Home » Misc » Hedges for front yard

Hedges for front yard


15 Best Evergreen and Flowering Shrubs for Hedges

Create Privacy With Natural Borders in Your Outdoor Space

By

David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. He was in the nursery business for over a decade, working with a large variety of plants. David has been interviewed by numerous newspapers and national U.S. magazines, such as Woman's World and American Way.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 09/30/22

Reviewed by

Kathleen Miller

Reviewed by Kathleen Miller

Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and Horticulturist who shares her knowledge of sustainable living, organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens, a working sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column.  She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

Fact checked by

Jessica Wrubel

Fact checked by Jessica Wrubel

Jessica Wrubel has an accomplished background as a writer and copy editor, working for various publications, newspapers and in public libraries assisting with reference, research and special projects. In addition to her journalism experience, she has been educating on health and wellness topics for over 15 years in and outside of the classroom.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

The Spruce / Autumn Wood

A hedge is a living wall composed of plants. Hedges can be purely decorative, primarily practical, or a combination of both. Hedge plants are either evergreen or deciduous shrubs, and they're often trimmed to precise sizes and shapes. Decorative hedges sometimes use flowering hedge plants for added visual interest. On the flip side, practical hedges that are intended for privacy screens, windbreaks, and security are often composed of densely growing and tall shrubs. They might have thorns (such as hawthorns) or prickly leaves (such as English holly).

Here are 15 plants that make a nice hedge, including flowering hedge plants and evergreen shrubs.

The Spruce 

Warning

Yew, holly, and several other shrubs are toxic, so be careful when growing them if children or pets are present.

19 Classy Living Privacy Fences (Plus Plant Examples)

Watch Now: Tips for Selecting the Right Shrubs

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Ilex aquifolium. NC State Extension. 

  2. Yew. Yale University.

  3. Holly Berries. National Capital Poison Control Center.

  4. The Invasive Japanese Barberry. Penn State Extension.

  5. Deer. Missouri Botanical Garden.

  6. Privet. PennState Extension.

  7. Pruning Evergreens in the Landscape. University of Vermont Extension.

  8. Canadian Hemlock. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.

18 Best Shrubs For Front Of House Landscaping

Looking for some interesting, low-maintenance plants to incorporate into a new landscape design? Or, to spice up your curb appeal? There’s no better place to start than with shrubs.

Shrubs can also protect the foundation of your home and other structures with their dense root systems. So, making the right choice is important.

I know, wading through all the options seems daunting. With everything from evergreen shrubs to deciduous ornamentals, how do you stay afloat?

Allow me to take you on a gentle cruise through the best shrubs for front yards and gardens. 

Table Of Contents

  1. Best Evergreen Shrubs For Front of House
  2. Small Shrubs for The Front Of Your Home 
  3. Low Growing Bushes For Front of House 
  4. Front Yard Flowering Shrubs And Bushes 
  5. Ornamental Front Yard Shrubs 
  6. Hedges For Front of House 
  7. Considerations When Landscaping With Bushes 
  8. Best Shrubs For Front Yard Final Thoughts 

Best Evergreen Shrubs For Front of House

Evergreens are essential components of effective landscape design. Offering year-round color and texture, while providing food and shelter for local wildlife.

Below, take a look at my top three picks for front-yard evergreen shrubs. Complete with low-maintenance features, unique characteristics, and growing habits.

To narrow down the best shrub option for your particular space, as you read through them, ask yourself the following questions:

Sunshine Ligustrum Shrub

(Ligustrum sinense)

Buy Now

These fast-growing mounds of sunshine mature to 4ft around and can grow 2ft, in one season. Filling in your borders and becoming cost-effective choices, with equal speed, in zones 6-10.

Partial sun and well-draining soil (with a pH of 6.0 – 8.0) will encourage vibrant color and robust growth.

Shrub Appeal

These brightly-hued yellow bushes present sturdy, upright branches cloaked in small, golden-chartreuse leaves. In fertile soil, small, white flowers appear, in summer, that become purple, ornamental berries, in autumn. 

Shrub Care

Water when surface soil dries to 1- 3” down. Slow-release fertilizer granules can be applied, in spring, when needed. Pruning is only necessary to remove damaged branches. 

Blue Star Juniper Shrub 

(Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’)

Buy Now

Shrub Summary

This glowing Juniper has a slow growth rate (1ft every 5 years), reaching only 2-3ft tall and wide, at maturity, in zones 4-8.

