Enhance Your Entrance

Give visitors a pleasant first impression of your home by sprucing up your entranceway.

Your back or side yard may be full of beautiful flowers, but have you considered putting some of these plants in the front? Perennials or grasses lining the sidewalk up to your door make the entrance more inviting. Blooming flowers beside the porch makes your doorway more attractive. Here are some easy ideas to consider:

-- We’re used to seeing clematis climbing up lampposts but you can put one closer to your front door by letting it climb up a metal or wood structure. The mass of blooms is always welcome.

-- An easy way to enhance a sidewalk is to plant ivy on each side. Ivy spreads quickly and can easily be kept in check with a string trimmer.

-- An even lower-maintenance plant beside the length of your walkway is liriope. It’s available in dark green or variegated, is happy in sun or shade and the only attention it needs is a haircut in early spring.

-- In some parts of the country, front yard cottage gardens are popular, and you can see a few in the Tri-State. This informal garden contains a myriad of perennials, welcoming visitors with bold colors.

-- If you want to keep your front lawn and prefer not to have a border next to your sidewalk, prepare a small bed next to the street. Choose a variety of perennials and annuals to ensure color all spring and summer.