Re-thinking the front yard garden
January 3rd, 2010 | By: Dar Webb
With today’s emphasis on sustainability and resource conservation, many people are rethinking the large expanses of lawn so prevalent in suburban front yards. Lawns are generally considered high-maintenance, requiring fertilizers and pesticides, weekly mowing, and regular watering throughout the dry season.
In Western Washington, ample rainfall and typically poor draining soils often create soggy conditions throughout much of the year, often leading to wet, moss-infested lawns. In the summer, conditions change dramatically and we often experience two to three months of near drought-like conditions. During these dry summer months, water usage in the Northwest soars, with high-water consuming lawns representing nearly 70 percent of a typical household’s water usage. Many people elect to turn off the hoses, resulting in a browned-out lawn until the rainy season resumes.
With changing attitudes about outdoor living, home owners are reconsidering the front yard’s purpose. Historically, the front porch created a semi-public space where neighbors could gather to visit or sit and watch the kids at play. The garage was tucked away in the rear of the home, accessed via an alley. Modern homes are often dominated by the garage and driveway, with most outdoor living occurring in the back yard, regardless of sun-orientation or views. With shrinking lot sizes and the desire for useable outdoor living spaces, the front garden should not be overlooked as a true extension of your home.
When considering tearing out that front lawn, and before heading off to the nursery to purchase plants, it’s important to start with a plan. Consider how you want to use the space: does great morning sun or a view of the mountains warrant a terrace or patio where you can enjoy that first cup of coffee? Maybe it has the only full sun of the yard and you want to grow an herb garden. Do you want to attract wildlife, or create a fun space for the kids? Do you entertain a lot and desire a dramatic, formal entry courtyard? Thinking about how you want to use your front garden will help you decide what to include in the plan. Finally, be sure to research any applicable neighborhood CC&Rs and local land use codes that may affect what you can and can’t do.
Once you have decided upon the program for your new front garden, its time to map it out on paper. If you are planning on a significant change or upgrade to the garden, consider finding a landscape architect or garden designer to assist you in developing the plan. They can help turn all your ideas into a cohesive design and will often show you ideas that you hadn’t even considered. For do-it-yourselfers, taking the time to plan your design on paper will save you time and money in the long run. Begin by making a scaled base plan drawing of your yard on graph paper. Show all existing elements, such as the house, driveway, front walkway, lawn and planting areas. If drawing is foreign to you, there are several good Sunset and Ortho “how to” garden books at stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s that demonstrate how to measure and draw out your yard.
When you are ready to start designing, make copies of your base plan on which you can sketch out rough ideas. At this preliminary design stage, it’s important not to get caught up on the minute details; be willing to explore several options or directions. Once you have decided on a concept you like, begin working out the fine details. Start with basic circulation and hardscape elements like pathways and patios, and be sure to plan for sleeving under paved areas so you can run future irrigation or electrical lines once the paving is in place. When laying out your new planting areas, consider drainage, sun orientation, soil conditions and new irrigation requirements. Once you have established the overall framework, work on finalizing the details including plant selections and garden accessories like containers, furnishings and fountains. Finally, be sure to consider how the space will visually connect with your home and fit within the neighborhood as a whole.
Once you look at the front yard as more than a large lawn and a walkway to the front door, you’ll realize the entry garden represents a great opportunity to add value and useable outdoor space to your home. It can be a private space to enjoy your morning latte or a more public space where you and your neighbors can gather to watch the kids play in the neighborhood. The large lawn can be replaced with a formal kitchen garden, or a dramatic low-maintenance native garden attracting wildlife. The possibilities are endless!