In full sun and sandy soil, with a 5.0-8.0 pH, this small, shimmering shrub will contribute color, exciting texture, and very low-maintenance form to any landscape style.

Shrub Appeal

Sparkling blue pines on short, out-stretched arms, create striking contrast in borders and rock gardens. Blue Star Junipers also work well for erosion control or as foundation plantings.

Shrub Care

Water your Blue Star Juniper when it’s dry down to 2”. Fertilize in late winter or early spring with a 10-10-10 NPK. Pruning is seldom needed. 

Dwarf Hinoki Cypress Shrub 

(Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana Gracilis’)

Buy Now

Shrub Summary

Despite its name, the dwarf Hinoki still matures to 6ft by 4ft, at a rate of 6”, per year. Making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance privacy hedges or foundation plantings, in zones 4-8.

Full-to-partial sun and well-draining soil, with a 5.0-6.0 pH, will cultivate healthy form and growth.

Shrub Appeal

Mature, hunter-green spikes, with a braided appearance, blend beautifully with new, light-green ones. All grow in soft sprays along upright branches, providing color and appeal in any size spot.

Shrub Care

Water when the soil feels dry down 2”. Fertilize in year two after planting, for robust growth and root formation. Pruning is only needed to maintain the desired form. 

Small Shrubs for The Front Of Your Home 

Say you want to add some soft, floral color to those shady, currently-bare areas under your front yard trees. What can you imagine there? A fluffy hydrangea or maybe a creeping clematis?

Perhaps you have some empty planter boxes just begging for something pretty. Or an eye-sore AC unit that needs a make-over.

As we’ve seen, brilliant color doesn’t always come from flowers. But, with the next three shrub examples, it does. It was dazzling the imagination and provided food for thought. 

Endless Summer Pop Star Bigleaf Hydrangea 

(Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Bailmacsix”)

Buy Now

Shrub Summary

Pop Star Hydrangeas grow 4’ tall and wide. Yet, it can be pruned to remain short. Old wood buds provide early-season color, with buds on new growth typically blooming six weeks later, in zones 4-9.

Pop Stars grow best in the dappled sunlight beneath large trees. Soil should be acidic, well-draining, and moist. 

Shrub Appeal

Given their versatility, these prolific bloomers can be planted under trees, in planter boxes and pots, or along walkways. If you like pink flowers, raise the soil pH. For blue or purple, just lower it.

Shrub Care

Water with an inch of water each week, including rainfall. Fertilize once in mid-summer and prune in spring to remove browned branch tips. 

Variegated Boxwood Shrub 

(Buxus sempervirens ‘Aureo-variegata’)

Buy Now

Shrub Summary

The sparkling variegation on each tiny leaf gives this boxwood variety a stunning presence in front yard landscapes. Its dense, rounded growth habit won’t extend beyond 5’ in any direction and is usually sculpted to remain small.  Fluid patterns are most prominent when planted in filtered sunlight and well-draining soil with a 5.5-7.2 pH, in zones 6-8.

Shrub Appeal

The evergreen Aureo-Variegata presents small, dark-to-medium green leaves with eye-catching patterns of white, cream, and yellow that enhance dimension and visual effect. 

Shrub Care

Water to maintain moist (but not soggy) soil. Fertilize with a 10-10-10 NPK, in spring. Prune to your desired shape before new growth in spring. 

New Love Clematis Shrub 

(Clematis heracleifolia)

Buy Now

Shrub Summary

Have you ever seen a shrubby clematis? The fledgling New Love slowly matures to 3ft by 2ft, in zones 3-9.

In full/partial sun and cool, moist soil, with a 6.0-7.0 pH, this plant will erupt with clusters of curly flowers. 

Shrub Appeal

This remarkable Clematis has a mounded growing habit that adds rich color and form to perennial borders. Star-shaped, indigo blossoms have slender, curled petals with a subtle fragrance and bloom from summer through early fall.

Shrub Care

Water when the soil is dry down 2 to 3”. Well-aged compost can be added to the planting hole, for nutrients. Prune after blooming for shaping and fuller blooming the next season. 

Low Growing Bushes For Front of House 

The category of “low-growing bushes” encompasses those with fragrant flowers and deciduous foliage to cold-hardy, vibrant evergreens. 

These next three can be placed to function as lovely foundation plantings or pruned a bit to act as creeping, ground covers. They can even be added to container combinations as the “thriller” component.

Some display their versatility by cascading down over rock gardens and window boxes. Others are slow-growing and very low-maintenance. Yet, still provide stunning visual interest.

