Since you included the Wisconsin Forum I guess that is the state you’re in but where in the state you are will determine plant possibilities.

tj

What do you mean by "zero entry"?? The house has a pretty obvious entry as far as I can see........

All styles of planting have upkeep involved, including meadow effects. How much time do you see yourselves putting in each week (during the growing season)? Think about that carefully before you go with any kind of big sweeping display.

At the very least it looks like somebody belonging to the household is going to be accumulating hours sitting on a rider mower, going back and forth over a huge (field sized) lawn.

Unless the mowing gets hired out.

I have a Limelight Hydrangea tree and it takes 8+ hours of sun. In fact paniculata varieties need plenty of sun to flower. So if you like Hydrangeas, either Bush or tree type, look for these types. They are not difficult to prune, but weak and crossover branches should be cut back. You can prune to shape it how you like. I cut back my tree pretty drastically last summer. I thought I had killed it.....lol But it’s growing back fine. So google hydrangeas for sun and you will see some nice ones.

My neighbors have a flowering crab and each year I get tree envy while it blooms. I also have a weeping pussy willow tree. It’s small, but I love the umbrella shape. Would look too dwarfed in your large yard tho.

tsugajunkie, and galdengal are very knowledgeable about trees so they may have some great suggestions

for you.

Since the house is south facing, have you considered any larger trees which could provide shade for the house? You would have the option of having some shade plants as well.

I like the idea of grasses and/or shrubs across the front of the house. I assume zero entry means there is no footpath leading from the street to your front doors. And perennials are great because they come back every year.

I think you have built a beautiful home. Take time with the garden design. You can seek the advice of a landscaper if you need some direction in making aa plan. Whatever you decide, good luck!! Would love to see photos as you progress!

debra

btw, I am not a designer——just a gardener with suggestions. :-)

I had to look it up, "zero entry" means "no steps up to the door." Nice!

Grasses can be so easy and so attractive. Fresh green in spring, deeper green with hints of red in summer, tawny russet tans in fall and throughout winter as it catches snow. Then simply cut to the ground in early spring to start again. No overgrown foundation plantings or figuring out how to prune a shrub.

Are you going to add a walkway from down the driveway, or do you expect everyone to walk all the way up the drive to the house and over to the front door?

I would avoid planting anything tall in front of the porch, except trees and groundcover that let the view continue. It would be OK to plant something low at the base of each column, especially something colorful.

I would also add one or two trees that will eventually get large out in that huge expanse of lawn. And, though we can't see what's there, perhaps to the left, right and rear of house, all at some distance to give the house some sense of shelter.

I agree with laceyvail, a large property could do with more trees. What about the view from the main road? Do you want privacy?

Hydrangeas could go on back or east side of the house.

Even though I'm only showing a foundation landscape, because that's what the picture is of, I'm a firm believer that many more trees would be useful elsewhere in the yard. Typically, a rural property may have windbreaks, and hedgerows that mark the boundaries. Sometimes trees line the drive and sometimes there are large specimen shade trees in the lawn.

Hydrangeas need full sun to bloom. If you have deer in the area, hydrangeas will need protection. Deer prefer to nip off the emerging flower buds and a few growth tips while ignoring fully developed leaves. If deer visits you hydrangea at night, you'll have a nice green bush with no blossoms. In my Wisconsin town, the standard bush (approximately 4 to 5 ft high) with white blossoms seem to preform the best. The Ever Summer variety that blooms on new wood are deer magnets. However, this variety is easy to force blue blossoms by acidifying the soil. A sulfur compound sold by garden shops works well. The blossom is pink in neutral to alkaline soil.

Conceptually I think you would be happy with having the house appear to be set in a natural landscape - as opposed to appearing to be landscaped. To me this means not planting along the foundation/porch and driveway but rather a few trees arrayed in a meadow that runs to the edges of the house snd driveway. Be careful not to clutter the porch with hanging plants and knickknacks. . A few rocking chairs should do it. I think it will be a lovely prairie effect, perfect for Wisconsin.

"Hydrangeas need full sun to bloom"

No they don't! Most species are by nature woodland understory shrubs and will bloom perfectly well in part sun to even all day dappled shade. Some species - Hydrangea macrophylla in particular - are full sun adverse and will suffer in all day exposure by wilting, scorching and the flowers losing color or bleaching out.

Congratulations on your new home!

A great resource for researching new plants is Midwest Groundcover's Plant Picker. Read our recent blog article What Hydrangea Where? to learn about these stunning plants.

Hydrangea Endless Summer

See our website Photo Gallery for design ideas.