Your exterior entry greets your visitors and affects the overall look of your home. Landscaping the entryway adds visual interest and helps draw attention to the front door, guiding guests right into your home. Potted plants offer a portable way to add color to the front of your home. The choice of plants and containers is key in designing an attractive and durable landscaping display. With a little research and an eye for balance, your new entryway planters spruce up your home’s exterior.
Monitor the amount of sunlight and shade in the area where you want to place the planters. Use this information to choose plants that will grow well under those conditions. For example, if a covered entryway creates a shady environment, stick with flowers like impatiens and begonias that thrive well in the shade.
Cross the street to get a view of the house from a distance. The wider view helps you choose the size, type and style of planter that fits your home’s exterior. For example, choose a size proportionate to other exterior features. A small planter gets lost on the entryway of a large Victorian house, but a planter several feet tall overpowers the entryway of a small cottage.
Match the style of the planter to the style of the house. A planter with straight lines and a sleek design work well for a modern home, while more ornate planters are a better match for Victorian homes. A bold color, such as dark red or vivid turquoise, brightens up a plain landscape and draws attention to an entryway that isn’t otherwise noticeable.
Balance the pots on either side of the entryway. Identical planters on each side create balance, but asymmetrical balance is another option. This type of balance is created with a large planter on one side and a few smaller planters on the other side of the entryway. When using different containers, keep a similar feature, such as color or design.
Select plants for the containers. Choose plants with different heights and textures to give variety to the pots. For example, choose a tall ornamental grass to add height, flowers for color and a flowering vine that drapes down along the planter. Factor in the full size of the plants when filling the pot. If planted too close, the seedlings won’t have enough room to grow.
Position the planter in the selected spot. Choose a flat area where the planters will be stable. A heavy planter full of potting soil is a potential danger to a child if it tips easily.
View your exterior entryway planters from across the street. Adjust the placement of the planters if desired to make the planters fit better into the entryway.
