How to Design a Front Yard
A Beautiful Landscape Design can Increase Property Value
By re-doing the front yard with a new walkway, flagstone path and creative garden design, you'll create a landscape that will get rave reviews from the neighbors.
Seldom is our “castle” exactly what we want, and new home ownership is often made with the intent of changes to be made at some point in the future. Most often, the interior of the home is decorated first. The antique beveled glass armoire finds its perfect place, the sofa is fitted with pillows that pull colors from the drapes, and a treasured flower vase completes the design composition.
When the senses are somewhat satisfied concerning the indoor décor, we often focus on the landscape of the home. One of the greatest landscape improvements in terms of beautification and real estate return can come with a front yard makeover. Quite often a beautiful home is down-trodden by an uninteresting front garden.
Tips on making a front yard makeover successful.
Very often the front yard in neighborhoods all look the same. The installation of a new front walkway, which connects from the front door to the sidewalk, can drastically improve the front landscape appeal. Very often the existing walk will run with straight lines and 90 degree turns, from the driveway to the front door. This is contrary to the natural movement of human beings.
Curves are much easier to navigate and usually provide a more relaxed and inviting appearance. This new walk not only provides for easy access for visitors parking on the street, but it also can open up new planter areas for specimen plants and tree planting.
Start with a design
The construction process begins with a good design. You can start with computer programs, take a class, or read books – but often this is time consuming and frustrating. If you can afford a landscape designer or architect, the fee involved will pay for itself with added property values, plants properly chosen and situated, and pride of ownership.
Do your homework
Clip photos from publications to show your designer and get a feel for the garden style you prefer. Do you want a Japanese Garden, formal landscape, tropical, desert planting or natural style? Walkway width is extremely important. Two people walking side by side will need a path of five feet to traverse comfortably – otherwise think four feet, with three feet the minimum.
Extras
Some creative thought can make the new front garden special. Brick edging in the front path with matching brick planters; a widened area along the new path for a bench; landscape lighting; flowing lawn borders that conform to the new walk’s curves; boulders and or creative rock patterns; water features; pathways that exit into the backyard under a clematis planted trellis structure, are all features that can work together to make your front yard make-over a special garden to live and play in.
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