Snow-N-Summer Asiatic Jasmine Shrub 

(Trachelospermum asiaticum ‘HOSNS’)

Buy Now

Shrub Summary

This spectacular ground cover reaches 18” tall by 3’ wide. Typically growing 12” per year, in zones 7-9. 

The Snow-n-Summer jasmine produces vibrant color and robust growth in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-draining soils with a 5.5 pH.

Shrub Appeal

This unique Jasmine cultivar sprouts pink leaves that fade to pure white, before maturing with variegated patterns of cream and green. Summer brings the addition of fragrant, white flowers.

Shrub Care

Water when the soil is dry down 3”. Fertilize with a slow-release, triple 10 NPK in spring. Pruning is only needed to remove damaged vines and branches. 

Purple Daydream Dwarf Loropetalum 

(Loropetalum chinense ‘PIILC-III’ PP25471)

Buy Now

Shrub Summary

This dwarf, weeping shrub matures to a petite 1- 2’ tall by 4-5’ wide, at a moderate rate of 6-12”, per year, in zones 7-10.

The color is deeper and more vibrant when planted in full sun/light shade and loamy, acidic soil with a 4. 5-6.5 pH.

Shrub Appeal

This petite bloomer shines the color of a dark, moonlit night. Purple foliage releases pink fringe flowers, in spring. Drought-tolerant and deer resistant, these are appealing additions to pots and borders.

Shrub Care

Water Loropetalum thoroughly, once or twice a week, until maturity. Fertilize after blooming with an 8-8-8 NPK. Pruning is only necessary to maintain the desired shape, after flowering. 

Green Mound Juniper 

(Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’)

Buy Now

Shrub Summary

The cutest, little evergreen you’ll ever see is Nana Juniper. Growing to just 8-12” tall, this can spread to 4.5ft, making it a wonderful ground cover, in zones 4-9.

A lovely, mounding growth habit develops when planted in full sun and moist, well-draining soil with a 5.0-7.0 pH.

Shrub Appeal

The green mound juniper radiates clustered plumes of spiky, blue-green needles around long, trailing branches. Color holds firm, year-round, taking on a purple hue in sub-zero temperatures.

Shrub Care

Fairly drought-tolerant, the Green Mound Juniper requires regular watering for healthy growth. Fertilize in early spring and mid-fall with a granular shrub fertilizer. Pruning isn’t necessary due to its slow growth rate. 

Front Yard Flowering Shrubs And Bushes 

Flowering shrubs support a gentle flow from season to season. Especially when you choose ones for your front yard that flower in different seasons. For example:

Arnold Promise Witch hazel – blooms early spring to mid-summer

August Beauty Gardenia – bloom mid-spring to mid-summer

Peaches & Cream Honeysuckle Vine – bloom mid-summer to fall

Yuletide Camellia – late fall to early spring

Of course, there are many flowering shrubs that you can choose from that will create a continuous, seasonal show. Let’s take a look at three that fit that bill, perfectly. 

August Beauty Gardenia Shrub 

(Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Beauty’)

Buy Now

Shrub Summary

This mid-spring bloomer works well as a privacy shrub, maturing to a substantial 5’ tall by 3’ wide, at a moderate growth rate of 1-2’ per year, in zones 8-11.

Prolific blooming and vigorous growth occur in full sun/light shade and fertile, acidic soil with a 5.0-6.0 pH.

Shrub Appeal

The August Beauty Gardenia produces highly perfumed, double-petaled, white blooms amid densely growing, tear-drop leaves in a contrasting dark green.

Shrub Care

Water weekly or when the soil is dry to 2” down. Fertilize from April-November with a high-nitrogen gardenia NPK. Prune after blooming to dead-head spent flowers, improve air circulation, and remove any damaged branches. 

Yuletide Camellia 

(Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’)

Buy Now

Shrub Summary

At a rate of 6-12” per year, this hardy camellia matures to 8-10’ tall and wide. Its upright growing habit makes a fine privacy barrier for foundation planting, in zones 7-10.

The Yuletide Camellia prefers partial shade, to avoid leaf and flower scorch, and loamy, well-draining soil with a 5. 5-6.5 pH.

Shrub Appeal

Dark, glossy, evergreen foliage supports energetic red blooms, with contrasting yellow centers, that light up the winter landscape in temperate climates. Sending a vintage rose fragrance on the breeze. 

Shrub Care

Water weekly or when the soil is dry to 3” down. Fertilize in spring, after blooming, with a slow-release NPK for acid-loving plants. Prune to remove spent blooms and any damaged branches. 

