A large part of planning a Greater Indianapolis landscape design is understanding what types of plants best fit the various areas of your yard. We’ve got some tips that will help you choose wisely:

Front Yard Landscape Design

You see this space quite a bit, and so do your neighbors and visitors. Putting your best face forward is the goal of designing a landscape for your front yard. Along the walkway from your driveway to your front door, we suggest using a variety of seasonal blooming perennials, small trees and evergreens to ensure visual interest throughout the year. Perennials add color, where trees and shrubs add height and dimensions. And, no surprise here if you know us, we love to include boulders in front yard landscapes. Many homeowners forget this option and are pleasantly surprised when they see how great they look.

If you have more space, add some annuals each season to freshen up the look. You will have to be willing to be a bit of a gardener if you add these varieties, however, since they need to be removed and replaced after their growing season. Pansies in the spring, geraniums in the summer, mums in the fall are standard annual fare. However, there are many more to choose from if you want additional pizzazz. Remember to step back and take a look at your plantings, making sure that the front of your home looks balanced on both sides.

Back Yard Landscape Design 

The approach to a backyard landscape is similar to the front but with less emphasis on annuals and more on year-round, long-term growth. The backyard enjoys a slower pace than the front since it is often used as a relaxing and entertainment spot. Watching your landscape develop and mature over time adds to the enjoyment. Specific plant recommendations vary wildly depending upon the environment – sun, wet, new development with poor soil or old neighborhood with good soil. Hosta, salvia, sedum, and nine bark shrubs are a few of our staples, but we tend to choose based on the style of the home. Modern & contemporary or woodsy & rustic – keep in mind that plants support different types of looks. Boulders are good for backyards too!

Pond Landscape Design

Choosing plants for your pond will depend upon the style you are going for. Our favorites include Japanese maples because their style provides lots of visual interest near or close to a waterfall. However, there is usually already a lot going on visually with a pond so the plants serve as icing on the cake. Layering is key here – Japanese maples depending upon variety, can get 10 ft tall so we place medium-sized plants around it. Lilacs and magnolias are great options. Smaller plant varieties include specialized evergreens, grasses and cattails (though we use this last one carefully because they can be invasive). Water lilies and water hyacinth grow in the water and are important to include if you have fish. These plants add a roof to the pond, offering protection and a place to hide. Plus, Koi like to play and have fun! They enjoy the lily pads – entertainment for your fish!

One more bit advice as you are planning which plants to include in your home landscape – know your area. Rhododendron and azaleas grow well in Indianapolis where heat from dense housing provides winter protection. Further north they do not survive. A 1-2 degree temperature difference can determine if something will survive. A local landscaper who is familiar with the area and the plants that work can help you guide. Also, don’t just trust the labels on the plants! It is just as important to know where the plants are coming from. Varieties that were propagated in a nursery in CA are acclimated to that climate and will not do well in your yard in Indiana.

Let us know if you have any questions about which plants to include in your landscape design. Contact us here or give us a call at (317) 997-4803.