You’re probably looking for some shrubs for your front yard. But where do you begin? Here’s a quick guide to low-growing, evergreen, and conifer shrubs. You’ll also want to know more about your yard’s topography, including the number of windows in the front yard. And don’t forget about the importance of privacy and view from the front porch. Once you’ve narrowed down your options, you’ll be better prepared to make your selection.
Low-growing shrubs
Low-growing shrubs for the front yard are easy to maintain and come in many varieties. Fire Power Nandina has beautiful red leaves in the fall and winter. It grows anywhere from two to eight feet tall and likes moist, well-drained soil. However, it is not cold-tolerant so it will need special care in climates that experience freezing winters. Below is a list of some popular low-growing shrubs to plant in your front yard.
If you’re new to landscaping, low-growing shrubs are an excellent choice. Many species are easy to grow and can thrive in most climates. Choose from an assortment of fragrant, bell-shaped plants that are perfect for the front of your home. Some shrubs will also provide cut flowers. Low-growing shrubs include dwarf summersweet and black spruce. If you’re looking for something a bit more dramatic, try a dwarf azalea.
If you don’t have a lot of room in your yard, consider using a smaller low-growing shrub that can reach three to four feet in height. Smoke bushes require very little maintenance and typically live for 10 years. Another low-growing shrub is the Rosa Knock Out. This shrub can grow to about three or four feet tall and requires little care. While it can’t grow as high as the Inkberry, it will still add a charming accent to your front yard.
If you’re looking for a low-growing shrub that will add curb appeal to your front yard, you can try dwarf spruce. These are easy to grow and thrive in full sunlight. Their foliage has a needle-like texture, and they spread out easily. They grow in zones three to eight. You can also plant the Bird’s Nest Norway Spruce for a compact dome-like shape and soft green feathery foliage.
Evergreens
In areas of northern climates, you can boost the curb appeal of your home with a beautiful, evergreen shrub. They have a wide range of attributes, including flowers, berries, and lush foliage. Evergreens can have either broad or narrow leaves, and homeowners and landscape architects will want to consider the shape and size of these leaves when choosing which shrubs to plant in your front yard. Choosing the right type of shrub for your front yard depends largely on the zone you live in.
Evergreen shrubs are ideal for the front yard because they resist the harsh rays of the sun and maintain a lush green color. They’re also a good choice for houses that face north. They’re also easy to grow in northern climates. If you don’t have a lot of space for a front yard, you should consider planting some of these shrubs in your backyard. The following 12 shrubs are popular choices for front yards.
Boxwoods: These evergreen shrubs provide a beautiful, low-maintenance backdrop and are great for sunny, partial-shade areas. Boxwoods require little pruning and grow to six to eight feet. This type of shrub thrives in partial-shade conditions and will follow the shape of your shrub during the trimming season. These low-maintenance shrubs grow easily and are suitable for front yard landscape designs.
Bamboo: This evergreen bush is small and thin, and grows up to three feet high. Its showy red flowers attract pollinators. Bamboo is hardy and can tolerate USDA Zones eight to ten. The compact varieties will remain neat and tidy once the leaves fall. The rounded shape of bamboo makes it a great choice for shaded areas. They can also be grown in containers and tolerate some drought, and are a good choice for beginners.
Conifers
When choosing shrubs for your front yard, consider conifers. These evergreen trees have foliage that changes color throughout the year, including shades of green, blue and silver. Some conifers have blue needles that take on a teal cast, while others have golden or yellow needles. Some conifers are upright, while others have bun-shaped or weeping forms. No matter the shape you choose, you’ll have plenty of choices.
If your front yard is relatively small, conifers can be an excellent choice. They can be trained into serpentine shapes or twisted, architectural specimens. Although they’re relatively easy-going and versatile, some conifers require slightly acidic soil. If you’re concerned about acidity, consider purchasing soil tests. Alternatively, consider adding an acid-planting mix to your soil. Conifers need good drainage, and they have varying degrees of tolerance to wind and salt. If you’re planting them, fall is the best time to do so.
If you’re interested in conifers as shrubs for the front yard, you can choose from many dwarf varieties. Dwarf conifers grow two to six feet tall at maturity and put on three to six inches of growth per year. While they may not grow as large as other types of conifers, they’re still suitable for small front yards. Just be sure to plan ahead! They’re more fragile than their deciduous counterparts.
When selecting conifers for the front yard, remember that they look wonderful with a variety of other plants. The color wheel can help you choose plants that will complement conifers in different shades. Complementary colors create strong interest, while colors with similar undertones will tie the space together. For example, Crimson Queen Japanese maple pairs well with Scots pine, which exhibits blue undertones.
Perennials
If you’re in search of front yard shrubs that will thrive in partial shade to full sun, look no further than yuccas. These evergreen shrubs grow between two and four feet tall and have a unique, scented flower in the summertime. They also tolerate dry soil, and can be used as small privacy borders and focal points. They also produce blackberries in the fall. The yucca variety you choose will complement your front yard’s landscaping theme.
The coral bell is a versatile perennial plant that is hardy and thrives in both full sun and partial shade. Astilbe flowers are attractive to hummingbirds and attract butterflies and bees. The flowers on coral bells bloom throughout the summer, and the foliage turns a golden yellow in the fall. It is native to the woodlands of the Northeast, and it will look great anywhere you plant it.
Another great flower for front yard landscape design are impatiens, which are bushy annuals that do well in containers, window boxes, and mixed borders. They are also heat-tolerant. Marigold flowers are a popular choice for planting in the front yard, and they bloom reliably in full sun. Marigolds can also tolerate different types of soil and grow in sunny areas. For those of us in the Northeast, these are the plants you need to add to your landscaping.
For a garden with a mix of seasonal flowers, daylilies are great for the front yard. Daylilies are low-maintenance, and they can be used to border a fence. Hollyhocks are another perennial that can be planted anywhere. They grow up to eight feet in height and are frost-resistant. And don’t worry about planting time! The perennials can be planted in any season of the year, so long as you water them enough to get established.
Shrubs with fuzzy leaves
To add texture and color to your yard, consider planting a shrub with fuzzy leaves. The name “chenille” comes from French and means “caterpillar.” Chenille plants produce soft, fuzzy flowers and add texture and beauty to any garden. They are best planted in hanging pots or a location where they can naturally grow downward. These are easy-to-grow shrubs that require minimal maintenance.
If you’d like a low-growing shrub for your front yard, consider the Anglo-Japanese yew. This semi-dwarf foundation plant grows to just a few feet in height and spreads. The dense foliage makes for a striking accent in your landscape. The leaves turn bronze in the winter, and the shrub is deer and drought resistant. In addition, it can tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions and is a good choice for areas with a lot of sun.