Corner lot landscaping presents some interesting challenges as well as opportunities. The main thing is to be aware of both and choose a landscaping design that will work with them.
Here are a few ideas and considerations for homeowners to think about as they figure out the design for their corner house landscaping.
Make an Entrance
On corner lots, there isn’t a defined front entrance because the house faces the street on two sides. Some properties have fences that define the back and side yards but without those, it isn’t always obvious to visitors where to enter, especially if there are multiple walkways.
Thus, it’s a good idea to make an obvious grand entrance to the front door. Make it bigger, line it with low hedges, or use edging or borders that will make it more noticeable to guide visitors.
Establish Boundaries
Unfortunately, people like to cut corners, even if that means cutting through the corner of a lawn. If enough people start doing it, eventually the grass can wear down and create an unwanted path.
A simple way to avoid this problem is to put up a barrier. This could be with plants like a low boxwood hedge or a fence. It doesn’t have to be huge, a simple and attractive picket fence is enough.
Get Some Privacy
One of the downsides of a corner lot is that it is more exposed. People can easily see into the house from the street on two sides instead of only one.
However, this problem is easily remedied with the right type of corner lot landscaping. A tall, solid fence can be a good option. Or, for something more natural, build a privacy hedge with evergreens like arborvitae. For more information on hedges, look to this article by the University of Georgia.
Create Paths That Make Sense
If there aren’t defined paths, people (including the home’s residents) will wander anywhere. Too much traffic on the lawn can be detrimental to its growth.
To avoid this, it’s important to build walkways or stepping stone paths to give people a defined place to walk. However, they need to be well-placed in areas that make sense. If the placement is awkward, people won’t go out of their way to use them.
The Corner Slope
How do homeowners handle corner lot landscaping on a slope? The bad news is that slopes often require extra investment to look their best. Terracing, retaining walls, and runoff management are all challenges that are increased with a sloped yard.
But for some good news, a corner slope allows for some very creative and unique landscaping. Often, it’s easier to create a sense of seclusion on such a property. It’s also possible to create a sense of depth by layering foliage across the slope.
Build rock retaining walls or use the slope to create terraced gardens. Stick with native plants that are easy to care for and perennial ground covers work great to add life and color without requiring a lot of attention.
Remember, it’s more difficult to work on hills so it’s important to keep things low-maintenance.
Landscape the Corner with a Rock Garden
Some homeowners don’t like the idea of closing off the edge of the property. Perhaps a fence seems too severe and a hedge requires too much maintenance.
In that case, landscaping the corner of the lot with a rock garden is a good option to save the grass. Boulders, gravel, and hardy perennials come together to create a gorgeous scene that doesn’t require much maintenance at all.
Choose a Focal Point
Don’t forget to choose a focal point when creating the design for corner lot landscaping. Any type of yard benefits from a focal point, but a corner lot even more so. The lawns on corner lots tend to be larger, which is nice but can feel empty without some definition.
Anything that adds visual interest can work as a focal point. A circular flower bed in the middle of the lawn, a couple of topiary shrubs, an ornamental tree, or even tastefully arranged landscaping rocks.
Looking for Ideas Customized to Your Space?
Our landscaping professionals at Atlanta Turf & Tree have 35 years of combined experience turning Atlanta-area yards into works of living, lasting art. Contact our landscaping services experts to get going on your next project.
