With Landscaping Ideas for Your Porch

Front Porch Ideas and Morecom

copy 2008-2011 Front-Porch-Ideas-and-Morecom

Add the WOW Factor

Porch Landscapingmdashitrsquos all about the soil condition plant selection water and design

Most porches look better with great landscaping Porch landscaping can soften the look of the

porch and home while simultaneously hiding skirting foundations or other eyesores Porch land-

scaping can also be used to create privacy or extend

the size of a small porch

It creates curb appeal assists in managing water run-

off and can provide both flowers for decorating and

herbs for cooking Porch landscaping ties the porch

and home to the surrounding landscape to give it a

sense of belonging It can make your porch and home

less imposing and can break visual expanse

Plants can also draw your eye to the front door win-

dow or other architectural features Think of landscap-

ing your porch in layers Most porches look best when there are multiple layers of plants perhaps

with a mixture of shrubs varying in size to even a small ornamental tree Some will look better with a

tailored look while others bask in a more casual arrangement Porch landscaping is by far more in-

teresting if you have a variety of plants that range in height from ground covers to small upright

trees Porch landscaping can be colorful Start with evergreen shrubs and then add deciduous

shrubs perennials and then annuals for seasonal color See our Plant Chart for recommended

plantings

To get started use our architectural guide for landscaping If your

house is symmetrical plantings should match on either side of the

porch steps As you move along the porch you can either match

those plantings for gradually use others to create interest Most sym-

metrical style homes look better with geometrically placed and mani-

cured plantings

If your home and porch are asymmetrical balance still counts but use

different rules Consider balancing the plants with your architectural

features and not the

plants themselves Con-

centrate on establishing

natural-looking mixed plantings that frame the home

A low hedge in front of the porch on a ranch-style home

will highlight the homersquos horizontal profile Or to break

the long look use two small columnar shrubs on either

side of the steps

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F R O N T - P O R C H - I D E A S - A N D - M O R E C O M

Likewise trees placed at the corners or sides will accentuate a tall home To make it look shorter

place small rounded or long shrubs under windows or in front of porch railings

If you have several feet of exposed piers

foundation or skirting under you porch you will

need more massive plantings or shrubs

Highlight your front door This is especially true

if you have a small porch Place slightly

higher plants or shrubs on either side of the

steps or landing If you have a symmetrical

doorwindow combination that is you have two

window panels one on either side of the door

then match the shrubs on

The larger the home the more depth you need for your porch landscaping Narrow landscaping eg a row of flowers against a large home will not be appealing Most porch landscaping is too narrow in width And remember it doesnrsquot have to be perfectly horizontal to the porch Consider both height and shape Strong geometric plant forms complement formal homes softer shapes complement informal homes

Establishing a good grade for water runoff Channeling water runoff and ensuring you have good soil are essential to great porch landscaping Not only can water destroy your homersquos foundation too much can ruin your landscaping Soil can retain too much moisture which will in turn prevent plants from absorbing oxygen which causes root rot-killing the plants Your soil must slope away from your homersquos foundation and porch A 5 grade is recommended six is better Use downspouts to direct water away from your porch You can then direct this water at least 6- 10 feet from your porch You have several options if you have water collecting near your porch One you can use additional soil to build up the area and create a grade so water will flow away from your foundation and porch Or if that is not feasible you can dig a French drain A French drain is a channel covered with gravel that collects and redirects the water away from your porch You can also lay in drain tile or pvc pipe

Create a rain garden A rain garden is a shallow plant filled depression that catches and holds the

rainwater from your downspouts As the water drains down through the soil it supplies water to the plants and foliage surrounding it You can use this on borders or as ldquogardensrdquo in your yard You can make one large garden or have several smaller ones around your property Just make sure they are at least 10 feet from your foundation Yoursquoll save money on watering the gardens will add immense curb appeal and yoursquoll be confident that the water will not affect your foundation

