The entrances to your home should provide easy access through your landscaping and yard. First impressions count for a lot, so aesthetic appeal surrounding your landscaping and entryways is important. It’s easiest to start with the highest traffic access area which is usually how you’ll reach your home from your parking area. Next, assess the paths and walkways to and from all access areas of your home. Plantings surrounding these areas should guide visitors’ eye towards your entry/exit points. If you use a side entrance as much as or more than your front door, focus some attention there as well. Colorful blooms, walkways, foundation beds, and outdoor lighting may be used.

If planting for height, build up towards your house. Start lower and gradually increase the height of your plants as they get closer to the house so as to direct attention to the entrance. Landscaping beds that border a walkway can distract attention away from the entryway. Think of the beginning of your path or sidewalk simply as an opening directing you towards your door.

Safety and invitation should both be considered for your entry. Some moderately good outdoor lighting and even a little visibility can help ensure your safety at night when going from your parking area to your home. If you have a mudroom, laundry room, or utility room that is next to your front or rear entry, plan for making it look good as well as functional for traffic flow.  

So how do you guide and lead visitors to your entry and through your access areas? Most professional landscaping companies basically follow a common pattern here. Walkways, privacy hedges, shrubs, border gardens, edging, fencing, trellises, screens, and railings are options. Add a planter to frame and highlight entry to certain areas. Fences, raised beds, and screening can also be used to hide spots that have visible utilities from view.

When planting to define and accent access and entry areas, space them with the mature size and spread of the plants in mind. This is often an overlooked consideration in landscaping. As your access areas will usually lead to or near your home, plantings need to be placed far enough from your foundation to allow for maintenance of both home and garden. Plants should be planted far enough from your house and other buildings so that you can take care of them once they are mature size. Given time to grow, shrubs and hedges create a natural boundary and screen while fences create an immediate boundary.

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