Slate gravel and potted plants seems too cold/sterile to me. I think some woodchips and perennials would work really well here and give some organic shape to a very square-driven space. Lavender, hydrangeas, etc.
Lavender is a versatile landscape plant, pairing well with many other ornamental plants in mixed borders, waterwise landscapes, curbside strips, herb, and kitchen gardens. Here’s what to plant with lavender and how to use these combinations in your yard. Companion plants have similar growing needs and complementary traits such as structure, texture, color, and shape that enhance the beauty of the combination. For example, african daisy in a garden bed as a filler or ground cover around lavender plants. Or allium. The showy globe-shaped flowers contrast with the spiky shape of lavender blooms.
I'd probably do something extremely pretty and regret the amount of maintenance it requires.
I would definitely keep the dirt to limit the amount of heat at my door though.
I wasn't helpful. I'm still posting my reply. 😝
First, is there no border on your new paver walkway? If not, I’d worry about it shifting over the years.
As for the area on the sides, first you do have a bit of work cut out bc you’ll have to remove a bit of dirt to get the level below the pavers. Especially since there isn’t a border. At least two inches of dirt would need to be removed.
If there’s good soil under there why not just a mulch bed and shrubs/plants? You’ve got a traditional design going on that looks real nice so simple boxwoods would suffice.
First comment that was thinking the same thing I was. Ya need a border 100% to keep those pavers tight & dirt or wood chips off the pavers. I’d start there first then move to plants & flowers. First things first!
Problem with that is OP already has a low ceiling height for the entrance so making a tunnel would make the entryway seem even smaller. Opening it up more should be the goal
Weird nostalgia trip - your house looks VERY similar to my grandparents.
You need color there. Depending on the sun/shade I'd do something like rows of ornamental grasses or hostas
Which USDA zone are you in? What's your favorite flower? What's your favorite color? Are you a gardener?
Potted plants still need to be watered, and maybe pruned. You'll still have to pull weeds if you put gravel down, unless you put sheet plastic under it. I don't think gravel is a good choice because, as others have said, it would be too sterile.
I'd probably just do a row of boxwood on each side of the walkway. Simple.
Since it’s a one story house, keep plants low. Otherwise you will dwarf the house and make it look very squat. Given the style of the house I would do something more uniform where you have no more than 3 types of plants and arrange them in a more organized way. A cottage style flower garden would be too chaotic for the style of your house. What plants to put, well that depends on your zone and sun exposure… I would look for three different types… one of them being a ground cover for the border of the path, and I would want the three to all start their bloom at different times of year so you maximize color. Look for plants with a long bloom time. I always like the way purple tones look with a white house.
Something that will look interesting all year, either evergreen or grasses. I second the notion of not too tall. Then fill in with flowers either perennial or annual if you like to variety. For the best bang for the buck, but a pack of zinnia seeds. Flowers all summer, butterflies, sometimes even hummingbirds.
First thing I visualized when I saw this pic of your home was a classy dark green lush glossy leafed informal small to medium sized hedge against the painted cream walls. Something like a raphiolepis (hardy and easy to grow) or a camellia (slower and can be fussy but ok once they’re going and spectacular). Between the hedges and your path I would introduce some colour or a nice crisp
white maybe some annuals which you could swap out and change with the seasons or as you wish. I’d always try and mass plant tho’ as much as possible and restrict your palette to two or three flower colours to reinforce your classy street elevation. Your home has great potential to look absolutely beautiful.
What’s your zone? I think blue hydrangeas would look amazing right here. Also some box woods for contrast and maybe a blue point juniper in the corner left where the two blue tires make a right angle (idk how to describe it). Maybe some blue butterfly bushes? In the shade some blue/green hostas.
I’m glad you think so! Your house looks very English/Italian to me. I think implementing those styles and using greens/blues/purples in your front yard would really make your house stand out. Your house reminds me of those homes on Home & Garden!
I'm not sure how you're going to like this, but....
Depending on the company you plan on having, I would suggest a local plants garden with plaques and descriptions of each native tree/plant.
It will give a professional feel, like a high end garden
Edit paragraph body
I’d probably do hostas and hydrangeas, maybe hydrangeas along the house and hostas and day lilies on the other side? Low maintenance and hardy perennials.
Good start though!! Come back when ya have a border placed. I love the tall ornamental grass idea but some color is needed too. I’d love to see it completed
Lorapetelum shrubs next to the house for some color. They can make a nice hedge too. Add some flowers in front next to the sidewalk. Some goshiki osmanthus (false holly) with some smaller shrubs and flowers would be good for the left bed (nandina, magic carpet spirea, daylillies, ice plant all come to mind).
