How to Create a Garden Against Your House

Creating a garden against your house requires attention to detail and thoughtful planning to avoid problems like foundation damage. But with careful research, creating a garden against your house can be a beautiful makeover.

Pros and Cons of Gardening Against Your House

Before updating your outdoor space, it's important to consider some potential benefits and issues that may occur with your new landscape design.

When done correctly, a garden close to your home can:

• Add texture and color against bricks, siding, and other materials.
• Create an additional layer of privacy when layered correctly.
• Help protect your house's foundation by reducing flood risks.

Possible downfalls to this type of garden include:

• Excess moisture buildup occurs if plants are overwatered or if the soil holds too much water.
• Regular and potentially time-consuming maintenance for foundation care.

Considerations Before You Start

Before planting along your home, you'll need to plan for long-term landscape care. Taking a few key factors into account early on can help prevent common issues and ensure your garden complements your home while remaining easy to maintain.

Drainage and Foundation Protection

Before selecting plants, you'll want to make sure that water will drain away from your home's foundation. Drainage problems can harm the foundation by eroding soil or causing moisture. You can prepare for proper drainage by:

• Planting larger plants and flower beds far enough away from the side of your home
• Adding small walkways to prevent drainages
• Not piling soil or mulch too high against the siding

Sunlight and Exposure

Look outside your home throughout the day to observe how much sun each area gets. Choose plants accordingly, selecting a variety of full-sun and shady plants. Plant flower beds about three to five feet wide for proper layering and depth, with low-growing plants closer to the front and taller plants farther back.

Spacing and Mature Growth

Before planting anything alongside your house, you'll need to consider how large plants will grow over time. Avoid larger trees and shrubs, as these types of plants can grow roots that may harm your house's structure. After selecting your plants, space them evenly and far enough away from your house to avoid foundation damage.

Garden Ideas for Against Your House

Gardening along your home's foundation can enhance curb appeal and create a more cohesive transition between the house and landscape. The landscaping tips below offer simple, effective ways to design a balanced and functional space.

Create Layered Foundation Planting

Layering plants helps create a clean, structured look in front-yard landscaping. Shrubs can also help create privacy around windows and along the house. To layer, add shrubs toward the back and scatter perennials in front. Scatter ground cover for additional greenery.

Add a Low-Maintenance Garden Bed

For color and plant variety, add a small garden bed to your planting area. Plant drought-tolerant perennials to incorporate colorful texture alongside your home. You can also install window boxes for a quick, eye-catching addition to your front porch.

Consider a Minimalist Design

Repetition, clean lines, and limited plant varieties work well with contemporary homes. Select plants with a neutral palette and plant in organized sections for a clean look. Incorporate trellises and pergolas for climbing plants or plant tall ornamental grasses for added privacy.

Build a Pollinator-Friendly Garden

To attract pollinators to your yard while still adding visual interest, plant perennials such as black-eyed Susans, hummingbird mint, and wild bergamot.

Quick Tips

As you add plants and flowers around your home, keep in mind the following tips:

• Keep plants a safe distance from siding
• Install edging for a clean finish
• Add pavers to create a walkway to your front door
• Choose low-maintenance plants
• Avoid overcrowding

Best Plants to Use Along Your Home

The right plants can make foundation gardens that look polished and perform well over time. The selections below highlight reliable options that offer structure, color, and year-round interest.

Perennials

Hostas and ferns do best in shady areas; they help create layered texture in gardens. Day lilies, coneflowers, and black-eyed Susans love the sun and attract a variety of pollinators.

Small shrubs

Small or medium-sized evergreen shrubs (e.g., boxwood) and flowering shrubs (e.g., hydrangeas) add texture and color alongside your home. Pair them with annual flowers for even more color variety.

Succulents

Succulents tend to have shallow roots compared to other varieties of plants, meaning less opportunity for roots to potentially damage a home's foundation compared to larger plants like trees.

Ground covers

Sedum, creeping thyme, and sweet woodruff are wonderful options to cover large patches of ground. They help prevent erosion near the home. Ground covers are low-maintenance plants that usually thrive in both sunny and shady spaces.

Garden Design Against House FAQs

How can I design a garden that complements my house's architecture?

Ways to create a front yard garden that complements a home's architecture include:

• Focusing on matching the style and scale of your home.
• Using clean lines and simple layouts for modern homes, or softer shapes and layered plantings for more traditional styles.
• Keeping materials and plant choices consistent.
• Designing around key features like entryways, seating areas, and windows to create a cohesive look.

How do I choose plants that complement the style of my house?

When picking plants to complement your home's style:

• Stick to a simple, cohesive plant palette that reflects your home's style. Structured plants and grasses work well for modern designs, while flowering perennials and shrubs suit more traditional homes.
• Choose colors that complement your exterior.
• Select plants that thrive in your outdoor living space.
• Consider installing raised beds for larger spaces.

What should I not plant against my house?

Plants that are often best planted away from the side of the house include any type of large, root-heavy trees, ivies, or certain shrubs, such as bamboo or large arborvitae. These plants can damage your home's foundation if their roots spread far enough.

Final Thoughts

A well-designed garden along your home can create a more cohesive outdoor space. Creating a DIY landscape plan for your garden can be tricky, but with thoughtful planning, homeowners can build an easy-care landscape that looks intentional and protects their home.