Software
Houzz Logo Print
webuser_188190770

Front Yard Landscape Design Ideas

3 days ago

Requesting Front‑Yard Landscape Design Ideas for Modern Farmhouse

Hi everyone,


I’m looking for professional design input and visual layout ideas for our front‑yard landscaping. The home is a modern farmhouse, and we have a full plant list ready to be incorporated. I’d love help creating a cohesive, well‑layered design that fits the architecture and maximizes curb appeal.

Project Goal

Design a complete front‑yard landscape that:

  • Enhances the modern farmhouse aesthetic
  • Uses the full list of trees and shrubs below
  • Includes grass, mulch bed sections, and clearly labeled plant placement
  • Provides multiple visual layout options (different bed shapes, layering approaches, or plant arrangements)

Site Details

  • Two mulch beds on each side of the front door
  • One mulch bed along the garage wall
  • Builder will also provide additional small plants/groundcovers
  • Beds should maintain the original structure and flow (curved edges, layered foundation planting, evergreen backbone)

Plant List

Trees

  • Crape Myrtle ‘Sandra SL’ – 1
  • Flowering Crape Myrtle – 1

Shrubs

  • Emerald Green Arborvitae – 12
  • Limelight Hydrangea – 9
  • Winter Gem Boxwood – 12
  • Chateau de Chantilly Rose of Sharon – 3

Other

  • Additional shurbs and small plants from builder

What I’m Looking For

  • Visual design concepts or sketches showing plant placement
  • Suggestions for bed shapes, layering, and spacing
  • Ideas for balancing evergreen structure with seasonal color
  • Recommendations on where the emerald greens and two Crape Myrtles should anchor the design
  • Any professional insights to elevate curb appeal and long‑term growth



Comments (12)

  • 3 days ago

    And you want this all for free?

  • 3 days ago

    No, not at all. I intend to pay a professional who can offer consultation and produce the final designs.

  • 3 days ago
    last modified: 3 days ago

    If you are looking to hire someone, this is not the place to look. This site prohibits this purpose and usually thinly-disguised posts by commercial vendors looking for work are promptly zapped away by the site moderator.

  • 3 days ago

    Hire someone local ? That’s what landscape designers / architects do.

  • 3 days ago

    Searching locals

  • 3 days ago

    Amazing what ai can do. You’ve spent a lot on the house so make sure the landscaping matches that by consulting with a professional though.

  • 3 days ago

    Emily - thank you. Totally agree with you. I was hoping to get some expert ideas from here so I can incorporate input in the consultation with pros. Thanks for an AI idea, let me get some input from that resource as well. This is definitely appreciated.

  • 3 days ago

    AI is notoriously lacking for landscape design. It can sometimes be useful to “jumpstart “ a thought process but that’s about it.

  • 2 days ago

    Watch out for that ai suggestion of Limelight Hydrangeas. Those will grow to 7'-8' tall. I have a hedge of them. Beautiful, but along my property line, not in my foundation gardens or even in the center front yard. They are also not evergreen as the ai plan seems to indicate.


    Agree with the suggestion of finding someone local. It is a lovely home and wonderful yard. Should be fun to landscape with all that space!

  • 2 days ago

    The ai plan was just using what the op had specified, but yes a better choice would be Little Lime Light or roses depending on how much sun they received during the day.

  • 2 days ago

    Thank you. Some additional information.

    House Orientation: North-Facing (Full shade / indirect light)
    USDA Climate Zone: Zone 8

    Garden Bed Dimensions & Specifications

    Bed 1: Garage Wall (Left Elevation)
    Dimensions: 20 ft. Length × 4 ft. Depth
    Area: 80 sq. ft.
    Bed Type: Linear shallow foundation strip

    Bed 2: Dining Room Wall (Center Courtyard)
    Dimensions: 13 ft. Length (along wall) × 20 ft. Depth (extending outward till walkway)
    Area: 260 sq. ft.
    Bed Type: Deep courtyard nook / showcase garden

    Bed 3: Living Room Wall (Right Elevation)
    Dimensions: 14 ft. Length × 5 ft. Depth
    Area: 70 sq. ft.
    Bed Type: Linear shallow foundation strip
    Design Constraint: Must keep plant heights below window sills.

    Bed 3 extension: Conservatory (Rightmost Elevation)
    Dimensions: 12 ft. Length × 6 ft. Depth
    Area: 72 sq. ft.
    Bed Type: Linear shallow foundation strip
    Design Constraint: Must keep plant heights below window sills.

    Based on above suggestions, I will probably wait for landscape design consultation and recalibrate accordingly. I may need to swap some of these choices. Any plant suggestions are welcome though.

  • PRO
    2 days ago
    last modified: 2 days ago

    I think it is too much for this forum.