By Dave and Mary

Front Porch Landscaping Ideas

For Beauty and Comfort

Our porch landscaping ideas will improve your home's curb appeal, add aesthetic value, and may even increase the size of your porch.

Whether looking for sophisticated landscaping ideas or simple ones that won't break the bank, see how you can easily transform your porch and home from ordinary to be the envy of the neighborhood.

Have you ever driven past a home that has an amazing appeal?

Usually it is a combination of several factors, one of the most important being the front porch and front yard landscaping.


Porch landscaping collage



Our home landscaping photos, tips, ideas, and free landscaping information is the perfect place to start to create your own fabulous yard!

Landscaping around your porch can range from very affordable to a small fortune. It need not be costly if you just start with a few of the right plantings and placements.

Our own porch garden is cottage-like and we have done it over time; hence, nice and easy on the budget.


Porch Landscaping Ideas Directory and Projects

Beautiful brick walkway leading to front porch
Inspiring Walkway Ideas

Interesting and intriguing pathways can add charm to your home and porch

designed landscape for front yard and porch
Front Yard Landscape Designs

Transform your yard with the right landscape design


Front Yard Landscaping with perennials around porch steps
Creative Front Yard Landscaping

Create an "entry experience". You know it as your front yard and front porch

colorful Hanging Baskets on Victorian front porch
Overflowing Hanging Baskets

For exceptional color on your porch and undeniable curb appeal


picket fence in front of wonderful front porch
Picket Fence Ideas

See these neat picket fence ideas you can use in your yard

flower baskets hanging from porch ceiling
Hanging Baskets from Vinyl Ceiling

How to hang a beautiful hanging basket from a vinyl porch ceiling


landscaped stone front porch with evergreens
Home Landscaping Photos

Landscaping photos highlight beautiful yards and lovely porches

landscaped front porch and walkway
Front Porch Landscaping Ideas

Tips and photos of landscaped porches for inspiration


rocks strategically placed in flower garden in front of porch
Ideas for Landscaping with Rocks

Landscaping with rocks is a fantastic way to add texture and beauty

front yard professionally landscaped with walkway
10 Easy Landscaping Ideas

To up the curb appeal factor to your front yard and porch


picket fence dog ear design surrounded by flowers
Picket Fence Design Ideas

Amazing picket fence designs to enhance your porch and home

a diy walkway with pea gravel along cottage garden
Use Our DIY Walkway Idea

See how we installed a cottage-style walkway in front of our porch


front lawn landscaping with mulch near front porch
Front Lawn Landscaping Ideas

See our new front porch landscaping project along with our plant guide

a diy cherry garden bench on porch
Make This DIY Garden Bench

We show you how to make a DIY garden bench for your yard or porch


collage showing resolution of lawn drainage problem
Lawn Drainage Problem Solved

See how we resolved a lawn drainage problem we had

wild bird feeding station with platform feeder
Build This Wild Bird Feeding Station

Build this bird feeding station near your porch to enjoy our feathered friends


guitar on front porch for container gardening on the porch
Container Gardening Ideas

If you have a porch, try container gardening as part of your landscaping

zone 5 perennial flowers surrounding front porch
Perennials for Zone 5

Zone 5 perennials provide generous charm around this country porch


diy yard art
Cool Garden Art

See these neat garden art ideas for your yard

succulent garden around front porch
Succulent Garden Designs

Use these succulent garden design ideas around your porch or in your yard

glowpear urbgan self watering planter
Self Watering Planters

When it's really hot or you leave home for a few days


beautifully landscaped walk way and home
Front Yard Landscape Ideas

Get tips from our expert landscaper who has lots of great information you can use....


front porch with shrubbery and tree for privacy
Privacy Porch Ideas

Use landscaping to create a little privacy on your porch



purple clematis on a trellis
Flower Pot Trellis Ideas

Want to support a beautiful climbing plant? Take a look at the ideas we have for you - DIY and ready-made trellises.





beautiful lamp post
We have porch trellis ideas

for a boost in ambiance and subtle privacy!




