Add to Your Curb Appeal with These Perfect Plants

Living

Gardening is a great way to get outside, breathe in the fresh air, and dig in the dirt. Adding curb appeal to your home is just a bonus.

If you’re gardening for curb appeal, pay attention to foundational plants first, then fill in with the stars of the show – flowers, ornamental shrubs, and the like. If you’re not sure where to start, this guide will tell you which plants are best and where to put them.

Put on your gardening gloves and grab a trowel. It’s time to get planting.

Curb Appeal Ideas for a Lush Front Yard

In general, plants at the front of your house serve a practical purpose as well as an aesthetic one.

Greenery hides the foundation, softens the line where the structure meets land, and gives your home a beautiful, cultivated look.

The Right Plants for Hiding the Foundation

Conceal your foundation and add interest and texture to the front of your home. Start with evergreens.

Evergreens, quite simply, are always green, and always look full and alive. This means you get coverage, interest, and structure in your front yard all year long. After all, nothing is more depressing than a dead, brown garden. If you choose only deciduous plants, you’ll get the benefits of leaves and shade for just part of the year.

Add Color and Interest

For beauty and filling in bare spots, go with flowering shrubs and perennials. These are the best plants for your front yard for low maintenance. Just make sure to give mature specimens at least one foot of space when planting them near the house. They’ll need room to grow and flourish.

There are some beautiful examples of deciduous perennial shrubs that provide ground coverage and color. Examples are goldenrod, wooly thyme, rose shrubs (like Red Meidiland Rose), and Elijah blue fescue.

For perennials, consider peonies, rhododendrons, lavender, azaleas, daffodils, or Hosta. You can also try herbs like lemon thyme and rosemary. To keep views from front windows clear (and to let sunlight in), choose dwarf or compact varieties.

Keep Your Choices Simple

When gardening for curb appeal, don’t go overboard. Don’t choose one of each plant in a rainbow of colors. You’ll end up with a wild tangle of a garden.

Instead, keep your plant choices to a few specimens. A good ratio to follow is 50% evergreens, 25% deciduous shrubs, and 25% perennials. Repeat your choices in clusters around the house. Stick to a limited color palette for an elegant look.

Curb Appeal Ideas Make Your Home Stand Out (in the Best Way)

If you want your house to look refined, beautiful, and at home in its surroundings, get planting. The right greenery, shrubs, and flowers will hide your foundation and soften the lines of your exterior. Your front garden will also give you the curb appeal you’ve been after. Follow this guide and you’ll have the prettiest front yard on the block.