Plants For the Front of House
Some of the best plants to plant in front of the your home are evergreen plants. These include forsythia, holly, and camellias.
Other things to take into consideration are the amount of sun the area receives and the type of soil, and the need for watering. You should also determine your hardiness zone. This will help you identify what plants are suited to your climate.
Orchids
Orchids can bring an exotic touch to your front door with their gorgeous flowers. Orchids come in a variety of designs and colors. They are a great choice for any garden. They are a cool-growing plant and prefer temperatures in the 70s to 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, with cooler temperatures at night. They also enjoy humid conditions between 50 and 60%, and need an east-facing home.
Orchids can be grown as epiphytes, which means they are climbing plants that are attached to other plants or trees with their roots. They can be cultivated in pots to be used as houseplants. Phalaenopsis are the most commonly-used orchid species, but they can be found in a variety of colors and flowering patterns. These plants prefer moderate to bright light and a lot of humidity however, they can be adapted to shade. They shouldn't be grown in direct sunlight because it can cause burns to their leaves and stems.
To ensure that your orchids are happy, be sure to regularly water them, but not so much that the soil is flooded. They also enjoy being misted from time to time but not enough that the roots get wet. Fertilize your orchids each week using a balanced fertilizer at the quarter or half strength of the label diluting.
If you're seeking a plant that is attractive all throughout the year to beautify your front of the house garden, think about holly or camellias. These evergreen small plants are ideal when paired with simple-care summer annuals, such as white or pink caladiums, and shade perennials such as ferns or astuce.
Peonies
Peonies are a traditional plant to grow in front of the house, as they offer a long season of color. They come in different shades, from delicate pinks to vibrant reds. White peonies are also available, and can provide an appealing contrast to the lush greenery of lawns and other plants in the garden.
Peonies need full sun, good drainage and excellent drainage to thrive at their highest. Make sure that the site is not crowded by roots that are competing with nearby trees and shrubs. Peonies don't thrive in warm climates. Pick a spot that is protected from the summer breeze. A wall or fence can help break a breeze and stop the flowers from being hit directly by the wind, which could damage or cause them to fade.
When it comes to soil, peonies require a rich, well-draining site with an acidic to neutral pH (tree peonies thrive in soil that is slightly alkaline). The ideal place to plant them is one that's been enriched with lots of organic matter and a thick, rich mulch, such mulched leaves, bark or compost. This will help keep moisture in the soil and reduce weeds.
Plant the rhizomes - the thick roots that produce the flower petals, not deeper than 2 inches in the soil. Make sure to water the soil thoroughly after planting. It could take up to a year for your new plants to develop into mature plants that have regular flowers.
Think about pairing peonies with perennials with spikes of flowers that bloom at the same time. Examples include delphinium, foxglove the lupine, and the clustered bellflower (Campanula glomerata). These perennials are great for peonies because they complement them by adding an additional height to the landscape and covering the lower foliage of the plant.
Roses
A rose garden is a simple method to create a chic, welcoming look to the front of your house. Choose potted house plants to complement the style of your home and suit your gardening conditions and sun exposure. Choose from a variety of colors for the flowers that include classic pink and red to create a scheme that matches your overall landscaping style. Roses are also available in a variety of sizes, from small shrubs that are only 3-4 feet to tall climbers and rose bushes that can reach 8-20'.
Roses are a classic for a reason. They make a beautiful, instant focal point at the entrance to your garden. Knockout is a striking rose that blooms in vibrant colors throughout the summer time in zones 5 to 11. It requires minimal care. Rosa 'Parkdirektor' is another alternative. It has a huge amount of magenta pink blooms with an enticing scent throughout the summer. Both of these roses are less prone to thorns than most, making them safe for children and animals.
If you're in a tight space, think about low-growing plants to decorate the front of your home, like lavender or fragrant Geraniums. The plants that are fragrant like these provide a pleasant scent as you walk through the front door. They're also a delight to butterflies and bees.
If you have an entrance which is shaded, consider the groundcover 'Flower Carpet' Coral. This tough, fast-growing shrub covers the landscape with ribbons of coral-colored blooms all through the fall and summer stabilizing slopes and banks. You can also pick the climbing rose "Mortimer Sackler,' to frame your entrance. The climbing rose is medium-sized, light pink blooms that have pleasant old-rose scent. It can be planted up a wall, fence or free-standing support.
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas can bring color and drama to a landscape around a home especially when their long-blooming flower contrasts with the red trim of the home. They are perfect for planting as a foundation or in groups along the front. They make beautiful specimen plants or an attractive focal point in the garden. The most ideal time to plant hydrangeas is in early spring or fall, when the temperatures are cool and they don't have to expend a lot of energy.
Smooth hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) bloom on both new and old wood So you can anticipate a profusion of blooms from summer through fall. They are suitable for zones 5 to 9, and they require full sun or partial shade. In contrast to traditional "Annabelle" hydrangeas They don't slide in the heat of summer and are resistant to frost. Several new varieties offer new colors for this standard landscaping, such as the Incrediball and Invincibelle series.
Panicle hydrangeas like 'Limelight' and 'Little Lime' are hardy in Zones 3-8 and bloom on both old and new wood and will produce many blooms during a long season from late summer until the fall. The color of the flowers change throughout the year from white to green and pink to rose. These flowering plants are deer resistant and easy to grow which makes them a great choice for the front of your home.
Certain hydrangeas may become woody and require to keep their shape by trimming them back each year. Others, like the White Dome wild hydrangea (H. arborescens "Dardom") can be allowed to grow naturally, then cut to be dried flower stems. The plant is difficult to find in nurseries, but you may be able to purchase it from a nursery that specializes in plants.
Lavender
Lavender has been growing in gardens since the middle ages and its fragrant spikes of blue, mauve, and purple flowers have an elegant look that's well suited to many landscaping ideas. It's perfect for hedging and planting in beds, edging flower garden ideas or designs for herb gardens, or even lining paths. It is an excellent choice for border plants and wildlife or sensory garden designs, and also for the creation of borders for plants.
There are a variety of lavender that can be utilized in the garden. The most popular is Lavandula Stoechas, however other varieties are also available. For a more unusual flower, try Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas). Its petals are upright, and its blooms create an effect like a flag. This is similar to rosemary and can be utilized in herb gardens.
Another alternative is to pair lavender plants with evergreen plants to give an elegant feel to your landscape design. This traditional look has been used for long in the grand country gardens and can be adapted to smaller garden designs. The contrast of the textures of clipped evergreens and soft, fragrant lavender offer striking contrast.
Lavenders can be combined with perennials for a low-maintenance garden design that's easy to care for and can be grown in all climates. Planting them in conjunction with perennials such as yarrow (Achillea miltefolium) will complement the soft lavender flowers' purple.
Planting lavender alongside sedum can also be an excellent idea. The silvery green leaves will contrast nicely with the purple flowers. Sedum needs full sunlight and soil that drains well, so it's a great choice for rocky or sandy garden beds. It's also easy to grow and will keep on blooming through the fall.