent this, make sure to water them from below and allow ample air circulation. Mulching under your hollyhocks will prevent spores from developing. You can also use all-purpose fungicides to kill any rust-causing organisms.
Once established, hollyhocks require little to no maintenance once planted, but they will require regular watering. When watering them, make sure to water from below so that the foliage does not dry out, as wetting the foliage can cause leaf disease. During the winter months, hollyhocks will remain green but will flower in the summertime. If you plant hollyhocks in the fall, you can rest assured that you won’t run out of water in the summer, since they self-seed if the flowers are left to hang down.
Orange Rocket Barberry
If you are looking for a shrub to make a bold statement in your front yard, consider the orange rocket barberry. The foliage of this shrub is bright orange, with tiny thorns to deter would-be burglars. It thrives in full sunlight, but can also survive in partial shade. Depending on your climate, you may want to consider planting two or three of these shrubs in your front yard.
The ‘Orange Rocket’ Barberry has a spectacular color show throughout the year. The new growth emerges bright coral-orange in spring, and the foliage ages to a ruby red. The foliage also remains red all fall long. The easy-to-care shrub can also be grown in garden containers, and is an excellent accent plant for special garden art. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance shrub to boost the curb appeal of your home, consider ‘Orange Rocket Barberry’.
This upright shrub is deer and rabbit-resistant. It’s low-maintenance, yet beautiful, and is a hardy plant for the front yard. It grows 4 feet tall and wide, depending on its location, and requires minimal care. The Orange Rocket Barberry is also a great choice for smaller yards and shrub borders. Barberries can be used as a backdrop to spring-blooming plants.