Sucks that it’s the front door. If it was the back, the house lends itself to hardscape the entire thing and make a great patio, maybe with a shade sail.
Too bad society has decided that we can’t put our patios in the front of the house.
What planting zone are you in? What is your skill level and interest in tending to the garden?
If in the NE, I would say low boxwood hedge with bed behind filled with hydrangeas and evergreen shrubs alternating, with a clematis growing on mounted wire along the brick.
I’m in 6a and I’m very new to gardening… the previous owner was a serious botanist the house had a green house in the back … so I’ve been chipping away at the over grown plants figuring out how to replace with 3 kids running around 🤪 this Reddit board has been helpful
[Visual of boxwoods and yellow evergreens alternating with roses or peonies (or another perennial )](https://share.icloud.com/photos/0c0FVTpYo6vWzGQ1YbisALuwg)
And 100% if you are planning on having access to the hose, extend the hose to the end of the planting bed so you can have access to the hose without needing to step into the garden space
Arching trellis at the front with some vines growing over it. Maybe a couple big shrubs next to the trellis to make a mini “courtyard”. Then I’d fill it with flowers and a small table with a couple chairs
Being the entrance, something spectacular, possibly some multi trunk pygmy palms, Liriope's, azaleas, kinda a natural tropical vibe. Then a melody of low voltage lighting up lights, path lights ect..
I love the clean look of slate and contrasting pots! I don’t do well creating potted plants but any potted plant given to me seems to flourish so I’m jealous of the potted green thumb
Border up the edges and left side with some aesthetically similar stone to the walkway. Plant flowering perennials in 2 rows with alternating spacing. Fill the gaps with triangles of flowering annuals. Put a nice thick layer of hemlock mulch.
Don't do a rhododendron adjacent to a house.
As someone who has a couple and sees a ton. Let them have space.
I'd say something small and low against the house. Even fill in with stone and make a patio area.
I would do some natural somewhat larger stone as a border to the dirt sections then fill in with some greens like Hosta and ferns then add some bulbs like day lilies, dahlia, or maybe even some simple daffodils. Then add some mulch for color. Definitely add in some lighting of some kind whether it be walkway lighting or recessed lighting to add to the relaxing welcoming atmosphere. Then add a bleeding heart bush right near the door. It looks like this house is kind of in the suburbs so I would suggest doing a large broken terra cotta flower pot broken in half laying on the ground with dirt spilling out and some cool ground cover like phlox to add some nice color and decoration.
One of the things I wish I knew before I started is how important it was to know if your planting location is facing N/S/E/W. And how much sun or shade that area will get. I’ve learned it’s more important to put the right plant in the right place.
One of the things I wish I knew before I started is how important it was to know if your planting location is facing N/S/E/W. And how much sun or shade that area will get. I’ve learned it’s more important to put the right plant in the right place. I had to dig up an entire plant bed a few years after buying my house because the prior owners and builders planted stuff that suffered and died in 4-5 years after plantingi
I would not do rock, I would go with a more natural look of mulched beds. A few potted plants on either side of the door on the current pavement is a great idea.
Mulched beds and line the walkway with dwarf yaupon hollies or boxwoods!
Keep in mind that literally everything I'm reading for suggestions requires a much much much larger amount of maintenance than your original idea of stone and potted plants. So, if you need a low maintenance area, your original idea is not a bad one. A lot of character can be added to an area with the correct planters and plants.
Blue berries, or some kind of perennial pepper plant... maybe potted herbs? could have some low laying ground cover like [creeping thyme](https://www.americanmeadows.com/product/perennials/thyme-coccineus?srsltid=AfmBOoroUMugY4swTfypXwWRCjsOcEUjp8BOzTerVKAxUNi0p1Mq98raz4I). Need some color in there to make it feel more warm.
I think this would be an epic spot to put a collection of animal bones instead of mulch, and show off a collection of skulls on top as if topiary under the eaves.
Hosts, hydrangeas and Mary Nell’s flanking the the top of the pavers before doors-for a more tailored look OR lavenders, butterfly weed, butterfly bush(Pugster Amethyst Buddleia) cone flowers(echinacea) for a bee/butterfly/hummingbird friendly space.