Peaches & Cream Honeysuckle Vine 

(Lonicera periclymenum)

Buy Now

Shrub Summary

Also known as Woodbine or European honeysuckle, this unique bloomer can vine out 12ft, in all directions, at a rate of 1-2’ per year, in zones 4-8. 

Blooms abound in dappled sunlight and fertile, moist, yet well-draining soil with a 6.0-8.0 pH.

Shrub Appeal

Long, oval leaves in mid-green hues create the backdrop for striking, highly-fragrant flowers that open to individual cream, peach, and pink petals from soft burgundy buds. In late summer, red and purple berries develop, offering food for wildlife. 

Shrub Care

Limit watering in humid conditions and water only when soil is dry. A low-nitrogen NPK, in spring, will encourage lush blooming. Pruning is only necessary to remove over-wandering vines. 

Ornamental Front Yard Shrubs 

By definition, an ornamental is grown for purely aesthetic purposes, rather than for food or sale. 

Evergreen and deciduous ornamentals offer unique features, such as flowers and fruit, variegated foliage, and shrubs that put on a great autumn show.  

Even with such a high, visual impact, these can also be low-maintenance and functional. Ornate shrubs can help filter out air pollutants in urban areas. When planted near your home, these will also keep your house cool in summer and warm in winter. 

Mohave Pyracantha (Firethorn) Shrub 

(Pyracantha x ‘Mohave’)

Buy Now

Shrub Summary

This fiery Pyracantha is a beautiful privacy shrub that will add warmth to gardens in zones 4-8. Growing to a mature size of 9ft tall and wide, the Pyracantha thrives when planted in full sun and moist, well-draining soil with a pH range of 5.0-8.0.

Shrub Appeal

The Mohave Firethorn is an upright, evergreen presenting glossy, green leaves on thorny stems. In late spring, white flowers cover the shrub before developing into abundant orange-red berries in autumn.

Shrub Care

One inch of water per week will maintain sufficient moisture. A slow-release, 10-10-10 NPK will increase flower and berry production, when applied in late winter. Prune to maintain shape and remove any damaged branches. 

Obsession Nandina Shrub 

(Nandina domestica ‘SEIKA’)

Buy Now

Shrub Summary

The warm glow of the Nandina Domestica contributes color and attention-grabbing interest in warmer zones 8-10.

Growing to 8ft tall and 4ft wide, at maturity, this stunning ornamental prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-draining soil with a 3.7-6.4 pH.

Shrub Appeal

Evergreen in warm climates and deciduous in colder ones, this “heavenly bamboo” sprouts peachy-pink, arrow-shaped leaves that mature to dark red, then dark green. Creating a vivid, multi-hued feature that’s covered with small white flowers, in summer. 

Shrub Care

Water weekly or when soil is dry to 3” down. Fertilize in spring and early fall, with a slow-release 10-10-10 NPK. Prune only to maintain a tidy appearance. 

Golden Dew Tufted Hair Grass 

(Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’)

Buy Now

Shrub Summary

Native to the North American prairies, this hardy hair grass grows in dense clumps, 2-3ft tall and wide, in zones 3-8.  

Evergreen foliage stands tall and resilient when planted in partial sun and fertile, moist soil with a 3.7-8.3 pH.

Shrub Appeal

A dramatic fountain of grass releases tall sprays of silvery-purple, summer blooms that change color with age. Maturing to a reddish-brown then a buttery yellow. Seedheads remain for winter interest, taking on a bronze tint. 

Shrub Care

Water weekly or when soil is dry to 2” down. Fertilize with a slow-release 10-10-10 NPK. Pruned down to the soil in late winter for healthy, spring growth

Hedges For Front of House 

Making the right shrub choices for your front yard is key to increasing your home’s curb appeal and its property value, from an exterior perspective. Not to mention, pride of ownership.

We’ve seen some fantastic evergreen and deciduous examples that will add beauty and visual interest to your garden, as features or foundation plantings.

Yet, there are shrubs that take garden interest into the realm of architectural form, such as hedges. These final picks for best front yard shrubs do just that, in the most stunning and low-maintenance way. 

Wintergreen Boxwood Shrub 

(Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘Wintergreen’)

Buy Now

Shrub Summary

The Wintergreen Boxwood shines in its ability to hold its color in the bleakest of winters, in zones 4-9. Gradually maturing to 2-4’ tall by 3-5ft wide, it will thrive in full morning/afternoon sun and loamy, well-draining soil with a 6.5-7.5 pH.

