What should I put down the side of my house?

When deciding how to landscape the side of your house, there are many options to consider depending on your needs, budget, and personal taste. The side of a home provides an opportunity to add visual interest, increase privacy, delineate property lines, and complement the architecture and style of your home.

Should I plant trees, shrubs, or perennials?

Planting along the side of your house is one of the most popular choices to add beauty and privacy. You’ll want to consider the mature size of any plants to allow enough room between the foundation and plants. Some good options include:

• Evergreen trees or shrubs for year-round privacy and coverage
• Flowering shrubs and perennials for seasonal color
• Vines trained up trellises or the house for texture and greenery
• Ornamental grasses for visual interest and movement

Be sure to choose plants suited for the sunlight, soil, and climate in your area. A mix of heights, textures, and colors creates an attractive landscape.

What about gravel, mulch, or groundcovers?

For a lower maintenance option, you could use inorganic materials like gravel, decorative stone, or mulch. These can be used alone or combined with some plants. Benefits include:

• Weed suppression
• Moisture retention
• Visual uniformity and clean look

Popular choices are pea gravel, shredded bark mulch, river rock, and interlocking stones. Just be sure inorganic materials don’t pile up next to the foundation. For greenery, you could do a groundcover like ivy, vinca, or liriope which require less trimming than shrubs.

Should I build a fence or wall?

Fencing and walls are ideal for privacy, security, and clearly defining property lines. Options include:

• Wood privacy fence – most popular, affordable option
• Vinyl fence – lower maintenance than wood
• Ornamental metal fence – adds decoration
• Masonry blocks or poured concrete – very durable but higher cost
• Living wall with vines – natural looking if you have the time to establish

When planning a fence or wall, be sure to check with your homeowners association for any restrictions. Also consider the height and check local ordinances. You want adequate privacy without towering over adjacent properties.

What about yard designs like terraces or fire pits?

If you have the space, you could extend your living area down the side of your home by creating an inviting terrace, cozy sitting area, or entertaining space. Options include:

• Paver patio – allows you to layout shapes, patterns, and materials
• Fire pit – creates a focal point and warmth on cooler evenings
• Stone seating walls – double as planting beds
• Water feature like a fountain or pond – provides relaxing sounds

Just be sure to maintain access to any utilities and follow safety codes for proximity to the home’s foundation and any fire features.

How can I save money on landscaping?

There are several ways to cut costs with your side yard landscaping:

• Do it yourself rather than hiring a professional
• Start with young plants vs. mature specimens
• Use native plants suited for your climate and soil
• Reuse materials like flagstones for patios
• Buy bulk materials like gravel or mulch
• Construct wood features from low cost lumber
• Build over time in phases you can afford

Focus first on simple enhancements like neat edging, fresh mulch, and well-groomed plants. You can always add more later as your budget allows.

What maintenance will be required?

To keep your side yard looking nice with whichever option you choose, some regular maintenance will be required. This includes:

• Watering – especially at first to establish new plantings
• Weeding – keep beds and borders tidy
• Mowing/edging – for any lawn areas
• Pruning – shaping and thinning plants as needed
• Fertilization – feeding plants in spring and fall
• Leaf/debris clean up – keep tidy year round
• Snow removal – access and safety in winter

Also inspect features like fences, patios, and walls periodically and make repairs as needed. Consider your time and abilities when choosing landscaping options.

How can I make the side yard more private?

To make your side yard feel more secluded from neighbors, consider these privacy boosting tips:

• Plant tall, dense evergreen trees like arborvitae or laurels
• Build a solid wood fence at least 6 feet tall
• Add a trellis and climbing vines or espaliered trees
• Arrange plantings in layered rows for full coverage
• Include plants with width as well as height
• Site patios and sitting areas away from property lines
• Use strategic accessory structures like arbors or garden sheds

Also avoid wide gaps in plantings or fences that would allow views into your yard. Focus privacy efforts on areas most visible from neighbor’s yards.

How can I brighten up a shady side yard?

If your side yard is shaded by the house, trees, or fences, you can still create an attractive landscape. Some ideas include:

• Woodland shade plants like hostas, astilbe, ferns
• Ornamental grasses and grass-like plants
• Variegated foliage for color like coral bells
• Moss in place of lawn
• Stepping stone pathway through plantings
• Decorative pots and statuary for focal points
• Underplanting trees with shade perennials
• Lighting such as path lighting or spotlights in trees

For very deep shade, concentrate on foliage texture, shape, and variegation rather than flowers. Go for a lush, woodland character.

Should drainage be improved before landscaping?

Improving drainage first is ideal if the side yard tends to collect standing water or stay overly wet. Options include:

• Grading the slope away from the house
• Installing a French drain system
• Amending soil with compost to improve porosity
• Using gravel or stone pathways to increase permeability

Good drainage will allow a wider variety of plants to thrive and make the yard more usable. Combine with drought tolerant plants for a low maintenance landscape.

What colors and textures should I use?

When selecting plants and materials, consider how colors and textures will coordinate with your home’s exterior. Some tips:

• Repeat accent colors from the house exterior like shutters
• Complementary hues tend to work well such as purples against yellow
• Limit colors to 3-5 for unity
• Incorporate some foliage texture for interest
• Use larger leaves like hostas near the house, smaller leaves further away
• Match hardscape materials to the home like natural stone

Walk around the yard and view the home from all angles to visualize how plantings will complement the architecture.

Conclusion

The side yard offers great potential for adding function and beauty to your landscape. Assess your needs for privacy, play areas, outdoor living spaces, or plantings. Review the sun exposure, drainage, access, and visibility from inside the home. Then select options suiting your taste, lifestyle, and budget. With creativity, even challenging side yards can be transformed into an attractive extension of your living space.