Add color. Lots of it. Maybe turn it into a courtyard. Trellis a white picket fence. Sor sure add a border to the walk because dirt or mulch will just creep onto the walk every day. Lower the fern
I would train my son in the ways of a Gladiator so that he may one day feel the pulse of the arena quicken his soul as he is declared Champion of Capua
Please no!
I silently watch Americans and their gravel and their stone chips and their rocks. I get sad, but I understand low maintenance over beauty is their priority. 🤷🏽
But I beg you please don't do that here!
You need flowers here. Flowers, colour, ornamental grasses!
Nah, seriously do as you please- it's your home, and the frontage is beautiful! 😁
Container shrubs at the door.
A trellis between the windows.
A giraffe garden hose on a 4x4 by the faucet, with a Y splitter and drip irrigation on the other side
10 strip of dark crushed rock on each side of the walkway with path lighting.
Tall ornaments and weird grasses on both sides.
If you live in hot climate, probably exotic aroids.
Slate gravel and potted plants seems too cold/sterile to me. I think some woodchips and perennials would work really well here and give some organic shape to a very square-driven space. Lavender, hydrangeas, etc.
Lavender is a versatile landscape plant, pairing well with many other ornamental plants in mixed borders, waterwise landscapes, curbside strips, herb, and kitchen gardens. Here’s what to plant with lavender and how to use these combinations in your yard. Companion plants have similar growing needs and complementary traits such as structure, texture, color, and shape that enhance the beauty of the combination. For example, african daisy in a garden bed as a filler or ground cover around lavender plants. Or allium. The showy globe-shaped flowers contrast with the spiky shape of lavender blooms.
Lavendel would look beautiful and is very popular with the pollinators, which is a very good thing.
A 16’ tall statue of Larry Bird probly
Facing a 16' tall statue of Magic Johnson
I'd probably do something extremely pretty and regret the amount of maintenance it requires. I would definitely keep the dirt to limit the amount of heat at my door though. I wasn't helpful. I'm still posting my reply. 😝
First, is there no border on your new paver walkway? If not, I’d worry about it shifting over the years. As for the area on the sides, first you do have a bit of work cut out bc you’ll have to remove a bit of dirt to get the level below the pavers. Especially since there isn’t a border. At least two inches of dirt would need to be removed. If there’s good soil under there why not just a mulch bed and shrubs/plants? You’ve got a traditional design going on that looks real nice so simple boxwoods would suffice.
First comment that was thinking the same thing I was. Ya need a border 100% to keep those pavers tight & dirt or wood chips off the pavers. I’d start there first then move to plants & flowers. First things first!
Get some tampers and get to work
Flower tunnel.
Problem with that is OP already has a low ceiling height for the entrance so making a tunnel would make the entryway seem even smaller. Opening it up more should be the goal
Ornamental grasses on right side lining the walkway?
A court yard.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 That's what I would do here👍🏽
Weird nostalgia trip - your house looks VERY similar to my grandparents. You need color there. Depending on the sun/shade I'd do something like rows of ornamental grasses or hostas
Flowers
Gardenia and an evergreen jasmine
Which USDA zone are you in? What's your favorite flower? What's your favorite color? Are you a gardener? Potted plants still need to be watered, and maybe pruned. You'll still have to pull weeds if you put gravel down, unless you put sheet plastic under it. I don't think gravel is a good choice because, as others have said, it would be too sterile. I'd probably just do a row of boxwood on each side of the walkway. Simple.
Flowers 💐
I’d use gazing balls as ground cover around the domicile to flaunt my wealth and status.
Since it’s a one story house, keep plants low. Otherwise you will dwarf the house and make it look very squat. Given the style of the house I would do something more uniform where you have no more than 3 types of plants and arrange them in a more organized way. A cottage style flower garden would be too chaotic for the style of your house. What plants to put, well that depends on your zone and sun exposure… I would look for three different types… one of them being a ground cover for the border of the path, and I would want the three to all start their bloom at different times of year so you maximize color. Look for plants with a long bloom time. I always like the way purple tones look with a white house.
Something that will look interesting all year, either evergreen or grasses. I second the notion of not too tall. Then fill in with flowers either perennial or annual if you like to variety. For the best bang for the buck, but a pack of zinnia seeds. Flowers all summer, butterflies, sometimes even hummingbirds.
