Entrance Way To A Subdivision Planting Shrubs And Flowers

Entrance ways to a subdivision are the first thing a person sees. Many community neighbors as well as new and existing subdivisions do their own landscaping. The homeowners association will work with the homeowners in coming up with a plan. Some areas will hire out a landscaper to install the plant specimens as well as putting down mulch or pine straw. Creating your own look for your particular area can be challenging at times as each person may have a different idea of what to plant. I wanted to give you a few suggestions on a few varieties of shrubs and flowers.

In today's society, most people want to have low maintenance in their home property as well as the entrances to a housing development. Creating a look using some evergreen shrubs and possibly different seasonal annual flowers can spruce the area up. I have drawn up two simple drawings of arranging some plants in the area leading into your subdivision. There are a variety of styles in different geographic locations as well as a mixture of plant specimens you could use. These two are just ideas for basic positioning of some shrubs and flowers. Many communities do mass plantings of shrubs and flowers. This gives the landscaped area a full appearance. Take a look at the first drawing.

Straight

When planning an area on both sides of an entrance way, balance is the key word. Depending on your location, there may be many people that drive by daily. Your goal is low maintenance, but also to create an area of plant specimens that flow with the look of the subdivision. Here are some suggestions for this particular drawing.

1. This is what I consider the outer part of the landscaped area. Think about putting four taller shrubs there. Of course this will depend on what the back drop is such as stone, brick a basic sign or an open bed. Arborvitaes such as Holmstrub, Globe, or Rheingold are good choices. The Cypress family with the Lemon Tread or Fern Spray will also work. Steeds Holly is another good idea for the ends.
2. Compliment the ends with a little different texture and color. The Helleri Holly, Dark Curly Leaf Ligustrum or Indian Hawthorn will give it some bright tones.
3. Think about adding a couple of variegated shrubs towards the middle. The Mop Cypress as well as the variegated Juniper, and Golden Euonymus will definitely spice the bed up.
4. This area I consider the center and a great shrub is the Chinese Pizzazz in the Loropetalum family. You can substitute this with an Indian Hawthorn, or Blue or Gray Owl Juniper. Most people seem to focus in on the center part of a bed. Give it some color and the sides can become accents of other shrubs and flowers plants.
5. Go with a smaller shrub such as a Globosa Nana or Soft Touch Holly. These shrubs are also considered on the outside of the bed. This is where you want to think about balancing your entrance way. The Globosa or Soft Touch are in the front and these plants should be smaller.
6. A wonderful area to plant some different annuals. If you live in a warmer climate you can use the Pansies and Kale during the winter months. In your colder climates, plant an evergreen shrub in the front center with some annuals or perennials. Of course if you are in a tropical climate many different varieties of flowers will give you a lot of color year around. Here are a couple of varieties of Kale.

Solid Kale	Two Tone Kale

The second drawing is of an angled landscape area. There are many entrances that are built on an incline or slope. This adds a whole new dimension to deciding on what to plant and trying to come up with a simple solution.

Angled Or Sloped

The drawing gives you a little different look at positioning some shrubs and flowers. Remember to think about the color if you have brick, stone or a sign. Accenting with flowers that compliment the hard scape will give your subdivision a great look.

1. Positioning a taller shrub in the back drop will show off the height of the plant. A Blue Point Juniper, Cleyera, or Tea Olive (Osmanthus) will set the tone for this bed.
2. A series of three shrubs fills in space as well as color. Put the three shrubs in a triangle form so everyone can see each individual plant. Go with variegated plants such as Fern Spray Cypress or the Kaleidscope Abelia. You are also creating a new texture curb side appeal. Another option is to mix it up and plant some Pampas Grass or other ornamental grasses along with a few flowering deciduous shrubs.
3. The four plants positioned here create the outer edges of the landscape entrance way. You could also think about putting a little bit of height with these plants. A Standing Yew, Viburnum or a Hinoki Cypress are a few examples. Below is two varieties of the Viburnum species.

Chinese Snowball	Spring Bouquet

4. This is an area you could put some flowers. Use either annuals or perennials. There are hundred of options and of course it will depend on your climate zone. Marigolds, Petunias, Pansies, Colius, and some Dusty Miller. They are all simple, not expensive and easy to maintain. You could also take Mondo Grass or Liriope and border each side.
5. Rounded shrubs such as the Globe Arborvitae or Globosa Nana are two plants that come to mind for this area. You could also think about the Indian Hawthorn as well as any type of holly. Carris Hollies are very popular, but do remember they have sharp edges.

Above is just a handful of plant suggestions for your entrance way. Creating your own neighborhood look and feel in landscaping is very important. Browse through the gallery of plant section and get some ideas for your entrance way. In the next couple of weeks I will be doing a gallery page on pictures of different subdivisions. Whether you are doing this as a subdivision project or hiring out a landscaper, remember to keep a couple of factors in mind...

• Low maintenance shrubs
• Evergreens for year around color
• The right look and feel for your subdivision
• Color and Texture that fit into your sign, brick or stone