Landscape Design: Foundation Planting?

Every house—even your townhouse or condo—has a foundation! Landscapers traditionally plant shrubs, trees, and sometimes annual and perennial plants in front of the foundation, most obviously for “curb appeal.” Foundation plantings can serve many other purposes, such as moderating environmental conditions by reducing indoor temperatures through shade or providing a windbreak. What is yours doing?

Take an honest look at your foundation planting

• Are the plantings looking good?
  • Many established foundation plantings are overgrown:
    • Are trees or shrubs too close to the house?
    • Are views from windows and doors obstructed?
  • Other plantings are failing! Are any plants struggling to survive or are already dead?
    • If one or more shrubs or trees hasn’t prospered, there may be obvious gaps in the existing landscape.
    • If a design that is meant to mirror or repeat hasn’t done so, the planting may look lopsided!
  • What do you want your planting to do for you?
    • Does your foundation planting harmonize with your home and your lifestyle?
      • Do your plant choices complement the home’s building materials, color palette, size, and architectural style?
      • Consider what maintenance your planting needs–If you won’t have time to prune fast-growing or very formal shrub plantings, weed extensive flower beds, or edge the interface between foundation planting and lawn, consider lower maintenance choices.
    • Are there any other benefits different foundation plants could add in providing four-season interest, privacy, shade, or enhancing views from inside the home?

Changing landscape traditions give you new ways to update your foundation planting

• If you are thinking about reducing or replacing your lawn, consider integrating your foundation area into your new landscape design.
• Using native plants in your landscape is another trend—and one recommended way to replace your lawn! Even if you keep your lawn, including natives in your foundation planting can help attract birds and pollinators to your yard.

Edible landscaping is becoming more popular, too. Are there opportunities to incorporate edibles into your foundation planting?

• • In addition to fruiting trees or shrubs, there are many attractive herb and vegetables that can double as ornamentals.
  • Don’t plant edibles in contaminated soils or chemically treated areas—termite treatments are often applied around foundations—check to ensure the treatments used are safe for edibles.

If you are installing a new foundation planting or revamping an existing one, examine the planting beds as well as your plant choices! Poor soils, construction debris, and drainage issues may all affect your success. See the links below on designing and planting your foundation beds. Do a soil test!

Garden inspiration is a year-round opportunity. Enjoy!

Article written by Debbie Green, Extension Master Gardener^SM Volunteer

For more information:

Landscape design: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/19-landscape-design#section_heading_6158

Designing and planting your foundation beds: https://lsuagcenter.com/articles/page1640179592192

Using native plants in foundation plantings around townhomes and single-family homes:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/landscape-designs-native-plants