Featured Porch Landscape Ideas and Designs

Mary and I are excited to share several front yard and front porch landscape designs by Lisk Landscape Management. See before and after photos depicting how they've landscaped small front yards and front porches to create lots of curb appeal.

Porch landscaping collage
Check out their design ideas!



Listen to Our Porch Landscaping Audio Programs

Listen to our interviews with front porch and front yard landscaping experts who share their tips and ideas to enhance the look of your porch and home.


photo of J. Paul Moore, Landscape Photographer J. Paul Moore's passion for both plants and photography makes for an interesting interview. You'll discover ideas for planning your porch's landscaping, deciding what plants to use, and lots more.


volunteer gardener host troy marden Don't miss our interview with Troy Marden, host of a local PBS's The Volunteer Gardner. Troy travels the world searching for exquisite gardens and he shares his modern landscape ideas for combining edible plants around your front porch and yard.


Porch Landscaping Ideas for Appeal

front porch with absolutely beautiful porch landscaping
We absolutely love the walkway, the landscaping and the amazing porch!
whimsical landscaping around this porch increases the charm
This whimsical landscaping around the porch boosts the charm
hostas line the walkway and porch of this wonderful home
The hostas do a beautiful job of lining the walkway and porch.
A beautifully designed front porch along with the right landscaping can create not only added value but immense appeal as well.

A porch without landscaping is like a banana split without the whipped cream. Landscaping is not only aesthetically pleasing but also enhances the look of your front porch.

When planning your front porch landscaping, consider such factors as line of sight from your porch and traffic patterns in addition to color and textures.

The porch landscaping idea shown below is an excellent example of an established landscaping plan that has matured over time. Note how it makes the porch a more welcoming place.


front porch with established front yard landscaping


Often times it is difficult to imagine what your landscaping plan will look like once it has matured. A great porch landscaping idea is 3-D renderings.

See our Before and After renderings below:

Before

before photo of home without porch landscaping
Very minimal porch landscaping



After

after photo of home with porch landscaping ideas
Lush landscaping adds immense appeal



Be sure to see our Front Porch Designs Illustrator. We show both a one-story and two-story homes with over 30 different porch designs plus walkway and landscaping ideas.


Porch Landscaping Architecture Basics

Porch landscaping ideas on a country porch
See how the rose plant "frames" the porch and softens the lines of the foundation? Photo is courtesy of gs archeologist




Is your home and porch formal or informal, traditional or contemporary, southwestern or a Cape Cod, tall and boxy, or short and angular?


Porch landscaping ideas on a country porch

Our porch landscaping ideas will help you enhance or downplay your home's architecture.

For example, if you have a formal brick, symmetrical colonial home, landscaping suggestions include manicured shrubs, a central path or walkway of brick, and period railings on your porch.

If you have a Cape Cod style home consider window boxes and/or planters attached to your porch railing and stone paths leading to the porch.


If your house is symmetrical
  • plantings should match on either side of doors
  • continue matching as you move away from center or add a little variation the farther you go - make sure they are balanced
  • ensure plantings are geometrically arranged and trimmed


Symmetrical plantings arond front porch


If your house is asymmetrical
  • balance is important but now balance plants with specific architectural features instead of with each other
  • create natural looking mixed plantings
  • ensure plantings are geometrically arranged and trimmed


If your house is
  • horizontally designed: use a low sheared hedge along the base.
  • tall and narrow: use columnar trees to accent its height
  • boxy: use large round trees
  • large: use deep foundation beds, a large tree to anchor a corner with a mix of evergreens and deciduous shrubs underneath



