Driveways

People don't often conceive of driveways as a part of landscape design, however, driveways can become another site where you can assert your creative prowess around your home. You may consider fixing up an existing drive or making physical changes to the driveway's shape and structure. Minor changes to your driveway will prove to be a relatively inexpensive project. If you are ready to make the jump and change the drive completely, there are a few initial questions to ask yourself. Step back from your home and take in the overall approach into your home. Is it pleasing to the eye as well as functional and welcoming? If your front lawn is large enough to accommodate it, a semicircle driveway would allow you to easily access the house and then return to the road again. There is also a kind of grandeur to a semicircle drive as it cuts out the hassle of backing in and out as with straight drives.

When considering whether to keep your existing driveway or create a circular drive or a straight driveway, there are several potential obstacles and opportunities to face. Think about whether there is enough room for car movement without people running over the edge of your lawn and prospective flower beds. Trees cannot grow too close to the driveway as their roots and branches will hinder traffic. Consider whether you plan to add in walls or flower beds to enhance driveway borders. Planting encasings and walls can be built with natural stone and prefab. Another factor to consider is leaf and snow removal--driveways must withstand the abuse of raking, shoveling, salt sprinkling and plowing. The entrance of your driveway should not be cluttered with overhanging plants, trees and leaning stone structures that may become damaged in the event of snow plowing. On the other hand, do not be discouraged from landscaping near the front of your driveway (just as long as neat divisions are in place). Planting inexpensive annuals each spring will each side of the entrance area to your driveway a burst of color in the summer. Annuals are not only colorful, but hardy and allow you to change from year to year.

However you end up dealing with your driveway, it is always important to take into account the driveway's effect on the overall appearance of your home. As it is one of the first elements guests come into contact with when they enter your home, it is extremely important to choose a driveway that welcomes, doesn't detract from the other landscaping elements and can stand heavy use. Curb appeal should never be neglected!