Landscape Design Questions About Curb Appeal Front Of House

landscapeliving answers:

Planting any tree or shrub 2 feet from a house -- it's just not enough room. Here's a better suggestion for very narrow spaces: Put up a trellis, and grow a vine on it. You'll have something really pretty that will not create a structural problem and that can be better controlled than a tree. In addition, you will have shade very fast.

Look for moderate growing vines. You must decided if you need an evergreen one (if you need shade year round) or if you prefer a deciduous one (if you want sun in the winter). Avoid Wisteria at all costs -- it is a very agressive grower and more trouble than it is worth--it is a beautiful vine but for very large spaces only.

landscapeliving answers:

Obviously some shrubs and some perenial flowers for color. Perhaps roses? But what came to mind when I first saw your house was how nice a cute little picket fence would look with the red brick and white trim. Be sure to paint the fence white too. Congrats and have fun!!

landscapeliving answers:

The color of your house may depend on the roof--unless that is due for replacement. Some color combos to consider:
House light to medium yellow, with dark green shutters, front door dark green or dark red;
House white with black or green shutters, front door same as shutters;
House barn red with black shutters and front door;

Then, I would add greenery:
A few ornamental trees--they add height and color, without becoming too large.
A few large shade trees further away from the house and in back.
Pots of greenery and flowers--on the front steps, and in groups around your driveway. Plant the pots with a variety of plants that will be tall, colorful, and spill over the sides. Ornamental grasses might look good. When you plant your pots, try to pick plants that will offer contrasting colors--yellow marigolds with a purple sweet potato vine, or pink vinca with blue salvia, yellow marigold with red geraniums, etc. When you group the pots, also select several different heights to put in a group, or put shorter pots on a pile of bricks to create different heights.

Also, your house style would look great with flower boxes under the front windows.

Later, you can always consider a new surface for the driveway--brick pavers would look nice with the style of your home, but try to dress it up first with plants--you might be pleased with the result. Also--does your property offer room to reposition the driveway off to the side, so that if you do resurface, you can also move it?

landscapeliving answers:

This sounds crazy but I promise it is the quickest and easiest way to do it. If they are only bushes and not trees, dig out a little under the roots, tie a rope or chain around the stump and pull them out with a vehicle attached to the rope. I have done this many times. Obviously the best vehicle to use is a truck, but I actually used my wife's corolla and it worked just fine.

landscapeliving answers:

As long as you build it so it doesn't block the air vent intake and exhaust grills, you might try building an enclosure around it using cedar or white painted garden lattice and then cover the top with a chunk of green floral foam with artificial flowers and leafy vines spilling over so that it looks like a flower box. Make a matching one to put on any other windows on the front of the house to balance the look.