Porch Landscaping Ideas to Highlight Your Porch and Front Door

  • Place taller plants on either side of the stairs or landing
  • If your doorway is symmetrical (light panels or matching lights on each side) match the plantings on each side
  • If your doorway is asymmetrical you have the option of either treating it formally (matching) or informally. Have plants one either side but vary them in color and type.
  • To attract attention to your porch use matching round or conical shrubs on either side.
  • To downplay the porch, use softer and taller plants such as a dogwood or vine maple to create a canopy effect
  • Not all porches need skirting along the entire run. If it is aesthetically pleasing you may opt to have some of it show. If not, use low shrubs to conceal it. Don't limit yourself to just the area immediately in front of your porch. Extending the plantings away from the porch can create a softer look. Also consider the shape. Rounding the beds will make it not only interesting but will also give it a professional look.
  • Flowering vines can be extend across your porch but understand they may be shaded by the eaves of your roof.
  • Pots are great. Choose ferns, impatiens, and other shade-loving plants. Hanging planters work well; include small vines and trailing plants. Choose large baskets to retain more moisture.
  • If your porch extends to a corner of your house, use peninsula beds that extend into the yard and create a sense of cohesiveness with the side yard.



Small Porch Landscaping Ideas

Although larger porches are making a comeback, many newer homes only have a small-sized porch or portico. Many are pretty bland and without great architectural features.

Notoriously small city porches like the charming one depicted below (Boston brownstone apartments) have little space for landscaping.

Perhaps the only option is to create a space! There are many porch landscaping ideas that you can add to enhance the look of your small porch wherever it's located.


Inter-city porch with creative landscaping

For instance, you add an enclosed terrace beside your porch and have a great place for dining, a place to enjoy a glass of wine, or a secluded spot to read your favorite book!

Extend your small porch with an arbor and plant clematis to cover it. Not only will it be an inviting entrance to your home but fragrant as well.

Or, soften hard surfaces with potted plants of boxwood topiary and clematis. These porch landscaping ideas are really worth the extra effort.

A small porch has the advantage of cost savings; you'll be able to purchase more quality materials. Upgrade your door hardware, add antique light fixtures, and consider resurfacing the landing. Use stone, tile, or brick pavers. Small landings and stoops are great for patterned floors.

Install vine covered trellises, planters over your railings, hanging baskets, or clusters of evergreens.


Return to Top

More Porch Landscaping Ideas!

Beautiful Gardens in Front Yard

Pretty yellow home with flower garden in front of porch

Gardens are beautiful at this lovely Wisconsin home - not only in the front, but also the sides and backyard.

We had the pleasure of meeting the homeowner and she expressed how much joy her gardens bring her and to people passing by. She even has delight fairy gardens in the back yard that her grandchildren enjoy.


Make a Memorable Stepping Stone

The finished stepping stone is in our friend's garden.
We made this stepping stone for our dear friend, Liz.
In addition to the pretty pieces of stained glass, this stepping stone also includes some mementos that are meaningful to her.


Porch Landscaping Idea - Make Some Cool Garden Art

We made some cool garden art from pony beads. It was nearly a fail!

You will want to read our story about the stained glass panel that we wanted for above our porch swing.

It turned into some cool garden art that at first we thought was a fail!


Landscaping for Winter Interest

kale in winter looks beautiful around your porch
We planted decorative kale around our porch. It is more beautiful (even in almost zero degree weather) than we would have guessed.



More Porch Landscaping Tips

  • Tie your home and porch visually to the surrounding landscape- give it personality.
  • Make your porch welcoming with porch landscaping that draws attention with color, shape and textures
  • Block wind or noise from your porch with porch blinds or shades - you will be happy you did
  • Accentuate the positive and hide unsightly features like an old dilapidated building or your neighbor's rusting car.
  • Don't forget to light your landscaping. See our how to install landscape lighting section.
  • Check out our amazing walk way ideas. Keep walk ways clear and control the water runoff.