Shrub Appeal

The Wintergreen boxwood is a broadleaf evergreen with small, densely-growing leaves in varying shades of green. This cultivar is widely used for framing flower borders, beds, and entry pathways.

Shrub Care

Water twice per week during the growing season. Apply a slow-release shrub fertilizer, in spring, when necessary. Prune only to maintain the desired shape or to remove damaged branches. 

Autumn Fire Encore Azalea Shrub

(Rhododendron ‘Autumn Fire’)

Buy Now

Shrub Summary

For a more colorful hedge, the dwarf Autumn Fire delivers. Maturing 2.5ft tall by 3ft wide, reaching maximum size within 5 years, this shrub creates a beautiful garden partition, in zones 6-10.

Blooms will be plentiful when planted in full/partial sun and well-drained soil with a 5.5-6.0 pH.

Shrub Appeal

This dwarf azalea packs a full-sized punch, producing masses of velvety, crimson blooms in spring and fall. Glossy, dark green foliage creates an attractive hedge that takes on purple and bronze hues, in winter. 

Shrub Care

Water when the soil is dry, 2-3” down. Fertilize with slow-release, Azalea granules. Prune only if needed, after the second flowering. 

Gulf Stream Heavenly Bamboo

(Nandina domestica ‘Gulf Stream’)

Buy Now

Shrub Summary

The cold-hardy ‘Gulf Stream’ Nandina adds a tropical touch to hedges, in zones 6-11. Maturing to 2.5-3ft tall and wide, at a rate of 12” per year, this prefers partial sun and fertile soil, with a 3.7-6.4 pH.

Shrub Appeal

New leaves on this fuss-free shrub emerge scarlet red and mature to blue-green by summer, as small white flowers appear. Vibrant, red foliage develops as autumn temperatures cool.

Shrub Care

Water well when soil is dry, down 2”. Fertilize in early spring and mid-summer with an NPK for acid-loving plants. Prune to remove dead and spindly stems, in warm climates and down by half, in colder ones.  

Considerations When Landscaping With Bushes 

Shrubs with interesting features, such as those above, have become increasingly popular over the years and are now widely used in landscape design.

Dazzling florals and evergreens soothe the senses while increasing the wow factor with steadfast structure and color, with little maintenance or effort.

When considering each of these examples, and imagining one or two of them in your garden, keep in mind the following factors:

When each of these ticks the right boxes for your proposed planting space, you’ll know you’ve found the perfect one. 

Best Shrubs For Front Yard Final Thoughts 

The positive impact shrubs can have on your front yard is boundless. With the vast number to choose from, many are versatile enough to complement any landscape design style. 

Evergreens like the Sunshine Ligustrum or the Blue Star Juniper comfortably flourish in lush cottage gardens and xeriscape terrains. The Purple Daydream® Dwarf Loropetalum can be seen coloring walkways of both modern and vintage homes. 

But, the easiest ones to care for, with the biggest visual impact, are just above, right at your fingertips.

selection of plants, planting and care, use in landscaping

Decorative hedge will decorate any garden. It is not only decorative, but also useful. The hedge is an important element in garden landscaping and also serves some important functions.

In England, the hedge appeared more than a thousand years ago - with its help, landowners fenced their land. Initially, the hedge was carried out as a function of the fence.

Hedge height and functions

In order to select suitable plants for an ornamental hedge, it is necessary to determine its main function.

In modern design, the hedge solves several problems:

- creates living walls;

- creates a dense fence to protect any garden from strangers;

- green screen, used as a noise and dust barrier, protecting the garden from strong winds;

- division of the garden into certain zones; nine0003

- camouflage of buildings.

The hedge is subdivided according to height:

- 50 cm - curbs;

- 50 cm - 1 m - low;

- 1-1.5 m - medium;

- 2 m high.

Ornamental hedge, as a rule, is made up of medium-sized or low-growing plants, since the main task is to decorate the garden.

The shape of the hedge can be:

- regular, traditional, or molded - in it the plants merge into one mass; nine0003

- free-growing or unshaped, the plants are clearly visible in it.

For borders, low-growing shrubs are used: dwarf barberries and spireas, boxwood, holly mahonia, lavender, polyanthus roses, heather.

Hedges require constant maintenance. The hedge needs increased attention and requires a lot of trouble; the hedge is trimmed three times in one season.

