If there are no evergreen plantings elsewhere on the property though, the process of evergreens around the house may give off a sinister or forbidding vibe. In this case you can resort to a variety of other options, like flowering shrubs, roses, or dwarf fruit trees in spring climes, and quince, forsythia or Japanese redleaf barberry, among others, in summer time.

In the planning stages for your foundation planning, consider the elevation of your house, at least as it relates to the immediate wall facing the planting, and also the size of the shrubs or trees you're considering planting when fully grown. You want to avoid blocking off windows with your plantings, as this will obscure your view and make your room gloomier. In the case of a wall which faces another home's wall with just a short distance between, this may not be a bad option though.

The entrance is generally the most important visual point of your house, so planting to highlight your entrance and/or front porch is a good idea. Plantings in front of the porch and around the front walls of the house should be kept low and bowl-shaped to give the impression of a broader base and larger house.

For your backyard area, you can keep it attractive and elegant while still allowing room for the children to frolic about. While it may be tempting to place flower or plant beds all around the backyard, you should limit these to a small area that the kids will know to avoid playing around. Having a sunken or raised sandbox for the kids to play in is a great idea, though you may want to keep an eye on the cat or dog to make sure they aren't using it as their personal facilities.

Your yard will also need to contain service areas and a drying yard if needed. These areas should be out of sight from the patio, preferably tucked behind the garage or a shed, but close enough that they aren't an extra inconvenience. Remember that your compost pit should be a good distance away from any garden you may plan on having, so plan this in advance. Garden are ideal close to the back door, while the compost bin can be tucked in a far corner of the yard, along with piles of fire wood, a tool shed or storage locker, and any other services needed.

Vegetable gardens are a great source of fresh food that can prove quite bountiful. Tomato plants especially will likely need to be placed alongside fences and tied to them for support, otherwise you'll need to employ a lattice. These should also be shielded from the elements if possible by being tucked away into corners.