Plant More Natives
  • Store
  • About
  • Join/Connect
  • eGift Cards
  • Store
  • About
  • Join/Connect
  • eGift Cards
Search

Front Foundation Design: Thinking Outside The Box

3/2/2015

Comments

 
I think we can all agree today's front foundation beds should be a mix of evergreen and deciduous plants. The best part of the different seasons is the anticipation of the plant changes from one season to the next. Right now, I can't wait for the popping of buds and that chartreuse leaf color of early spring.

So what does any of this have to do with native plants? A lot. For many of us, native plants are thought of as the wild ones, relegated to the backyard, perhaps the far backyard. Most of the available species and cultivars are deciduous, maturing at obnoxiously large sizes. Here's where an understanding of plant size and shape as well as some of the basic steps to design I've discussed so far come into play.
Let's look at our native Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea). Ahhh, one of my favorites for a front foundation corner. Planted far enough away from the house and with some selective pruning of outer branches as the plant matures, this one is fabulous. It not only blooms white early spring, but has a beautiful blue-green leaf that allows water droplets to bead. The fall color is awesome, the birds love the berries, and it's extremely sculptural in winter. What more could you ask for?
Picture
Amelanchier arborea (fall)
Picture
Amelanchier arborea (bloom)
Picture
A favorite of the Cedar Waxwing
For another example, how about Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)? Although it's part of the Holly genus, the leaves are soft and the plant is deciduous. Depending on the cultivar, it ranges in mature height from 5 to 9 feet. The bloom and fall color are nothing to write home about. But the winter show of berries on this upright shrub is simply fabulous. But please note, a male Winterberry that flowers at the same time must be planted somewhere in the yard for cross pollination and eventual berry production. This plant makes a terrific multi-stemmed small tree on the foundation.
Picture
Ilex verticillata (summer)
Picture
Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red'
Picture
Ilex verticillata 'Berry Heavy'
My third example is Magnolia, but not the large evergreen you may be familiar with. Two trees, or perhaps large shrubs, for consideration are Magnolia x grandiflora 'Little Gem', which is evergreen, and Magnolia virginiana (Sweetbay Magnolia). Both of them are upright and can be used on a house corner or between windows. You can keep them even more narrow by judiciously pruning the outer most limbs.
Picture
Magnolia virginiana
The mistake most of us make is planting too close to the foundation for instant gratification, not accounting for the mature size of the plants. Set the buckets. Then force yourself to pull them off the foundation to the appropriate distance and then some, keeping in mind that the first year they sleep, the second they creep and the third they will certainly leap. Also, where plants are happy, they can outgrow the stated heights and widths by as much as a foot in all directions. Landscape materials are expensive and a long term investment for a home. It pays to be patient and anticipate the end result.
Here we've looked at large native plants used as small trees at the foundation. Next time we'll talk about several smaller native shrubs for the foundation and why they work well.
Comments
    Picture
    Karen
    Welcome to my journal. For over 20 years I've created original landscape plans to help homeowners increase property value and really enjoy their yards. I approach every project as an unique opportunity to develop a work of living art, one that will require minimal care and age beautifully with time. In this journal, I will share some of my field experiences and tricks of the trade with you. Feel free to email questions. Thanks for visiting.

    Archives

    February 2019
    January 2018
    September 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015

Follow Us

Copyright © 2020 Plant More Natives, LLC, Richmond, VA.  All rights reserved.

Customer Care

Contact Us
Order and Shipping  Information

​Go-To Native Plant List
Eastern US Butterflies & Host Plants

Nectar Sources for Beneficial Bugs
Food Sources for Mason Bees

Go-To Green Mulch
Natives for Containers
Botanical Name Cheat Sheet
Bloom Height Chart
Picture
Picture
  • Store
  • About
  • Join/Connect
  • eGift Cards