They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But let’s face it: a home and its occupants are often judged (at least in part) by the appearance of its front lawn. So making an investment into beautiful front yard landscaping is a wise choice for the design-minded homeowner.
Here are some insider secrets to help you create the prettiest front yard on the block.
Beautiful Front Yard Landscaping Ideas
8 Tips for Beautiful Front Yard Landscaping Tips
1. Plan before you buy.
If you’re going to spread topsoil over a large area, keep in mind that a single cubic yard of topsoil weighs over a ton. It will probably make the most sense to have your materials delivered. If you do plan to transport your landscape supplies from the shop to your home, be sure to use a truck or SUV instead of a compact hatchback.
Front Yard Landscaping Ideas
2. Know how much of each landscaping material you’ll need.
A cubic yard of mulch or topsoil that is spread two inches deep covers about 120 square feet (or about 80 square feet at a depth of three inches). Flower beds require four to five inches of mulch, while mulching around bushes and trees needs between three and four inches in depth. Click here to use our mulch calculator!
3. Prepare the plot before you mulch your front yard.
Don’t mulch too early in the spring; your soil may not be warm enough, and the mulch will keep the ground cool. Plus, you should weed your beds and water any plants before spreading the mulch.
Front Yard Landscaping Ideas
4. If you are mulching around trees (or plants with wooded stems)…
Leave an inch or two of space between the mulch and the base of the trunks. This will help prevent rotting of the bark and eliminate hiding places for plant-eating pests like slugs or rodents.
5. For an open area, consider laying down some flagstones in the mulch.
You can either make a walking path through the mulch or place flagstones together for a square or rectangular surface to create a sitting area or potted plant display space. Landscape lighting can be a great option for accenting highlights of your landscape area in the evening.
Front Yard Landscaping Ideas
6. For sloping areas, a rock garden works quite well.
Rock Gardens guard against erosion and anchor your plants. Choose randomly-sized rocks across the sloped area and dig holes that are slightly larger than each rock so that they are “planted” in the ground. Then you can fill in the gaps with mulch, alpine plants, grasses, or other flora.
7. If you have a small area (like a courtyard or side yard)…
One idea is to spread gravel or pea rocks across the entire plot and “sprinkle” in boulders, tiles, or other types of rocks. It will give the spot a Zen-like eel, and you won’t have to mow or weed it!
Front Yard Landscaping Ideas
8. If you have a signature or special plant or tree…
…You may want to construct a slate stone semicircle to accentuate it. Stack rectangular stones two or three high in a semicircle in front of the plant or tree, making sure to give its root system enough room. Then dump mulch into the semicircle to a depth higher than the earth around it. The stones will hold the mulch in place and draw the eye to the featured plant or tree.
For free estimates on delivery and materials for your lawn or yard, click here to contact us. We’ve been helping people in Carroll County achieve beautiful front yard landscaping since 1965!
For more information, check out these lawn tips from the University of Maryland.
Front Yard Landscaping Ideas
Front Yard Landscaping Ideas