RECOMMENDED PLANTS

FOR AROUND YOUR PORCH

TREES

CRAB APPLE

COLUMNAR YEW

BRAZILIAN PEPPER

AMERICAN FERN PINE

PERENNIALS

AFRICAN BLUE LILY

BIG BLUE LILY

CHRISTMAS FERN

JAPANESE RUSH

BLACK-EYED SUSANS

LENTON ROSE

PURPLE CONEFLOWER

SHRUBS

CHINESE JUNIPER

COMMON BOXWOOD

CHERRY LAUREL

JAPANESE HOLLY

HEMLOCK

PRIVET

BOXWOOD

FOLIAGE

ADAMrsquoS NEEDLE

CARDOON

CORABELLS

SPURGE

BLUE CARPET JUNIPER

WINTERCREEPER

SEDGES

CHINESE JUNIPER

ENGLISH YEW

Black-eyed Susans

Corabells

Lenton Rose

Crab Apple

Japanese Rush

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Landscape walkways leading to your porch for added appeal For some a walkway is only a means to get from one end to the other For most of us however it can be a lot more Here are some basic walkway ideas Create intrigue - A curved walkway that disappears be-hind shrubbery or hedges for even an instance can lend itself to a little intrigue What object or destination lies ahead

Create direction - A straight path leading right to the

porch unmistakably says this way Create pleasure - A walkway that meanders a bit and lined with flowers a front-yard garden or mulched beds tempts us to slow down a bit and enjoy the surroundings Create a mood - A walkway even a straight one can be embellished with a row of stones bricks or pavers on ei-ther side Add some ground cover that spreads over the edges to give it a softer look Dont forget lighting Use a variety of outdoor lighting to create just the right look

Create formality or informality - Larger traditional homes tend to have more formal walkways Hence most walkways should complement the style of home A meandering walkway with pavers and ground covers would fit right in with a craftsman or cottage home whereas it probably would de-tract from a formal contemporary home The latter requiring perhaps a straight brick-laid path sur-rounded with a meticulous yard Create color- The best way to tie your landscaping to your home is through color Make your walk-way color match the color of your home This is easier than you would think Most walkway materials come in all colors You can stain concrete If that isnt enough dont for-

get plants and flowers - colors can be limitless

LANDSCAPE LIGHTING IDEAS

By pointing your lights skyward you can add some drama and ambiance

to your front porch and home

If you donrsquot want to figure out wiring then solar landscape lighting may be what you want Solar lights are ideal for lighting paths and flower gar-dens Solar landscaping lighting comes on automatically as the light falls

below a certain lever and turns off as daylight increases

If you opt for low voltage landscape lighting be sure that you have a time

to automatically turn the lights on and off

F R O N T - P O R C H - I D E A S - A N D - M O R E C O M

SOIL PRIMERndash ESSENTIALS FOR GROWING FANTASTIC PLANTS

Its best to have your soil tested before you start planting to see what nutrients it might be lacking Before you add any fertilizers to your garden we recommend you have your soil tested Itrsquos easy to do and most counties offer it as a free service Free is good Contact your local County Extension Office (a local nursery will probably have the contact information also) DIY kits are also available at nurseries Testing will tell you exactly what your soil needs in order to grow the plants your choose It will tell you what combination of Nitrogen Phosphorous and Potassium are required for your gar-den The test should also give you a ph indicating the amount of acid in the soil Some plants need high amounts of acid while others need more alkaline soil Add lime if its too acidic or add aluminum sulfate or ammonium sulfate if itrsquos too alkaline Adding organic materials like peat moss manure or compost will loosen up your soil and also improve the ability of the soil to deliver nutrients to the roots The best time to add these materials is in the spring before any planting Once these materials break down (it may take a year or two) you will see a big difference Your soil will be darker easier to use and will require less water

F R O N T - P O R C H - I D E A S - A N D - M O R E C O M

NITROGEN (N) Helps plants use carbohy-drates for energy Nitrogen controls how plants form and function internally makes pro-tein for growth

Plants deficient in nitrogen have thin spindly stems and their growth is stunted Mature leaves turn yel-lowish-green from nitrogen starva-tion

PHOSPHORUS (P) Phosphorous helps plants breathe provide energy trans-fer and storage and also help plants use water efficiently Soil phosphorus comes mainly from the weathering of rocks that contain the inorganic min-eral apatite

Plants that dont get enough phos-phorous have weak spindly thin-stems Growth is stunted or short-ened and mature leaves turn a dark bluish-green Seed production is lessened Phosphorous is scarce so additives are usually required for healthy plant growth