First thing I visualized when I saw this pic of your home was a classy dark green lush glossy leafed informal small to medium sized hedge against the painted cream walls. Something like a raphiolepis (hardy and easy to grow) or a camellia (slower and can be fussy but ok once they’re going and spectacular). Between the hedges and your path I would introduce some colour or a nice crisp white maybe some annuals which you could swap out and change with the seasons or as you wish. I’d always try and mass plant tho’ as much as possible and restrict your palette to two or three flower colours to reinforce your classy street elevation. Your home has great potential to look absolutely beautiful.
Thank you! This is helpful
What’s your zone? I think blue hydrangeas would look amazing right here. Also some box woods for contrast and maybe a blue point juniper in the corner left where the two blue tires make a right angle (idk how to describe it). Maybe some blue butterfly bushes? In the shade some blue/green hostas.
That’s a great idea … I’m 6a and this is north facing so I think it would work
I’m glad you think so! Your house looks very English/Italian to me. I think implementing those styles and using greens/blues/purples in your front yard would really make your house stand out. Your house reminds me of those homes on Home & Garden!
Prolly hostas and mulch, for simplicity.
Grass and some foliage plants maybe some flowers. Whatever you do remember it's your space make it as comfortable as you can imagine
An herb garden
So many mini trees
Increase the size of the house
I'm not sure how you're going to like this, but.... Depending on the company you plan on having, I would suggest a local plants garden with plaques and descriptions of each native tree/plant. It will give a professional feel, like a high end garden Edit paragraph body
box hedges on the path sides
Flowering pollinator plants
Reposted? Get on with it.
careful of plants/plant type in rockbeds if you get a lot of heat. it can cook plants because rocks hold heat for so long.
I’d probably do hostas and hydrangeas, maybe hydrangeas along the house and hostas and day lilies on the other side? Low maintenance and hardy perennials.
Good start though!! Come back when ya have a border placed. I love the tall ornamental grass idea but some color is needed too. I’d love to see it completed
Think security! Rose bushes by the windows. And a waist high bush on the left. To create a bottle neck. Functional yet powerful
Anyone who suggests a water feature of any kind you need to slip on a banana peel
Lorapetelum shrubs next to the house for some color. They can make a nice hedge too. Add some flowers in front next to the sidewalk. Some goshiki osmanthus (false holly) with some smaller shrubs and flowers would be good for the left bed (nandina, magic carpet spirea, daylillies, ice plant all come to mind).
Sucks that it’s the front door. If it was the back, the house lends itself to hardscape the entire thing and make a great patio, maybe with a shade sail. Too bad society has decided that we can’t put our patios in the front of the house.
I would just leave it. Dirt is beautiful
What planting zone are you in? What is your skill level and interest in tending to the garden? If in the NE, I would say low boxwood hedge with bed behind filled with hydrangeas and evergreen shrubs alternating, with a clematis growing on mounted wire along the brick.
I’m in 6a and I’m very new to gardening… the previous owner was a serious botanist the house had a green house in the back … so I’ve been chipping away at the over grown plants figuring out how to replace with 3 kids running around 🤪 this Reddit board has been helpful
[Visual of boxwoods and yellow evergreens alternating with roses or peonies (or another perennial )](https://share.icloud.com/photos/0c0FVTpYo6vWzGQ1YbisALuwg)
And 100% if you are planning on having access to the hose, extend the hose to the end of the planting bed so you can have access to the hose without needing to step into the garden space
@special_actuator_134
Add some maintenance-free native wildflowers and grasses.
Tall grasses in the back, daisies in the middle, pansies along the walk way
Arching trellis at the front with some vines growing over it. Maybe a couple big shrubs next to the trellis to make a mini “courtyard”. Then I’d fill it with flowers and a small table with a couple chairs
Being the entrance, something spectacular, possibly some multi trunk pygmy palms, Liriope's, azaleas, kinda a natural tropical vibe. Then a melody of low voltage lighting up lights, path lights ect..
Put up a mailbox and some digits for my address.
Remind me of the oldskool game "paperboy"
Purple russian sage on right and sterile 3 ft ornamental grass on left
I love the clean look of slate and contrasting pots! I don’t do well creating potted plants but any potted plant given to me seems to flourish so I’m jealous of the potted green thumb
Border up the edges and left side with some aesthetically similar stone to the walkway. Plant flowering perennials in 2 rows with alternating spacing. Fill the gaps with triangles of flowering annuals. Put a nice thick layer of hemlock mulch.
Don't do a rhododendron adjacent to a house. As someone who has a couple and sees a ton. Let them have space. I'd say something small and low against the house. Even fill in with stone and make a patio area.
