Spring has sprung and it’s time to start thinking about any areas of your landscape that need a fresh new look, or some added functionality. Starting with the front yard is a great way to add curb appeal - and to put a smile on your face every time you come home. You can gather inspiration from these 4 timely landscape design ideas for your front yard in the Hamptons and Smithtown, NY areas.
Related: TRANSFORM YOUR FRONT YARD WITH MASONRY IN BROOKVILLE, LONG ISLAND NY
1. A Welcoming Entry
The front yard is all about welcome. Landscaping updates could involve removing or pruning overgrown trees and shrubs to make your home more visible. For the warmest welcome, make sure there is a clearly defined path to the front door, adequate landscape lighting for safety, and a welcoming feature such as a series of planters bursting with cheerful seasonal color.
Adding a whimsical touch such as a fountain by the front entry also makes your front yard feel friendlier.
And of course, feelings of safety are important. Dense foundation plantings are a thing of the past; now is a great time to replace them with a layered plant bed that helps to integrate the home into the landscape while disguising the foundation, but without using thick hedges.
2. A New Paver Walkway and Driveway
If your driveway is in need of repair, consider switching to pavers. While the initial investment is higher than a conventional asphalt driveway, in the long run you will spend less because pavers are much longer-lasting than asphalt or poured concrete. Repairs are easier and more attractive, too - should a paver get damaged, you can replace just the one paver and never worry about ugly patches.
Perhaps the best part of a paver driveway is that you can install an in-ground heating system which will quickly melt any snow on the surface… and if you are using permeable pavers (with more generous joints that allow water to seep into the ground below) you will probably never have to pick up a snow shovel again, or have your landscaping ruined by careless plow operators. Permeable pavers are also more eco-friendly than asphalt driveways because they don’t cause runoff, but rather help return precipitation to the aquifer.
You can create a cohesive look by installing a paver walkway, too. This will give your front entry a very sophisticated and finished look; and adding in-ground heating to your walkway will likewise make your walkway safer and more attractive in winter.
3. Updated Lighting
A welcoming front yard will feature lighting that combines function with artistic effect. Instead of a single post-mounted high-wattage light - which is blinding to anyone walking toward it - consider a series of pathway lights along the driveway and walkway. These low-lying fixtures direct light at the ground where it is most needed. The result is an attractive and safe front yard.
4. Native Plants
If you are replacing plants this season, consider two approaches: the first is to choose native plants rather than exotics, because natives are perfectly adapted to the environment and you will rarely need supplemental watering and fertilizer once they are established. The second approach is to reduce the size of your lawn, and instead create an eye-catching plant bed (or series of plant beds) where you can showcase the beauty of native flowers, shrubs, trees, and of course ground covers and grasses. You won’t miss the work that your lawn takes - and your front yard will be a show-stopper.
Related: HOW MASONRY CAN ADD CHARACTER TO A FRONT ENTRANCE IN PORT JEFFERSON, NY