Therefore, for hedges, fast-growing, dense plants that can easily tolerate shearing are chosen. For example, it is hawthorn, barberry, brilliant cotoneaster, privet. nine0003

A free-growing ornamental hedge suitable for flowering shrubs and plants with interesting foliage that attracts attention. For example: mock orange, common lilac, Japanese quince, three-lobed almond, elderberry (black and red), white deren, purple hazel, barberries, profusely flowering spirea and other plants.

Many varieties of barberry with different colored foliage can be used to create an attractive colorful decorative hedge.

For this it is necessary to select well-matched plants with red, pink, crimson, golden, green and variegated leaf color. nine0003

With this planting, blocks of the same varieties are sometimes repeated along the entire length of the decorative hedge. This achieves a great decorative effect.

Hedge as a fence and screen

As a rule, thorny plants are used to create a hedge against penetration into the garden. For this purpose, different types of barberry, hawthorn and wild rose are suitable, as well as sea buckthorn, narrow-leaved sucker, blackthorn.

To protect your site from noise, wind and dust, tall shrubs (over 1.5 m) are suitable. For example, also wild rose, hawthorn, sea buckthorn, lilac and other large plants. nine0003

They are planted as young seedlings. Older shrubs and trees are used to decorate a high hedge.

To divide the garden plot into zones, it is better to use a low-growing sheared decorative hedge.

It is not necessary to use flowering shrubs for this purpose, as flower-bearing shoots are removed due to constant shearing.

When you need to hide unsightly corners of the garden or an outbuilding, tall decorative hedges will do. Or plant vines, making them a support. nine0003

Climbing roses, edible grapes, annual creepers (beans, sweet peas, nasturtium) and perennial creepers (curly honeysuckle, clematis, parthenocissus) are planted from climbing plants.

Dense and high hedge is beautiful and reliable, but in the garden it obscures neighboring plants.

Establishing an ornamental hedge

Select the right plants for the ornamental hedge. You need to use only those plants that winter without problems in your area. nine0003

Hedges look best in full sun, where most plant species thrive and flower well, and are less bare.

Decorative hedge can be with one or two rows of plants.

Single-row hedges are made from tree species with a dense crown. For example, spirea, alpine currant, hawthorn.

Plants that have loose branching (acacia, sea buckthorn) are suitable for a two-row hedge - in this case, the seedlings are staggered for best development. nine0003

Ornamental hedge care

Decorative hedge is created from flowering and ornamental leafy plants of various species. A climbing hedge needs support, but a woody wall does not need support.

As woody hedges are planted for a long time, proper care is essential.

It is incorrectly believed that most shrubs grow on their own, however, they sometimes require at least the slightest care. nine0003

Loosen and weed the soil under the hedge, feed and water the plants.

Molded hedges need to be trimmed regularly to maintain a neat appearance, forming a rectangle, triangle or trapezoid depending on plant growth and specific landscaping needs.

Annually cut 5 cm higher than the previous one until the desired hedge height is reached. Then maintain the appropriate type of hedge with a constant haircut.

Its frequency depends on the growth of shoots. Slow-growing breeds are sheared once a year. Spruce hedges are sheared not earlier than four years after planting. nine0003

Free-growing hedges are not cut at all. They require sanitary pruning of sick and old branches.

When creating a decorative hedge in your garden, you need to remember that over time, some types of shrubs expose the lower part, which then has to be covered with other plants.

In the foreground, low-growing shrubs can be planted to decorate the old hedge.

tips, ideas and ready-made projects

Walking through the streets of the private sector, one involuntarily pays attention to the design of courtyards. Particularly attractive are beautiful, tastefully decorated landscapes, near which you want to stay longer. Unusual compositions with artificial ponds, waterfalls, with elements of topiary, alpine slides and rockeries are interesting. Creating an extraordinary landscape in the yard requires work and knowledge of the basics of its design. nine0003

Contents

Principles of planning a yard near a private house

Yard is a part of a land plot adjacent to a private house. It is divided into the front, or front yard, and back. The front yard is between the facade of the apartment building and the fence. It is open to everyone who wants to look behind the fence, and is the calling card of the owners. For this reason, its design is treated with particular scrupulousness.

The back yard is behind the house and hidden from prying eyes. A secluded resting place is arranged here, outbuildings are located, poultry and animals are kept. nine0003

The layout of the yard largely depends on the size of the plot and the needs of the family. But there are general principles of its improvement, which the majority adheres to. The list of objects located on the territory of the yard includes technical buildings and decorative elements of the landscape. The first of them are a necessity, since they provide comfort to the owners of the house, and the second ones are needed to satisfy their aesthetic needs.

