Nov 20 2009
Landscaping Entryways And Access Areas
Your home entrances should be designed to provide easy access through your yard and landscaping. First impressions count for a lot, so aesthetic appeal surrounding your landscaping plans and entryways is important. It’s best to begin with the highest traffic access areas such as from your house to your driveway. Next, assess the paths and walkways to and from all access areas of your home. The plants around these areas should guide your visitors’ eye towards your entry or exit points. Side entrances that are used as much or more than your front door, should also be considered. Shrubs, colorful bloom, walkways, border and foundation beds, and lighting may be used.
If planting for height, build up towards your house. Start lower and gradually increase the height of your plants as they get closer to the house so as to direct attention to the entrance. A note of caution is that garden beds bordering a walkway or path can distract attention from your entrance; the best way I can explain it is to think of the beginning of your walkway as a starting point leading your entry as a vector opening directing you towards your door.
A sense of invitation and safety should both be considerations for your entryway. Some moderately good lighting and visibility can help ensure safety at night when walking from your parking area into your home. If you have a mudroom, laundry room, or utility room that is next to your front or rear entry, plan for making it look good as well as functional for traffic flow.
What’s the best way to guide visitors through your access entryways? Most professional landscaping companies basically follow a simple pattern here. Border gardens, paths, shrubs, edging, fencing, walkways, steps, and railings are all good options. You can add planters to accent entryways to certain places. Screens, hedges, raised beds, and fencing can also be used to mask areas that are more utility-based from view.
When utilizing plantings to define access areas, space them with their mature size in mind. This is often overlooked in landscaping plans. As your walkways will usually lead to or near your house, plants should be placed far enough from your foundation so that you can maintain both the plants and the house. It’s good practice for plants to be planted far enough from your house, garage, sheds, and other buildings so that you can maintain them once they are mature. Shrubs and hedges given time to grow provide a natural boundary and screen, while fencing offers immediacy once installed.
