Your home entrances should be designed to give easy access through your landscaping. First impressions count for a lot, so aesthetic appeal surrounding your landscaping plans and entryways is important. Begin with the highest traffic entries which are usually from the front door of your home to your parking driveway. 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. If you have a side entrance that you use as often or more than your front door, consider those areas as well. Shrubs, flowers, pathways, border beds, and lighting can 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. Landscaping beds that border a walkway can distract attention away from the entryway. Think of the beginning of your path or sidewalk simply as an opening directing you towards your door.

A sense of invitation and safety should both be considerations for your entryway. Some moderately good outdoor lighting and even a little visibility can help ensure your safety at night when going from your parking area to your home. If your home has a mudroom, laundry room, or any other type of utility room that sits next to your front or rear entryway, plan for making it look good as well as functional for traffic.  

So how do you guide and lead visitors to your entry and through your access areas? Most professional landscaping designers basically follow a common pattern here. Walks, hedges, borders, edging, fences, trellises, screens, and railings are all good ideas. You can use planters to highlight entryways to certain areas. Raised plant beds, screening, and fencing can also be helpful for hiding places with utilities from sight.

When planting to define access and entry areas, consider the mature size and spread of the plants when spacing. This is often a forgotten consideration in landscaping. Since paths, walkways, and other access areas will usually lead to or near your house, plants should be planted with enough distance from your foundation so that you can maintain both the plantings and home. Plants should be spaced far enough from your house and outbuildings so that you will be able to tend to them once they have reached full size. Given time to grow, shrubs and hedges create a natural boundary and screen while fences create an immediate boundary.