The beauty of entry statements. While many people would love to have an expansive and lushly planted home garden, many times the constraints on their budget, space, or time to maintain it make this an unrealistic idea. But in reality, for most people there are only a small number of very visible or highly used outdoor spaces that really require that sort of attention. Primarily these would be the areas literally just outside your door. For many homes, the back door is the entry to the family’s more private and casual gathering space. But the front entry serves as a welcoming area for guests and is on display to everyone who passes. So, while it may be your goal to one day have the complete home garden, there is no better way to begin than with the perfect entry statement.
The front entry landscape should really be a reflection of the style of the house or the personality of the occupant, and typically those are much the same. Whether you are a mid-century modern, turn-of-century farmhouse, or traditional American suburban there are some basic tenets that should be true for any style of home. First of all, let your plant palette be a reflection of the architecture. A prim and proper limestone façade may call for a closely manicured hedge, while an A-frame in the woods would be well-suited to a looser planting style such as a collection of woodland perennials. And while mass plantings can certainly look great, keep in mind that this is the opportunity to see these plants up close. Try using plants with delicate textures and fine details that can be appreciated as someone walks up to the house or waits at the door. This is the area where you want the most interesting plants, the specimens, in your garden. Be sure to take into consideration the other qualities of the plants as well. Use fragrant flowering shrubs and perennials to enhance the experience.
The hardscape is essential to the entry statement as well. An undersized sidewalk overgrown with sidewalk-crowding shrubs gives a constrained feeling, just the opposite of what you want for a front entry. Consider removing those old shrubs and widening the walkway to feel a little more open. Maybe your front steps are a little too narrow or not properly spaced. Whether you consciously notice this or not an awkward situation in the steps really can influence your entry experience. And be mindful of materials as well. While every project has a budget there are a number of ways to get more for your money. Investing in higher quality materials for the front walkway, steps or porch will give a much greater return for your dollar, both in the aesthetic appeal and perceived value of your home.
If you are looking to make renovations for your home and landscape consider the entry experience as an important piece of the landscape. Keep in mind the style of your home when selecting plants, use specimen plants with lots of interest, and make the walk up to your front door an enjoyable one with a properly designed hardscape and quality materials.