Foundation planting

Foundation planting is the row of beds that runs along the base of the house, especially across the front. Its job is to soften the hard line where wall meets ground, frame the entry, and give the front of the house some structure in every season.

The classic mistake is buying small shrubs and planting them a foot from the wall. Three years later they are pressed against the siding, blocking windows, and impossible to maintain. Plan for the mature size on the tag, not the size in the pot, and leave room to walk behind them.

A reliable formula is an evergreen backbone for winter structure, a few mid-height shrubs for mass, and a seasonal layer in front for color. Restraint reads better than variety here; a repeated, simple planting looks intentional, a one-of-everything bed looks like a collection.