Mix of flowering shrubs and native plants
I would do some natural somewhat larger stone as a border to the dirt sections then fill in with some greens like Hosta and ferns then add some bulbs like day lilies, dahlia, or maybe even some simple daffodils. Then add some mulch for color. Definitely add in some lighting of some kind whether it be walkway lighting or recessed lighting to add to the relaxing welcoming atmosphere. Then add a bleeding heart bush right near the door. It looks like this house is kind of in the suburbs so I would suggest doing a large broken terra cotta flower pot broken in half laying on the ground with dirt spilling out and some cool ground cover like phlox to add some nice color and decoration.
Beautiful house and the entrance approach. Just plant a bunch of flowers and shrubs. Add an outdoor bench in one side to marvel the garden.
Just do normal gardens. Stone chip or gravel will require weeding too so it's not like you gain anything but the look
Koi pond on right. Roses (and a lot of them) on the left
One of the things I wish I knew before I started is how important it was to know if your planting location is facing N/S/E/W. And how much sun or shade that area will get. I’ve learned it’s more important to put the right plant in the right place.
One of the things I wish I knew before I started is how important it was to know if your planting location is facing N/S/E/W. And how much sun or shade that area will get. I’ve learned it’s more important to put the right plant in the right place. I had to dig up an entire plant bed a few years after buying my house because the prior owners and builders planted stuff that suffered and died in 4-5 years after plantingi
I sent you a dm about this. I "drew" something up
I would not do rock, I would go with a more natural look of mulched beds. A few potted plants on either side of the door on the current pavement is a great idea. Mulched beds and line the walkway with dwarf yaupon hollies or boxwoods!
Astroturf? I wish I could do that for my entire yard. Extremely low maintenance and a nice clean look!
Landscape it, duh.
Keep in mind that literally everything I'm reading for suggestions requires a much much much larger amount of maintenance than your original idea of stone and potted plants. So, if you need a low maintenance area, your original idea is not a bad one. A lot of character can be added to an area with the correct planters and plants.
A sculpture garden of butts.
Hostas on right, two planters with big ferns on either side of door, perennials on left including lavendar.
Hydrangeas
Blue berries, or some kind of perennial pepper plant... maybe potted herbs? could have some low laying ground cover like [creeping thyme](https://www.americanmeadows.com/product/perennials/thyme-coccineus?srsltid=AfmBOoroUMugY4swTfypXwWRCjsOcEUjp8BOzTerVKAxUNi0p1Mq98raz4I). Need some color in there to make it feel more warm.
Rent it out
I think this would be an epic spot to put a collection of animal bones instead of mulch, and show off a collection of skulls on top as if topiary under the eaves.
Gutters and grass!
Hosts, hydrangeas and Mary Nell’s flanking the the top of the pavers before doors-for a more tailored look OR lavenders, butterfly weed, butterfly bush(Pugster Amethyst Buddleia) cone flowers(echinacea) for a bee/butterfly/hummingbird friendly space.
Lots and lots of flowers!
Grass on one side and rock of some sort by water spout
More pavers but with grass between- possibly diagonal?
Two long water pools with fountains.
Tropical foliage and flowers, Hard scape with water feature maybe a small fairy bridge & a bench to enjoy scenery
Add color. Lots of it. Maybe turn it into a courtyard. Trellis a white picket fence. Sor sure add a border to the walk because dirt or mulch will just creep onto the walk every day. Lower the fern
Add natural local plants
Improve the soil. Add peat moss and composted manure. Mix well. Look through you tube. Different plants. What is your zone
I would train my son in the ways of a Gladiator so that he may one day feel the pulse of the arena quicken his soul as he is declared Champion of Capua
Please no! I silently watch Americans and their gravel and their stone chips and their rocks. I get sad, but I understand low maintenance over beauty is their priority. 🤷🏽 But I beg you please don't do that here! You need flowers here. Flowers, colour, ornamental grasses! Nah, seriously do as you please- it's your home, and the frontage is beautiful! 😁
Thank you! I thought it’d be smart for low maintenance (I have 3 kids 🤪) but after reading this comment I think it’s a bad idea
Enter the home
Container shrubs at the door. A trellis between the windows. A giraffe garden hose on a 4x4 by the faucet, with a Y splitter and drip irrigation on the other side 10 strip of dark crushed rock on each side of the walkway with path lighting. Tall ornaments and weird grasses on both sides. If you live in hot climate, probably exotic aroids.
In the long run, I'd have a paving company come and patio block the entire space