The objects of technical importance include a garage, a parking lot, a summer kitchen, a guest house, an arbor, an aviary for a dog. A garage and a parking lot are usually located just outside the gate, and other buildings are located in the depths, where road noise and street dust do not reach. An aviary or booth for a dog is arranged in a dead corner, but not too far from the outer fence. nine0003

Objects of decorative value, these are flower beds, ponds, deciduous and coniferous plantations, lawns, small architectural structures, etc. Their number depends on the area of ​​the yard and such elements in most situations are located along the fences and walls of outbuildings.

The space directly in front of the porch is not accepted to be filled with vegetation - it must remain free for movement. On the site at the entrance to the house, tiles or other paving covering are laid. nine0003

Exception to rule. When the yard is spacious enough, flower beds are broken near the porch on the side of the steps, where flower beds do not interfere with movement.

Front yard seating area

Pergola or shed, this is common in the front yard. They are surrounded by flower beds and climbing plants, and together they make up a landscape composition.

If there is free space, you can complete the picture with any hydraulic structure: a waterfall, a fountain, an artificial pond. The proximity of water contributes to a special microclimate, especially desirable near the place of rest. nine0003

It is very popular to build a patio in front of the porch. Proximity to the front door to the house makes it possible to spend every free minute outdoors. Here you can drink a cup of morning coffee, gather with your family for evening tea or keep secrets with friends and girlfriends.

On a small paved area, a table and a few chairs are set - these are the most necessary items in the arrangement of the patio area. Potted plants and sheer curtains providing light shade, comfortable wicker furniture and cushions are used to create a cozy environment. nine0003

Important. It is possible to create a full-fledged resting place on the territory of the front yard when it is isolated from the road by a blank fence or a high hedge. Otherwise, it will not be very comfortable to spend time in a sincere conversation at the sight of prying eyes. Moreover, you will not be able to relax in a hammock or on a garden sofa swing.

How to set up a backyard

Backyard design with gazebo, patio area and pond

Between the house and the garden there is a space that is used in two directions: for a garage with a parking lot for a car and a resting place. If there is enough space, you can do both by dividing it with a hedge, a vertical green screen, or a flower garden. At the same time, the garage with parking is located closer to the gate.

The back yard is the best place for a recreation area near a private house. It is easy to create a completely isolated space here, inaccessible to the views of neighbors and street dust. On the one hand, it is protected from the wind by the wall of the house, on the other hand by an orchard, and from the side of the neighboring plot it is separated by a fence. By constructing a light canopy, you can spend time in the backyard seating area without fear of summer rain. nine0003

This is where it is most convenient to create a barbecue area, install a barbecue or fold a garden stove.

It is also a suitable area for creating a sports ground, a place for children to play with a sandbox and swings.

Naturally, the backyard, regardless of its purpose, is decorated with various types of flower beds, it is appropriate to plant tall coniferous and deciduous trees here.

Paths and paving

A hard surface in the yard is important from a hygienic point of view. It allows you to keep the yard clean, and it is easier to take care of it: wash, remove leaves, throw away snow. Most often, continuous paving is used, when most of the yard area is laid out with paving slabs. Paths are laid from paving in different directions, helping to get to various areas: a garden, auxiliary buildings, a shower, a bathhouse, and so on.

Ford type paving is mainly used to create paths to various objects. The principle of its device is that a gap is left between the individual tiles. nine0003

At the same time, for ease of movement, the distance should not be more than 30 cm, and the tiles themselves are chosen large enough so that the foot fits completely on them. The space between the elements of this type of path is filled with lawn grass, pebbles, small gravel.

What to make paving and paths:

It is also possible to make a concrete screed with the prospect that some tile material will be laid on it in the future.

Plants in the design of the yard

Flower beds and flowerbeds help to create a special flavor around the house. The type of vegetation is selected depending on the style in which the site is designed. The size of the yard, the degree of its illumination and the design of the house are also taken into account. nine0003

Bulbous

Bulbous flowers will provide a spring explosion of colors: tulips, lilies, hazel grouses, daffodils, muscari, alliums, saffrons . Their flowering period is not very long, but many species and varieties allow you to choose plants in such a way that it lasts from April to early June. At the end of flowering, the bulbs completely wither, modestly giving way to other horticultural crops.

Conifers

Variety of shapes spruces, pines, junipers and arborvitae opens up space in the landscaping of the yard area. They are used in the creation of hedges, are present in mixborders, planted in rocky gardens and as tapeworms on green lawns. Undersized and dwarf species are popular because they are suitable for decorating small yards and are used as container crops.

