Foundation plantings are garden beds that are placed near a home or other building. These beds are most often placed in the front yard near a home’s entrance, but can also be located in a side yard or backyard. These plantings help soften the transition between the home and yard, anchoring the home to the surrounding landscape. A well-designed foundation planting enhances curb appeal and increases the value of your home. These plantings should draw attention to the house rather than detract.

If a foundation planting is improperly installed, it may lead to issues such as soil erosion, excessive moisture, basement flooding, mold buildup, or damage to the home’s foundation such as cracking and settling. Whether you have an existing foundation planting that is in need of renovation, or are starting with a clean slate, there are many factors to consider. Here’s how to design, install, and maintain a beautiful foundation planting for your home landscape.

PLANNING A FOUNDATION PLANTING

Before installing a foundation planting, follow these planning tips:

Evaluate your site.

Observe how sunlight moves through your site at different times of the day and year. Plant selection will be different for a site that gets full sun than one that receives partial or full shade. Evaluate soil for drainage and consistency (sand, rock, clay, or loam). Consider existing elements such as a driveway, sidewalks, lawn, trees, walls, fencing, and surrounding views.

Locate utilities.

Before drawing up a plan, have your local utility companies locate and mark underground lines to avoid any possible damage from digging.

Research.

Look for foundation planting ideas on the internet, by visiting local gardens, or observing foundation plantings in your own neighborhood. Research plants that do well in your area, particularly natives that will be more resilient and easy to care for.

Make a plan.

Draw a rough sketch to get an idea of what your foundation planting will look like. Decide if you want to keep any existing plants, or start with a clean slate.

FOUNDATION PLANTING DESIGN TIPS

Here are some foundation planting ideas and design tips for inspiration:

Consider style.

Take cues from your home’s facade when designing planting schemes. For a Colonial Revival or Georgian-style home, choose a more formal landscaping style such as symmetrical straight-edged beds and neatly trimmed shrubs. A farmhouse, bungalow, or ranch style home is complemented by more naturalist garden elements such as gently curving beds, natives, or other plants with a looser form.

Creating a welcoming entrance.

The front yard is the first impression of your home that people see from the street. The front entrance should be the focal point, with the surrounding landscape visually pleasing but not distracting. Design a foundation planting that is welcoming and engaging with a mix of plants, containers, statuary, and other decorative accessories. Create visual balance on either side of the home’s entrance to establish harmony. Include hardscape features such as boulders, edging, sidewalks, or pathways.

Keep plants in scale.

Take into account the mature size of plants. Choose plants that fit the scale of your home. Large shrubs may overwhelm a small bungalow, while dwarf varieties may get lost against a larger multi-story home. Place foundation trees so they won’t overhang roof lines or gutters. Choose small to medium-sized plant varieties that won’t outgrow their space.

Repeat elements.

For a more cohesive look, use plantings that reinforce the architectural lines of your home. Pyramidal conifers can be used to echo pointed gables, while columnar-shaped trees or shrubs will emphasize a chimney or vertical columns. Rounded shrubs echo curved roof lines, arched windows, and doors. Choose plants with flowers or foliage that match the color scheme of your home for unity and repetition.

Avoid blocking windows.

Before choosing plants, measure the distance between the ground and windows. Use dwarf plant varieties that won’t become overgrown and obscure windows, or plants such as boxwood and yew that are amenable to shearing.

Allow enough space.

Plants that are sited too close to a home may grow roots that can damage the foundation, water or sewer pipes. Poor air circulation can cause mold and mildew on home siding. Follow these tips for spacing:

• Planting beds should be 6- to 8-feet deep, measuring from the house to the outer edge of the bed.
• Place larger trees and shrubs 5 feet or more away from a home’s foundation, allowing a buffer of 1 to 3 feet between the plants and the side of your home. This will allow access for landscape upkeep, exterior cleaning, painting, and other maintenance.
• Smaller plants should be no closer than 2 to 3 feet from the foundation.
• Keep plants at least two feet away from air conditioning units so that air flow is not impeded.

Vary the type of plants.