POTASSIUM (K) Potassium is very important for plant photosynthesis and to help plants metabolize food Potassium controls water and chemicals inside plants and also controls the absorption of water into plant pores

Lack of potassium results in stunted growth weak root systems stems and stalks Mature leaves appear burned Plants are more prone to insects and diseases

Mobile Composter from SmithampHawken

Plant Hardiness Zone 1

Minimum temperatures Below -50F 46C)

Only the hardiest plants will survive in the extreme winter cold and short growing season of Zone 1

Plant Hardiness Zone 2

Minimum temperatures-50 to -40F = (-46 to -40C)

Zone 2 is modified by the warming influence of large bodies of water As in Zone 1 the growing season is

Plant Hardiness Zone 3 Minimum temperatures -40 to -30F = (-40 to -34C)

The lower latitudes mean winter is not as cold as in Zones 1 and 2 but frosts can still occur any night of the year and the growing season is short

Plant Hardiness Zone 4 Minimum temperatures -30 to -20F = (-34 to -29C)

Zone 4 generally falls at a more southerly latitude than Zones 1 through 3 Large bodies of water throughout much of this zone also help to create warmer winter temperatures and a longer growing season

Plant Hardiness Zone 5

Minimum temperatures -20 to -10F = (-29 to -23C)

Although gardeners in Zone 5 still experience winter cold this zone benefits from lower latitudes and an ocean influence

Plant Hardiness Zone 6

Minimum temperatures -10 to 0F = (-23 to -18C)

Zone 6s southern latitude bestows a long growing season and milder climate than Zone 5 Eastern gardeners contend with hu-midity while in the West dry heat and a lack of rainfall are the gardening challenges

Plant Hardiness Zone 7

Minimum temperatures 0 to 10F = (-18 to -12C)

Zone 7 is the middle ground of gardening in the United States With lower elevations and longer days many plants thrive in Zone 7

Plant Hardiness Zone 8 Minimum temperatures 10 to 20F = (-12 to -7C)

Winters here are relatively warm growing seasons are long and rhododendrons flourish In the East youll encounter hot humid summers in the Northwest youll enjoy mild summers with some of the best American gardening climate and in the Southwest youll have the definite winters and hot dry summers of the de-sert

Plant Hardiness Zone 9 Minimum temperatures 20 to 30F = (-7 to -1C)

This mild-winter region is characterized by a long growing season and almost no winter freeze Summers are either hot and dry or hot and humid Although it might seem that just about any plant could do well in such a mild area Zone 9 (and warmer) is not good for plants that require a winter chill

Plant Hardiness Zone 10 Minimum temperatures 30 to 40F = (-1 to 4C)

Zone 10 is virtually free of winter chill and is dominated by balmy ocean influences Some of our most popular houseplants grow to incredible dimensions outdoors in this zone You cant grow ap-ples but you sure can grow tropical fruits

Plant Hardiness Zone 11 Minimum temperatures 40F and above = (4C and above)

This is the true tropical paradise zone with a mild year-round temperature and a growing season that extends year-round where gardening dangers exist far more from tropical storms or the occasional volcano than from freezing weather

Planting Zone Map

Do You Have Interesting

Porch Stories Memories Ideas a Porch

Pooch or Porch Pictures to Share

Front-Porch-Ideas-and-Morecom is all about our passion for front porches and the fond memories that Dave and I have of time spent on porches But we want to give you the opportunity to share with us and our readers your own stories and pictures You are the reason why we have our site so we especially love hearing from you about your own porch

Do you have a childhood memory about your front porch We love hearing from you and we

appreciate receiving heart-warming and fun stories and pictures Submit your favorite porch memory to us Do you have a porch decorating idea to share with our site visitors Some neat decorating idea (large or small) you have done with your own porch that we could share for all to see Submit your decorating ideas to us

Do you have a porch pooch to share with our site visitors Share your favorite picture of your pooch on a porch for all to see Submit your porch pooch pics to us

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Do yourself and your family a favor Take a look at Site Build It Then review our Site Progress at Front Porch Ideas and More to see exactly what wersquove done and how long it has taken us to create the site you are visiting Then see the About Us page and yoursquoll see that Irsquom definitely not a techie (if I can do this I know you can to) If you are a

techie whatrsquos taken you so long - Dave

F R O N T - P O R C H - I D E A S - A N D - M O R E C O M