Dwarf conifers

Ornamental shrubs

Background plants are designed to emphasize the bright colors of beautifully flowering perennials. In this performance, 9 are of interest.0014 snowberry, privet, tamarisk, mackerel, lilac . They will cover the fence and barn and will not divert attention from more refined plantings, such as roses, hydrangeas, peonies or irises.

Shrubs with decorative foliage and lush flowering act as dominant plants. These are Thunberg barberry , forsythia, various types of spirea, spindle tree, viburnum buldenezh, louisiana, viburnum viburnum .

Tip. Evergreen shrubs and trees will add showiness to the flower composition: boxwood, holly mahonia, holly, cinquefoil, aucuba.

Perennials

Flower beds are based on herbaceous perennials. They define the backbone of the flower bed, around which the rest of the composition is built. For sunny places, erigeron, liatris, anemone, yucca, are suitable, and sedum and hosta grow well in the shade.

The space left between perennials is filled with annual flowers that bloom all summer.

Lianas

Liana-like plants seem to be created for decorating the yard. They braid arbors, arches, fences, porch posts. Climbing plantations are used to create green screens when zoning the garden, separating outbuildings from the front part of the yard.

Clematis in gazebo landscaping

Often planted in the front garden in front of the house clematis . Their not too dense foliage transmits light well, and at the same time creates a kind of curtain that protects open windows from dust penetration.

Always in demand climbing roses , which can be planted near the porch, at the gate, at the entrance to the gazebo. Their long flowering period provides an atmosphere of conviviality throughout the summer season.

Climbing roses on a garden arch

Landscape features of the yard

The total area of ​​the land allotment does not always affect the size of the yard. Rather, how much land can be allocated to the yard depends on whether the owners plan to grow vegetables and fruits or not. If so, then on a small plot, a vegetable garden and a garden often take priority at the expense of the yard area.

Design of a small yard

It is difficult to make a large yard on a plot of 6 acres, but you can deceive the perception and expand it visually. A tiny pond will capture attention and distract from the surrounding background. nine0003

The illusion of an increase in territory will be stronger if the pond is made elongated. It is best to place it along the longest line. A similar effect of expanding space is felt in a landscape with a fountain installed on a hill.

If the allotment has an elongated shape, a small strip of land remains between the facade of the building and the fence for the front garden.

It is most practical to cover this area with paving, leaving narrow strips of earth around the perimeter along the fence for flower beds. Also suitable is the option when the flower garden is broken behind the fence. It will visually move the yard away from the road and brighten up its tightness. In such a situation, the garage takes place in the very corner, and the parking lot is also taken out of the fence. nine0003

A resting place near a house with a small yard is recommended to be arranged in the backyard. It will be easier to spend your leisure time here. The gazebo is sometimes arranged close to the house and has a common wall with it.

Yard design on a plot of 10 acres

A land plot of 10 acres allows you to allocate about 3 acres for the front yard (but this is not a rule and depends on the location of the house on the plot). The classic option is when the house is maximally shifted to the border with neighbors, and the porch is turned towards the gate. In such a situation, on the opposite side, there is sufficient space for arranging a yard with a front garden. Not only a recreation area is arranged here. There is still enough space left to create a beautiful landscape with a mixborder, a rose garden, an alpine slide. nine0003

Since a garage is indispensable, it is taken out as close as possible to the gate: only a parking area remains between the gate and the garage.

This layout has its advantages. The building of technical importance (garage) closes the view from the street, thanks to which behind its walls you can create a full-fledged recreation area, a playground, and build a sauna.

Yard design on a plot of 15 acres

On a large plot of land there is a unique opportunity to build a house in the depths of the plot. The area in front of the cottage is completely at the disposal of its owners. It is divided into two main zones: an ornamental garden and a recreation area. nine0003

The main elements of the garden are flower beds, which are located on both sides of the path leading from the gate to the porch. The design of flower beds is the most diverse, but when breaking them down, it should be taken into account that the variegation of flower beds and the piling up of many types of vegetation tires the eye. Landscape designers recommend interspersing flower beds with cut lawns and separating them with low hedges.

Uneven terrain with a rocky landscape looks original. If the site is flat and its area allows, you can artificially create elevation differences, fill them with decorative gravel and create a corner of the mountain landscape. nine0003

An artificial pond, a dry stream, wide steps on steep slopes - all these are interesting ideas for decorating a front yard.

There can be more than one recreation area in a large yard.

Learn more