  • Victorian porch landscaping


  • When planting, keep in mind what the landscape will look like when it's fully grown - and how much care it will take.
  • If you love working in the yard, then fussy plants might be a good pick for you. Otherwise, pick plants, grasses and elements that are sturdy and low-maintenance. Photo at right courtesy of eklektick
  • Take advantage of Mother Nature to save you money like collecting water in rain barrels
Water garden beside porch
Want a very innovative porch?
Landscaping ideas can include a beautiful water garden beside the porch!
Photo is courtesy of shlake.



Porch at Prospect Hill B&B Another great source for porch landscaping ideas are Bed and Breakfast Inn porches. Bed and Breakfast Inn owners go to great lengths to ensure their landscaping complements the porch.


hanging basket on porch

Porch landscaping ideas should include hanging baskets. See our Hanging Basket section in the directory above to create exquisite hanging baskets and learn about other options like creating hanging gardens or placing them on plant stands instead.
Return to Top
Please send us your landscaping ideas and pictures of your landscaped yard and porch; we'd love to share them with others.




Mary and Dave, Founders of Front Porch Ideas and More
Hi! We're Mary and Dave, lifelong DIYers, high school sweethearts, and we both love porches. You've come to the right place for thousands of porch ideas.

Our Sponsors
The Porch Store


Shop for Porch Parts at Vintage Woodworks.


Use the PCA Visualizer to design your screen door

End Sponsors



Helpful Links

Enjoy shopping Amazon (affiliate link)

Popular Pages

What's New

Join Our Newsletter Family

Porch Designs

Porch Ideas for Mobile Homes

Find a Local Contractor

Build a Porch | Small Porches

Porch Columns | Porch Railings

Screened Porches

Porch Curtains | Porch Enclosures

Porch Landscaping | Vinyl Lattice

Porch Decorating | Porch Ideas

Shop

Navigation Aids

Home | Top of Page

Site Search | Site Map

Contact Us

Policies

Disclosure Policy | Privacy Policy

Legal Info


Please Join Us Here Also

Join us on Facebook for porch talk Join us on Pinterest Subscribe to get our updates. Thank you!


Get in touch with pre-screened local professionals for work you need done
Find a Trusted Local Pro




Copyright© 2008-2024
Front-Porch-Ideas-and-More.com All rights reserved.
No content or photos may be reused or reproduced in any way without our express written permission.

At no extra cost to you, we earn a commission by referring you to some products on merchant sites. See our disclosure policy.
We, Front Porch Ideas and More, confirm, as stated on our privacy policy, that we do not sell personal information.

All content here is solely for presenting ideas. We recommend consulting with a licensed, experienced contractor before you begin your project.
We make no guarantees of accuracy or completeness of information on our site or any links to other websites contained here.


Thank you for taking your time to stop by. See what's popular and new here.

small rocking chair



Mary and Dave, Founders of Front Porch Ideas and More
Hi! We're Mary and Dave, lifelong DIYers, high school sweethearts, and we both love porches. You've come to the right place for thousands of porch ideas.
--- Our Sponsors ---
The Porch Store

Use the PCA Visualizer to design your screen door

Shop for Porch Parts at Vintage Woodworks.

--- End Sponsors ---
Find Top-Rated Service Pros
Get in touch with pre-screened local professionals for work you need done

Our Newsletter, Front Porch Appeal
Learn more!


Thank you for being here!


small rocking chair
At no extra cost to you, we earn a commission by referring you to some products on merchant sites. See our disclosure policy.
We, Front Porch Ideas and More, confirm, as stated on our privacy policy, that we do not sell personal information.

All content here is solely for presenting ideas. We recommend consulting with a licensed, experienced contractor before you begin your project.
We make no guarantees of accuracy or completeness of information on our site or any links to other websites contained here.


Front Porch Home | Return to Top
Contact Us | About Us | Advertise with Us | Search | Site Map
Media | Privacy Policy | Disclosure | Legal Notice | What's New

XML RSS   Add to My Yahoo!  
By Mary and Dave Morris, Copyright © 2008-2024 Front-Porch-Ideas-and-More.com. All rights reserved.
No content or photos may be reproduced or copied in any way without our express written permission.


Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape