Modern Landscaping Ideas for Your Front Yard

Edible Landscaping

When you think of shrubs and plants for use in landscaping, chances are, ornamental varieties come to your mind first. Few people give second thought to hedges, flowers, borders and shrubs being edible. But all of that is rapidly changing! Instead of planting ornamental or non-edible plants, edible landscapers create informal hedges from lavender and rosemary, natural barriers from black berries, and vibrantly delicious edible flower borders.

This type of landscaping does require thoughtful planning, but is tremendously rewarding. Not only are you uniquely utilizing the space in your front yard, you’re also producing tasty vittles to share with family and friends or use in your own kitchen. Perfect for those with limited backyard space for a vegetable garden, edible landscapes provide the relaxation of gardening and the satisfaction of cooking with home-grown ingredients. Meanwhile, you are beautifying and sustainably landscaping your front yard.

Edible landscaping does not have to be messy or have that overgrown look. Many varieties of trees, plants, shrubs and flowers grow uniformly and can be incorporated into an already existing landscape with ease.

Native Plant and Natural Landscaping

By definition, natural landscaping uses plants, flowers, trees and shrubs native to a particular area. As homeowners become increasingly aware of green solutions to home upkeep and landscaping, a trend in native plant landscaping is gaining steady momentum. Native plants have adapted to growing in a certain climate or region and will thrive when used as part of a natural or native plant landscape. While manicured, country club lawns are certainly lovely, they aren’t terribly practical, even with the use of reclaimed water. Many homeowners are opting for landscaping solutions that don’t rely heavily on toxic pesticides, fertilizers and other lawn care necessities.

Opting for a native plant landscape isn’t as difficult as it may seem. Talk to your landscaper about the natural landscaping options available to you or pay a visit to your local garden center for suggestions. Natural landscaping is all about working with what grows naturally and beautifully right in your own area. People in the northeast may not be able to have a desert flower and cactus rock garden with native plants, but people in the southwest will have an almost impossible time of maintaining a foliage garden. Incorporate what is found naturally in your area, but do not take plants from their native habitat as this can upset the ecosystem. Instead, obtain your native plants from garden centers, through your landscaper, or order them online.

These are just a couple modern landscaping ideas for your front yard. Trends are leaning toward more sustainable landscapes incorporating eco-friendly elements. Whichever landscaping idea you decide to go with, make sure it not only suits your home, but also your personality and style.

Have fun and get creative!