Foundation plants aren't just nice to look at — they add value to your home, and it's important to choose the right plants to complement your home and create a canvas for the rest of your landscaping design.
* For shrubs, choose a low-growing option like yew, juniper, boxwood or holly. Make sure to plant at least three feet away from the house to promote air circulation and space them widely enough to prevent crowding. For larger shrubs like cherry laurel or ligustrum, plant at least five feet from the house.
* Foliage perennials like hostas and ferns thrive in shady areas around the foundation.
* Avoid planting hardwood trees near the house. Small ornamental trees are best near the corners — consider redbud, Japanese maple or star magnolia.
* Ground cover plants are excellent for foundation plantings and can unify groups of plants as well as provide natural edging for the lawn. Look for local species that are not invasive to your area. Ivy is also notorious for climbing walls and eventually blocking gutters or damaging bricks.
When choosing foundation plants, always consider your home's aesthetic, the size of the mature plant, whether you can maintain it, how much sun or shade can it tolerate and whether it can grow and thrive when grouped with other plants and objects.
