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Larry Sagers Horticultural Specialist Utah State University Extension Service Thanksgiving Point Office © All Rights Reserved
Because all of the landscape classes I am teaching have filled up, I have added an additional Beginning Landscape Design class in April in the evenings. Register at www.thanksgivingpoint.com or call 801 768-7443 for information.
FOUNDATION PLANTINGS Foundation plantings are placed against the base of the building to blend the vertical lines of the house to the horizontal lines of the soil. Foundation plantings must be carefully designed. Unfortunately, they are generally overplanted and are often short lived because they get to crowded.
The best foundation plantings have plant materials that get about 1/2 of the height of the house to the eves or roofline. Far too many foundation plantings quickly get out of bounds because the plants grow much higher than the eves. They must be pruned incorrectly keep them functional.
Foundation plantings can solve architectural problems.
If the house looks too narrow for its height, foundation plantings that extend beyond the sides of the home create a feeling of greater width. Use plants that are easy to care for and do not detract from the house. Avoid using too many kinds of plants. They should blend together rather than stand out individually.
Foundation plantings draw the eye toward the focal point which is usually the front door. They are easily designed on symmetrical homes, but are equally effective on asymmetrical homes. Do not plant right next to the foundation of the home.
Avoid continuous straight lines of plants across the front of the house, plants that grow and cover the windows, plants that are too close the foundation, plants that bisect the house. Avoid trying to cover the entire foundation all at once and avoid too many different bright colors or unusual foliage types that detract from the focal point.
Cute baby blue spruces in one gallon cans soon outgrow their area and must be removed. Allow sufficient room for the plants to grow to a natural size and shape. Small plants do not fill the area at first, but in a few years they are the right size and look good for many years.
Select plants that the height is limited genetically, not by pruning shears. Pruning plants extensively, year after year is a maintenance nightmare and a drudgery. Shearing usually destroys the natural plant form and beauty. Foundation plantings may not last a life time, and some plants may need replacement after 15-20 years.
Landscape design is not just planting plants. Pleasing landscapes follow the same principles that you would use in designing the interior of your home. Design landscapes to refresh, relax, comfort and uplift. Plants are great problem solvers for architectural features and natural features on your lot or surrounding area.
A personal landscape makes a creative statement that reflects your likes and dislikes. No two individuals are alike, and no two landscapes should be exactly alike. It should add living beauty to your home through plant materials and related structures.
