Tip No. 1: Install groundcover.
With all the tree roots, grass is a lost cause. Remove any grass with a straight-edged spade; you won’t need a sod cutter. Select plants that don’t require much water. One good option: dwarf jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum
).
Tip No. 2: Ditch the red mulch.
Replace it with dark brown hardwood mulch or pine chips. This will create a more natural look and a sharper, cleaner contrast to the rest of the landscape.
Tip No. 3: Lower your under-window plantings.
When you have plants in a high-profile spot, keep them under control. Prune the flowering shrubs to slightly below the windows. Elsewhere along the foundation, prune existing plants to a tidier shape or, if they’re not doing well, replace.
Tip No. 4: Create a focal point.
Place a large flower pot in the landscape bed to the right of the door, and plant with colorful annuals or tropical plants like bromeliads.
Tip No. 5: Redirect the lighting.
Replace the landscape lighting with spot lighting that focuses on the door and a few favorite trees.
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Arlene Nappis right front yard