detailed study about front yard landscaping

1. Submitted by
Aravindh
101113002
FRONTYARD
LANDSCAPING

2. Traditionally, front yards serve two main
purposes: providing an entrance to your
space and creating curb appeal.
A well-designed front yard landscape, with
appropriately sized and placed elements, will
indeed increase the curb appeal of the
design. The landscaping should put the
building on display by complementing its
architecture and welcoming visitors.
Landscaping options for enhancing the front
of the building abound. We can choose a
formal look with a courtyard circling a
fountain. Or we can go more natural, with a
meandering pathway lined with native plants.
We can even create a private space for
outdoor entertaining. Whatever we decide, be
sure to spend plenty of time determining the
look we want and planning how to achieve it.

3. Front Yard Walkway Ideas
Walkways are an important part of front
yard landscaping. A beautiful walkway will
greatly enhance building’s curb appeal and
provide a way for people to get to your front
door. We'll want the walkway to look nice
and be easy to walk on since it will serve as
an entrance to the building. Whether it will
lead straight to the front door, or to a
small courtyard garden or porch, there are
many design options for front yard
walkways.
Three important front walkway design
considerations:
 Width
 Shape
 Paving Materials

4. Front Porch Ideas
Adding a front porch to building or improving an existing one can help create a sense of arrival. Entry porches
have their roots all the way back in ancient Rome, where many buildings featured grand porticos that served as
a transition from the outdoors into the building. Today porches serve three purposes:
 They highlight a home's entrance by framing the front door
 They provide a protected transition where guests can wipe their feet, or leave umbrellas
 Large porches can be used as a place to spend time with family and friends
When adding a porch to a home it is vital to make sure the style of the porch matches with the existing
architecture. A landscape designer will be able to help you integrate the front porch so that it appears to have
always been a part of the home. Below are some front porch ideas based on the architectural style of the home.

5. Front Porch Ideas
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE PORCH IDEAS
Colonial
• Small entry porch that frames the door
• Classical columns
• Triangular or gabled roof line
• Hanging lantern
• Learn more about colonial landscaping
Farm & Ranch
• Large, veranda-like porch
• May wrap-around the home
• Wooden posts and railings
• Wide entry steps
• Roof line slopes away from home

6. Front Porch Ideas
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE PORCH IDEAS
Craftsman or Bungalow
• Medium porch
• Well integrated into architecture
• Roof line of home extends to cover porch
• Exposed rafters and beams
• Tapered posts with stone work at the base
Modern
• Open porch, no railings
• As few posts as possible
• Flat roof, awning or arbour
• If railings are essential, metal railings are
suggestable

7. Front Porch Ideas
The flooring material for a porch also depends largely on the style of the home. A tropical style house would benefit
from a porch made of Brazilian ipe decking, while a colonial home would look great with a brick porch. Just
remember that the most important thing to consider when selecting porch flooring is outdoor durability.
Whether if the building has a porch or are planning on adding a new one, a front porch provides a great
opportunity for landscaping. Container gardens can be placed flanking the steps or baskets of flowers can be hung
from the porch roof. Climbing plants can be grown on the posts or over panels of lattice work to add privacy. For a
more formal look, well-manicured topiaries can stand on either side of the front door.

8. Front Yard Garden Ideas
Cedar raised bed Brick path serves as a line of symmetry
Trees along the walls Existing white picket fence encloses
garden

9. Front Yard Fencing
Picket Fencing
The most popular fencing style for front yards is the
traditional picket. Picket fences are usually less than
three feet tall and are highly decorative. These
characteristics make them well-suited for the front
yard because they comply with codes and add to the
curb appeal of the home. If a home is a traditional,
yet casual appearance, a picket fence will be a good
match. Picket fences are available in wood and vinyl.
Wrought Iron Fencing
Another popular fencing style for front yards is wrought
iron. Wrought iron’s decorative finials and transparent
nature make it a good option for front yards. Transparency
is important because you don’t want to make your front
yard appear closed off and unwelcoming. If your home’s
architecture is formal than a wrought iron fence is the
perfect complement. Nowadays, wrought iron fences are
primarily made of aluminium and powder-coated various
colours, with black being the choice of most homeowners.

