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| Foundation planting |
Foundation planting has been used in the United States since the late 1800s to hide high foundation walls that resulted from houses constructed several feet above the ground to provide basements for gravity-air furnaces.
Most front yards are only public settings for the house and provide little opportunity for outdoor living or enjoyment by the residents. There are few places in most front yards to sit, have a cup of coffee, talk with a friend, or read a book.The challenge is for designers to improve these conditions so that the front yard can become an attractive, useful, and inviting space on the residential site.
10. Foundation Planting. The use of plants in the front yard is frequently limited to foundation planting—the practice of lining the foundation of a house with a row of shrubs. These shrubs, typically evergreen
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| Hidden Front Door |
However, most contemporary houses have little or no foundation wall exposed. Another problem of foundation planting is that it is seen more by passersby on the street than by the homeowners. Foundation planting cannot be seen from within the house unless a person is standing at the window.
11. Overgrown Foundation Planting. A major problem with many foundation plantings is that they are overgrown to the point of obstructing the windows of the house and crowding adjoining entry walks. On some sites, the windows on the first floor of the house are completely covered with a mass of foliage, thus blocking out light and views to the outdoors.
12. Scattered Plants in Lawn. Trees and shrubs located in the front yard are sometimes placed randomly throughout the yard so as to “fill” the lawn area.
13. Little Enjoyment of Front Yard. One overall characteristic of many front yards is that they lack a memorable image or style. Many front yards are bland, unexciting, and similar to the others in the neighborhood.
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| Overgrown Foundation Planting |
11. Overgrown Foundation Planting. A major problem with many foundation plantings is that they are overgrown to the point of obstructing the windows of the house and crowding adjoining entry walks. On some sites, the windows on the first floor of the house are completely covered with a mass of foliage, thus blocking out light and views to the outdoors.
12. Scattered Plants in Lawn. Trees and shrubs located in the front yard are sometimes placed randomly throughout the yard so as to “fill” the lawn area.
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| Enjoyment of Front Yard |
13. Little Enjoyment of Front Yard. One overall characteristic of many front yards is that they lack a memorable image or style. Many front yards are bland, unexciting, and similar to the others in the neighborhood.
Most front yards are only public settings for the house and provide little opportunity for outdoor living or enjoyment by the residents. There are few places in most front yards to sit, have a cup of coffee, talk with a friend, or read a book.
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