Nothing says “Welcome, come on in!” like an attractive and inviting pathway to your front door. A casual, curvy walkway of natural stone or unique pavers is a warm way to usher someone in, while a more formal and classic walkway with traditional brick or antique-looking cobbles creates a more striking, dramatic entrance. Casual or classic, you can make either approach softer and more welcoming with colorful and fragrant plants that engage all the senses.

Privacy

Strategic plantings can add both curb appeal to your home as well as some sense of privacy for you to better enjoy your outdoor living spaces. Start with some anchor plants if you don’t have any already. If your house is large, it will feel barren without an appropriate anchor.

Use large trees like the native sugar maple or a large flowering native tree such as a Carolina Silverbell. These trees grow naturally and will help frame your house while being relatively easy to maintain. They will also provide shade to keep your house cool in the summer months. Don’t go overboard — remember, these trees will grow large so don’t crowd them or clutter up your front lawn with too many.

Complement your anchor plants with smaller evergreen and deciduous shrubs and trees that work well with perennials as foundation plantings. Choosing the right plants will give your garden layers and vibrant color. Pick out plants of different heights and textures. Keep in mind their bloom times and colors, choosing ones that complement each other year-round, adding eye-catching appeal from the curb as well as from your house.