10. Front Yard Fencing
Front Yard Privacy Fence
If the local codes allow, a tall privacy fence can be
built in front yard. If the building don't have much
space in back, this can be a good way to reclaim the
front yard and use it for outdoor living. This fence is
set back a few feet from the sidewalk to allow for
planting space. The plants in front of the fence soften
its appearance and create curb appeal. An Asian-
inspired gate and pergola, set back even further into
the yard, mark the entrance to this property.
Driveway Gates
If you plan to install fencing around your front yard you will
likely need a driveway gate. Driveway gates provide
security for your home, while allowing easy access for you
and your guests. Plus, a well-designed driveway gate can
serve as a focal point of your front yard. This particular
driveway gate is a custom creation that combines wrought
iron and wood. This gate style would go particularly well
with a Mediterranean style home.

11. Front Yard Fencing
Fencing Corner Lots
Corner lots can be tricky when it comes to fencing
because more of your property perimeter is visible to
the neighbourhood. In a way, it is almost like you
have two front yards. In this case, the solution was to
construct a wooden fence across the corner portion
of this yard. This creates a small public garden and a
large private garden. A scalloped design as well as
lattice panels and a pergola for climbing vines make
this fence especially attractive from the street.
Fencing a Large Property
If you have a large property in a rural area you may want
to fence the entire perimeter, both front and backyard.
Since this will likely require many feet of fencing, it is best
to pick a simple design that will be cost effective. Here a
simple post and rail fence jogs through the front portion of
this large property. In this case, black is actually a more
subtle colour choice than white because it blends nicely
with the greenery without disappearing altogether.

12. 6 Ideas for a Low-Maintenance Front Yard
Grow a Front Yard Meadow
This front yard, located in Tustin, California, has large
planting beds filled with drought-tolerant natives. A few
seasons after planting, the beds filled in creating a
colourful, meadow-like appearance. With a drip irrigation
line providing water as needed, the maintenance
requirements are minimal. However, some of the plants
will need to be cut back on an annual basis. Before
these beds were installed, nearly the entire yard was
lawn, which required much more water and frequent
mowing's to keep it looking nice
Select Lush, Low-Maintenance Plantings
The design goal for this front courtyard in Montecito,
California was to create a calming and intimate entry
garden. The homeowner requested that the existing
hardscape be removed and replaced with something other
than lawn. Now a simulated stone path curves through the
courtyard with lush, low-maintenance plantings on either
side. The plant palette is made up of varieties suited for a
Mediterranean climate and that offer a pleasing scent. The
plants require little water and infrequent trimming, making
maintenance a breeze.

13. 6 Ideas for a Low-Maintenance Front Yard
Plant Natives Amongst a Bed of Gravel
In the desert, the main maintenance concern is water-
usage. This front yard near Tucson was enclosed with
walls to create a courtyard and planted with a few high-
water-use plants balanced by low-water-use desert
natives. Furthermore, a detention basin captures runoff
from the roof and puts the water back into the garden.
This courtyard proves that having a lush and colourful
garden, that is also low-maintenance, is a possibility,
even in the Arizona desert. The secret is proper plant
selection and good water management principles.
Go Modern with Grid Plantings of Cacti & Grasses
This modern front yard in Cardiff, California takes low-
maintenance to an extreme, becoming almost a no-
maintenance landscape. On the left side of the driveway a
bed of Mexican beach pebbles is planted with a grid of
barrel cacti. On the right side, rows of ornamental grasses
grow amongst dark mulch. All this landscape requires as
far as maintenance is some occasional watering and the
cutting back of the grasses once a year. The beach
pebbles and mulch are applied in a thick layer to
discourage weeds from popping up and to retain moisture
in the soil as long as possible.

14. 6 Ideas for a Low-Maintenance Front Yard
Convert to a Water-Wise Xeriscape
Albuquerque has a unique climate that causes the
maintenance concerns to vary by season. Plants need to
be able to survive drought conditions, but also withstand
occasional winter snow. This front yard is a great
example of a high-desert xeriscape. A xeriscape strives
to provide a beautiful landscape with as little
supplemental water as possible. Easy-care perennial
shrubs and grasses add colour and texture to this front
yard, while coloured gravel mulch prevents weeds and
retains soil moisture. After plants like these are
established they require very little water and can be
trimmed as necessary.
Trade the Lawn for Gravel & Succulents
For many homeowners their front lawn is a source of
pride, but if maintenance is a concern, lawns are among
the worst culprits. Lawns are notorious for demanding
both time and water, especially during the summer
months. If you’re tired of mowing every weekend and want
your water bill to return to a lower rate, consider trading
your lawn for gravel and succulents like these
homeowners did. Because of the reduced maintenance,
you’ll find that you have more time to spend enjoying your
yard. You’ll also have more money to put towards unique
features, such as the in-ground water feature seen here.

