Entryway Landscaping

Entryway Landscaping
Great entryways have a few things in common.  The must incorporate a hardscaped item with plants to soften it up.

Flower Beds
The flower bed will typically offset the entry.  Leading up to the home will be a path of some sort.  Stone or brick are often the best choices for this.  Then you might see a raised flower bed to the right or left.  Perennials will fill the flower bed and some should be blooming nearly year round.  The path and the flower bed set the stage for the entrance.  The entrance is often an arbor or trellis like structure or the front of the home.  To stage this all properly the flower beds need to take into account the color of the path, the home, and other elements.

Entry
Something with impressive blooms is ideal for the entry.  An arched entryway might have wild roses growing throughout.  Other options are yellow Potentilla, Lavender, and Russian Sage.  Whatever you do, pick the plants that contrast with everything else for the entry and make sure the blooms last long and are large enough for people to say wow.  Hydrangeas or verbena are great shrubs to decorate the entryway.

Fragrances
Nice fragrances will mostly be noticed when walking into your home.  For this reason plant Lavender, Korean Spice Verbena, roses, and Chocolate Daisy near the door entrances. 

Unique Hardscape Feature
The entry way is where you put the copper wall fountain, stone bench, or small bronze sculpture.  The entry way does one very important thing.  It conveys a feeling right before entering the house.  What do you want that feeling to be?  When you can answer the essence to that question, you will produce the perfect entry way for you. 

Birds
It’s always nice to see some birds in the entryway.  Some people put a bird feeder and bird bath near the entrance.  It makes it more fun to walk into the home.  One of the most popular entrance features is a simple hummingbird feeder.  Having it close to the door makes it much more likely you will see the little birds throughout the year.

Final Tip
You will capture the entryway design by knowing what feeling you want right before entering the home.  Save the most interesting hardscape features to make the entryway one of the most special places in the yard or garden.