A foundation planting is more visually pleasing with different types of plants. Include a mix of evergreen, deciduous, and flowering shrubs or small trees in various shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. Supplement with perennials, bulbs, and groundcovers. Annuals can be used for quick color until plants fill in.

Layer plantings.

Vary the planting scheme with varieties of different heights. Place taller plants towards the back and shorter plants in the front. Add vertical interest with vining plants such as clematis trained up a trellis or arbor.

Plant for multi-season interest.

Choose plants with colorful leaves, flowers, berries, fall color, and attractive bark for year-round appeal. Include plants that flower at different times during the growing season for continuous color. Conifers and broadleaf evergreen shrubs lend year-round color and structure. As a general guideline, aim for a ratio of 50% evergreens, 25% flowering and deciduous shrubs or trees, and 25% perennials.

Use repetition.

Choose plants in the same color or shape and place them at intervals to create repetition, unity, and flow.

HOW TO INSTALL A FOUNDATION PLANTING

Follow these steps for creating a foundation planting:

Remove old plants.

Dig out existing plants, making sure to get as much of the roots out as possible. If there are any plants you want to incorporate back into the design, preserve as much of the root ball as possible and set them aside.

Outline beds.

Decide what size and shape you want your foundation planting beds. Take measurements and outline beds with string, scrap wood, or a hose. This outline will help determine plant choice and placement.

Test the soil.

Use a soil test to determine pH levels and any nutrient deficiencies.

Amend soil.

Soil around a home foundation tends to be compacted and devoid of nutrients. Loosen the soil and break up larger clods until the soil is a fine consistency. Amend with compost or other organic matter to add nutrients and improve drainage.

Grade the soil.

Angle the soil level so that water drains away from the foundation. This will help prevent basement flooding during heavy rains or other moisture problems. Grade soil at least 6 inches downward for every 10 feet away from your foundation. Keep gutters, downspouts, and eaves clear of debris to help prevent flooding.

Site plants.

Set potted plants on top of the soil and move them around until you get the proper layout. Allow enough space between plants so they won’t become crowded. Site larger focal plants first, followed by smaller accent plants.

Plant.

Once you are satisfied with the layout and spacing, place plants in the ground, starting with the larger plants first.

Water.

Water deeply after planting, and provide regular water until plants are established.

FOUNDATION PLANTING MAINTENANCE TIPS

Choose carefree varieties.

Include plants that need little or no pruning, are reliably hardy in your zone, and are tolerant of different growing conditions, which will help reduce maintenance. (See: 21 Low-Maintenance Plants

Consider growing needs.

Group plants together with similar growing needs, which will result in healthier plants and less maintenance.

Fertilize.

Keep plants fertilized to promote lush growth and bloom.

Mulch.

Add a layer of compost or bark around the base of plants to help suppress weeds and retain moisture. Reapply annually in spring to provide a continuous source of nutrients. Keep wood-based mulch at least 1 foot away from the foundation to discourage termites and other pests. Crushed gravel or stone can be used in the space between wood-based mulch and the foundation.

Water.

Many foundation plants will need little or no supplemental water once they are established. Irrigate during prolonged heat and dry spells. Drip irrigation is more efficient than overhead watering.

Pruning and deadheading.

Research individual pruning needs. Cut out dead, diseased, or damaged growth as it appears. Keep formal hedging trimmed for a neater appearance. Prune tree branches away from rooflines and gutters. Cut back vegetation away from your home’s foundation and siding. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How to plan a foundation planting?

Evaluate your site, get inspiration from online or local sources, and draw a plan on paper to visualize plant placement and the final design.

How deep should a foundation planting be?

Foundation beds should be wide and deep enough to accommodate plants without overcrowding. Plan for beds that are about 6 to 8 feet deep, depending on your site and size of your home.

How deep should a foundation planting be?

Avoid placing larger trees or shrubs, invasive plants, or varieties that develop an extensive root system near a home foundation. Plants that are placed too close can cause damage to the foundation or siding.

MORE FOUNDATION PLANTING IDEAS

Diagrams courtesy of EZScapes by Proven Winners Perennials. See more plans here.

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