Setting the Foundation

If you think of “foundation planting” as making use of only sizable woody shrubs to camouflage the bases of buildings, you might be missing out on a host of other plants—Hostas, Sedum, and more—that will add great curb appeal to your home.

I used to think of “foundation planting” as involving those key shrubs that anchor everything else in the yard. Come to find out, the term is more often used to signify the act of building a base or screen to block out some of the less attractive parts of a building—the foundation, in particular. Even if you have a pretty stone foundation or something similarly appealing, it might seem unending if not broken up by signs of life. Foundation planting helps with this, by softening the hard lines and planes of buildings and covering up some of the less attractive structures around them.

Woody evergreen shrubs are a great choice of cover-up. They maintain (or can be pruned to maintain) their shape, and they won’t disappear in winter. Hence, “evergreen” and “strong” are great attributes to seek out in the greenery you’ll use to mask the base of your home. But not every plant you use in foundation planting will need to be ever-present to suit your needs. And not every one should be large.

Tips

1. Plant in multiples. Don’t aim to create a hedgerow beneath your windowsills, but do ensure you have enough of the same plant variety for repetition and continuity.
2. Lay things out in your mind. Do you like symmetry? Can you add any asymmetrical drifts of plants?
3. Balance tailored shapes (shapely or easily pruned shrubs) with some plants that have looser growing habits. Variety is nice.
4. Think of all four seasons if you live in a region with a changeable climate. What will stay evergreen, and what will die back?
5. Plant at a good distance from your structure. Mechanicals and building materials need good airflow, and plants need the same. And stay on top of pruning. Have you ever tried to clean the windows of a home that has huge shrubs of a size that has gotten out of hand? Not nice, but very common.

So what works well in foundation planting?

—Hostas: Hostas are wonderful to use in foundation planting. If you live in a cold weather zone, they will lose their foliage in fall and winter, with new shoots not appearing until spring. But in the months when they are full and at their best, they provide soft and shapely mounds that ripple in the breeze. With the great variety of Hostas available, you can ensure that the Hostas you choose have foliage that will complement surrounding plants. And Hostas are economical, with virtually none that will break the bank.

Gardeners think of Hostas as doing best in shade, and some varieties truly require it. But many Hostas can stay strong and attractive in sunnier spots, too. In these spots, Hostas rarely droop in response to a lack of water. If your sprinklers aren’t working or if you’re trying to keep your grass dry before mowing, your Hostas won’t mind.

—Shrubby Cinquefoil: Cinquefoil provides great foundation coverage. With its extremely long bloom-time and sweet and petite flowers, Cinquefoil offers summer-long color—brightest yellow or pretty pink blooms on a shrub that can be kept small by cutting it back each year. This cutting back promotes healthy growth in Cinquefoil while also allowing for control over its size. And although this shrub not only needs cutting back but also loses its leaves when the cold sets in, its unfailing summer beauty makes up for the shape it takes in winter.

—Ground Covers: Don’t forget ground covers when you do your foundation planting. Low-growing plants add to the beauty of larger plantings. Opt for those that have the best visibility from a distance. Bugleweed shows nicely, especially when in bloom. A blending of different Sedum varieties adds texture, color, and varying heights. And consider adding “prostrate” (that is, growing along the ground) cedars, junipers, and other evergreens in front of shrubby plants such as Cinquefoil and behind softer stemmed flowering ground covers.

Tailored Plants Versus Looser Forms

When thinking of foundation planting, many gardeners go straight to tailored plants that keep their shape or can be pruned easily. These do offer a tidy, well-kept look. But factoring in looser forms—even ornamental grasses—is a nice enhancement. Remember that part of your aim is to soften structures.

Consider Planting Within Curved Borders

Foundation planting often finds us operating in a line that is parallel to the building. But I took a ride around my town this morning and saw that, to my eye, the best examples of foundation planting involved setting shrubs and plants within carefully edged, curved borders, dark mulch within those boundaries. In some places, the curves of the borders allow for a cascade of plants, tall in the back and gradually getting smaller toward the street. This is a lovely effect—one of spilling beauty, one of abundance, but within a controlled space.

Summing Up

Foundation planting is perhaps more important than lots of the other work we do in our yards. With homes being the central structures, the shapes and colors that break up their strong architectural lines are important.

I drove around town to see examples of foundation planting, knowing I need to put in some work in this area at my own home. Not wanting to invade the space of others, I did not photograph what I saw—I opted to share a photo with digitally imposed plants, instead. But excellent examples were easy to find, and many employed the tips and plants (Hostas, Sedum) mentioned here. 

Whether you’ve inherited the plants (example, I have some very mature Rhododendrons) that decorate the front, back, and sides of your home or can start from scratch and choose your own design, giving some attention to this bit of garden thought and gardening work will pay off in greatly increased curb appeal.

Setting the foundation is time well spent.