Yard Landscaping Examples

As an extension of your house, your yard plays a big role in the overall appearance of your home. With so many landscaping styles to choose from, however, knowing which option is the best fit for your home may be difficult. Familiarizing yourself with some of the common landscaping styles can help you narrow the choices so you wind up with a yard that really complements your house.

A traditional landscape design works well for a yard that surrounds a home with classic architecture, such as Colonial, Georgian or Craftsman. The landscape typically has a formal, polished look. So paved areas such as patios and walkways feature brick or stone, including granite, cobblestone, limestone or slate. Picket or wrought-iron fencing is used to close in the yard or a garden area while a garden structure such as a pergola, arbor or gazebo can be used to help define the space. Plants are traditional as well. For example, "Boudoir" azaleas (Rhododendron "Boudoir"), hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5 through 8, and common lilacs (Syringa vulgaris, USDA zones 3 through 7) can help add color while boxwood shrubs (Buxus sempervirens, USDA zones 5 through 8) make effective foundation plantings.

A country landscape design gives a yard a quaint, rustic look that has an informal ambiance. The patio and walkways usually feature rugged materials, such as flagstone or gravel. Split-rail or post-and-rail fencing can help define the yard’s borders, though a twig fence is a more effective option for privacy. Patio furniture made of natural materials, including wicker or bent willow, fits the style well while whimsical accessories such as a wishing well or birdbath can serve as focal points. Plant options for a farmhouse-style garden include American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens, USDA zones 6 through 9) and bigleaf hydragena (Hydrangea macrophylla, USDA 5b through 9a). If you prefer a more rustic look, choose trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens, USDA zones 4 through 10a) and evergreen trees such as eastern white pine (Pinus strobus, USDA zones 3b through 7). Trumpet honeysuckle can be invasive; keep it pruned to prevent it from spreading.

A home with sleek, contemporary architecture can be complemented by a yard with a modern landscape. The style features a streamlined design that makes use of geometric and linear features. Typically, it emphasizes hardtop areas and structures rather than plants. Poured concrete is often used for walkways and patio areas, though wooden decks also fit the style well. Instead of traditional fencing, stainless steel panels or glass blocks can help enclose areas and create definition for the yard. Neutral colors such as gray, tan and black are usually used for furniture, cushions and other accessories. Choose types of plants with distinctive shapes, such as boxwood shrubs (Buxus sempervirens, USDA zones 5 through 8), Japanese maple trees (Acer palmatum, USDA zones 5b through 8) and Spanish bayonet (Yucca aloifolia, USDA zones 6 through 11). Boxwood shrubs' leaves, however, are poisonous when eaten and can cause skin irritation when touched. So boxwood may not be the best option for a yard with small children and/or pets.

For a yard that combines rustic elements with elegant touches, a Mediterranean landscape is an ideal option. Influenced by French, Spanish and Italian gardens, the style incorporates rustic materials such as plaster, gravel and stone with decorative elements, including colorful tiles and mosaic designs for a pool or patio area. A tiered fountain is often used as a focal point in a garden site, but a pergola supported by Roman columns is another option for a garden or patio area. Plantings typically include a combination of practical species such as herbs, including rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, USDA zones 8 through 10), and ornamental options such as orchid rockrose (Cistus purpureus, USDA zones 7 through 10).