While a backyard flower border serves an entirely different purpose compared to a front entry bed, it must look neat from the street, groomed next to the front door, and balanced even without flowering plants. This is the reason why evergreen shrubs are important components of foundation planting.Flower beds provide the colors for only one season, whereas evergreens add the structure which allows garden beds to remain purposeful throughout the year. As noted by the various gardening experts, evergreen shrubs serve as the “framework” of the garden since they provide shapes and interest year round.Landscapers often use evergreen shrubs to prevent front yard plantings from appearing abandoned when all flowers are gone for the season. The key here is to select low-maintenance shrubs which complement the house and won’t outgrow their space.Importance of evergreen shrubs in front entry bedsThe front yard is observed constantly by passersby who see it daily whether walking on the sidewalk or from a car, porch, or window. An ill-conceived planting will make a whole frontage appear incomplete after flowers have died off.Evergreen shrubs address this issue because they will retain their form even in winter or during the dormant period. The Penn State Extension advises that shrubs should add something in more than one season other than just flowering.In particular, there is no better place to keep them compact than around the entrance. Shrub beds alongside the sidewalk or patio can be made to look crowded if the plants grow excessively tall or irregular. Therefore, it is always advisable to go for either compact or medium-sized evergreen shrubs for most front entrances.Compact boxwood maintains the structure of bedsThe use of boxwood is quite common for front entrances owing to its naturally neat shape. Dwarf types will be perfect to line up along walkways and steps. Homeowners often tend to plant boxwood repeatedly in order to maintain a formal effect without any confusion. For those seeking for low maintenance options, there are boxwood lookalikes available like the Japanese holly. Various gardeners have suggested compact evergreen shrubs for front entrance design all year round.
The easiest way to make your entry garden look tidy year-round. Image credit – Wikimedia
No flowers required for colorful euonymusCompact euonymus shrubs have become popular due to their color retention without having any blooms. There are species of euonymus shrubs with gold or white edges and green leaves that add color to the otherwise dull entry spaces.Flowers are only present during certain seasons. On the other hand, euonymus shrubs remain colorful for a larger part of the year. Various guides mention that euonymus shrubs can be easily shaped with pruning.These plants work well near porches, mailboxes, and front sidewalks where home owners want definition in their yard without creating huge hedges.Inkberry holly for native yardsInkberry holly has grown in popularity in the United States recently since it creates an evergreen foundation but helps create a landscape that includes more natives.Unlike many traditional hollies, the inkberry variety features less sharp leaves and a naturally round shape. According to University of Maryland Extension, native evergreen shrubs such as inkberry can be used in sustainable landscapes.The inkberry variety shrub can handle wet soil more efficiently than most other evergreen shrubs.Lavender adds softness and motionLavender is officially a small evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub in many warm USDA zones. It has an advantage that other dense shrubs lack softness and movement.This is how lavender makes a difference. A front garden bed created using only clipped shrubs may come off as stiff and formal. The addition of lavender will help with its silvery foliage and seasonal blooms, while maintaining the structure for many months.According to multiple gardening guidelines, combining evergreen foliage with seasonals results in layers rather than a rigid design.Osmanthus brings scent and densityCompact Osmanthus shrubs are excellent for warm areas in the US. These shrubs feature dense evergreen foliage and aromatic blooms appearing almost discreetly.They are similar to classic hedging shrubs in their form but easier to maintain and prune. Osmanthus is often used near entrance ways since its fragrance is noticeable when someone walks past.The most common mistake made by homeownersThe most frequent problem with front garden beds is improper plant spacing. Shrubs may look small when you purchase them from nurseries but soon enough, they spread significantly.According to various studies, plants grow by their maturity rather than their pot size. Plants crowded into a small space will ultimately become too much foliage that will be blocking windows and spilling over pathways. The proper technique should be planting less shrubs with repetition. This method results in a more polished and professional garden.Why evergreen structure is always a winning conceptEven though a great entry garden includes flowers, they will die at some point. And this is why the evergreen structure never fails.It gives the design form, coherence, and consistency throughout the seasons. Even though flowers can be an attractive focal point for several weeks, it’s the evergreen structure that makes your garden complete.
