The entrances to your home should be designed to provide easy access through your landscaping. First impressions count for a lot, so aesthetic appeal surrounding your landscaping ideas and entryways is important. It's usually best to start with the highest traffic entry area which is usually from your home to your parking area. Next, assess the paths and walkways to and from all access areas of your home. The plants around these areas should guide your visitors' eye towards your entry or exit points. Side entrances that are used as much or more than your front door, should also be considered. Shrubs, colorful bloom, walkways, border and foundation beds, and lighting may be used.

If planting for height, build up towards your house; that is to say, start lower on the periphery and gradually increase the height of your plants as they approach the house to direct attention to the entrance. A note of caution is that garden beds bordering a walkway or path can distract attention from your entrance; the best way I can explain it is to think of the beginning of your walkway as a starting point leading your entry as a vector opening directing you towards your door.

Safety and invitation should both be considered for your entry. Some good outdoor lights can help ensure your safety at night when going from your parking area to your home. If your home has any type of utility room, mudroom, laundry room, or outdoor kitchen that matches up to your front or rear entrance, plan for something that's easy to look at as well as functional for traffic flow.  

So how do you guide and lead visitors to your entry and through your access areas? Most professional landscaping contractors basically follow a common pattern here. Border gardens, paths, shrubs, edging, fencing, walkways, steps, and railings are all good options. You can place planter boxes to frame and accent entryways to certain areas. Fences, raised beds, and screening can also be used to hide spots that have visible utilities from view.

When using plantings to define access areas, consider their mature size and spread when spacing. This is often a forgotten consideration in landscaping ideas. Since your access walks and paths will usually lead to or near your house, plants sted with enough distance from your foundation so that you can maintain both the plantings and home should be plan. Space any plants far enough from your house so that you can work all the way around them to maintain them once they are fully grown. Shrubs and hedges given time to grow will create a natural boundary, while a fence offers immediacy.

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[phpzon]Landscaping Ideas For Entryways And Access Areas, 4, Tools[/phpzon] [phpzon]Landscaping Ideas For Entryways And Access Areas, 4, Books[/phpzon] [phpzon]Landscaping Ideas For Entryways And Access Areas, 3, All[/phpzon]

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Stone Landscaping $29.55 This book offers inspiring and creative ideas for using stone in the landscape, including water features and rock gardens, fireplaces and fire pits, and archways and grottos. Materials comparisons, construction specifications, and the basic techniques of working with stone are presented in detail in an easy-to-follow final chapter. Large and small projects are covered, from columns to sheds and pool houses. The process of choosing and managing landscaping professionals is also covered in detail.

Landscaping (Paperback) $33.91 This comprehensive reference provides practical guidance for any homeowner who wants to create a more attractive yard. Written by landscaping experts, it provides time-tested, easy-to-follow instructions for designing and shaping an effective landscape plan. Whether renovating an existing landscape or completely starting from scratch, readers will learn to make the best use of the space that they currently have, while thinking ahead about how they might improve their grounds in the future. From growing lawns and planting trees, to putting in stone walkways or water elements, readers will discover the right way to do it in straight-forward steps that anyone can follow to realize their dreams. City dwellers, suburbanites, and rural homesteaders alike will find a wealth of useful ideas for landscaping their properties, accompanied by clear step-by-step illustrations. This all-you-need-to-know reference will prove indispensable for both amateur and professional landscapers. Readers will get useful tips on correcting drainage and preparing soil for planting, plus great information on planting and caring for newly planted growth. A section on hardscaping shows how to build patios, fences, walls and gates, with advice on working with pavers, brick, concrete and stone. A final section covers finishing touches, including planting and caring for newly planted flowers, bulbs, and trellises.

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