15. Front Yard Hillside Landscaping
Skip the Groundcover
Many homeowners are faced with the challenge of
landscaping a sloping front yard. The standard
solution is often to cover the hill in groundcover, which
isn’t always the most aesthetically pleasing option and
can sometimes become invasive. On this property,
which sits well above street level, the steep slope was
planted with an assortment of grasses and perennials
selected to provide maximum fall interest. Boulders
were used to help retain the soil.
Create Interesting Access with Hardscape
When the only access to your front door is directly up a
slope, this can pose a challenge for visitors. To ensure
that people can easily and safely find their way up a slope
it is important to install a paved path. In the case of this
Massachusetts home, reclaimed granite stones were used
to create steps that traverse the hillside. Not only does the
granite path provide access, but it also adds visual
interest and breaks up the slope, making it appear less
imposing.

16. Front Yard Hillside Landscaping
Use Terracing to Create a Grand Entrance
A common solution for slopes is to terrace them into
multiple levels. However, front yards are typically
more about curb appeal and less about functionality,
so you don’t have to worry about creating level areas
of usable space. For this home, the yard was terraced
to create an inviting entrance. Two sets of stairways
flank a central fountain that serves as a focal point.
This terracing solution is more about creating a look
rather than creating space. A variety of trees and
plants add to the overall effect of the design.
Install a Retaining Wall for Downward Slopes
On properties that sit below street level, slopes can be
especially problematic. In a situation like this the main
concerns are access and drainage. For access you’ll want
to make sure there is a safe set of steps and for drainage
you’ll need to make sure that runoff from the slope is not
damaging your home. In this example, a retaining wall
was used to support the slope and level out an area in
front of the home. The design of the wall channels water
away from the home and allows it to filter back into the
ground before it reaches the foundation.

17. Front Yard Hillside Landscaping
Stabilize a Gentle Slope with a Lawn
If your front yard has a gentle slope you may not need
to take any drastic measures. As shown here, a slight
slope can often be corrected with minimal grading and
the planting of grass. Once established, the roots of
the grass will work to stabilize the soil and hold it in
place. However, keep in mind that it is more difficult to
mow a lawn on a slope versus a lawn on flat ground.
This approach will work in most neighbourhoods as
long as there is sufficient city drainage along the
streets.

18. Front Yard Water Features
Calming Courtyard Fountain
This front courtyard in California is anything but ordinary.
The designer’s goal was to create a calming entrance
without any grass. A custom fountain with a stone catch
basin was installed to the left of the curved path to add
the soothing sound of running water. The fountain has a
low profile so that it doesn’t dominate the design.
Front Yard Limestone Fountain
This California property looks more like it belongs in the
South of France. When you arrive at the front of the
home you are greeted by a large retaining wall with a
limestone wall fountain placed at its highest point. The
fountain has three metal spouts that spill water into the
basin below. A combination of evergreens and regionally
appropriate perennials surround the fountain, softening
its edges and providing contrasting colour.

19. Front Yard Water Features
A Sensory Entry Fountain
A good designer knows that a front yard should not
be only focused on visual beauty, but that it should
provide a complete sensory experience. Along the
entrance path to this home, a custom fountain, clad
in a vibrant tile mosaic, provides an auditory
element. The fountain captures the attention of
visitors as they walk along the path, causing them to
pause and reflect.
Front Yard Stream
While fountains are
incredibly popular
additions to front yards,
you can also opt for
something more natural.
The front yard of this
North Carolina property
is steep and wooded, so
it provided the perfect
opportunity for a
waterfall and stream.
Large, flat stone were
used to create a bridge,
so that as you approach
the front door, water is
flowing beneath your
feet.

20. Front Yard Water Features
Millstone Entry Fountain
The front entry to this Tucson home is accented
with a millstone fountain that rises up from
beneath the surrounding pavement. Water gently
spills over the edges of the round stone, creating a
gentle welcoming sound
Modern Front Yard Pond
Going lawn less doesn’t mean that your front yard
has to be unattractive and boring. This example
shows a geometric walkway that crosses over a
rectangular pond. The pond has a dark bottom so
that the reflection of the surrounding plants will be
crisp on the surface of the water.

21. Front Yard Water Features
Pond less Urn Fountains
This front yard boasts two water features that are
uplift at night. Made of ribbed ceramic urns atop an
underground basin, this type of fountain is termed
pond less because there isn’t a pool of water at
the base.

22. Thank you
Submitted by
Aravindh
101113002