Foundation Planting That Works

Foundation planting is a term that started when many homes were pier-and-beam construction and homeowners needed landscaping to hide that visual distraction. It refers to the plantings—usually bushes—that are arranged up close to the house. However, these plantings can be an elegant part of your Houston landscape. Foundation planting doesn’t need to be a grim grouping of bushes hugging the house.

As mentioned, bush planting is the most common choice for foundational plantings, but other selections are appropriate—even luscious. For instance, we can create interest in your landscape master plan by incorporating layers into the garden beds, with taller plants along the back and moving forward with shorter and shorter plants down to groundcover. Small, flowering trees also add height and color.

In all foundational plantings, we are cognizant of yard drainage, an issue of particular importance with Houston’s terrain and weather. Since you always want water to flow away from the house, one method to consider around the foundation is the raised bed. Your plants will love it because it helps keep their “feet” dry.

At Exterior Worlds, we recommend that the best place to start in planting gardens of any type or location is to plan first. We can choreograph the layout on paper to best determine how much to plant and where. We want to take a thoughtful approach to your landscape design, including foundation planting, that truly enhances your home.

The pre-planting planning session is particularly helpful if you use a landscape phasing approach to your landscape design. Landscape phasing lets you add elements over time, sometimes during the course of several years, using incremental steps with the more expensive undertakings spaced out to help manage your cash outlay. When we use landscape phasing, we usually do greenscapes first which allows the most time for plants to develop to their mature shape and size.

During the planning process, we are careful to incorporate the architecture of your home. If your home is formal and symmetrical, such as a Federal, Georgian or Colonial Revival, then we employ formal aspects in the landscape design—perhaps neatly trimmed shrubs at the front door. As another example, a contemporary home could benefit from a more organic approach.

We always think in terms of plants at their mature size and scale. It is a common mistake of the amateur gardener to forget to take into account a plant’s ultimate size. Making the right choice in this area helps keep pruning to a minimum. We also consider the features of the surrounding area because we want to design foundational plantings that are appropriate for the entire site. These elements include the sidewalks, driveway, streets, adjacent bayous and woodlands, large trees, fences and hedges.

Exterior Worlds uses the most current landscape techniques to give your foundation planting the look of a professional landscape. We create luxurious, highly personalized signature designs in which green plantings are unified with the home. From the curb to the front door, your property conveys a warm and welcoming impression.

Iron Wall Planters

For the perfect—and practical—finishing touch to your landscape design, consider custom ordering iron wall planters from Exterior Worlds. Our planter boxes, built to last and built to your specifications, could add the final element to the overall look and atmosphere you want to create.

Iron wall planters can be made in any shape, color or style, thus becoming the just-right accessory for your yard. While the typical shapes are square or rectangular, we can fabricate them to fit any nook you might have on your wall or fence. Even the really oddly-shaped places.

With colors, you have a wide-ranging palette that goes from authentic metal hues to cheery colors. Your options of styles run the gamut of decorative periods from a Greek or Egyptian motif to today’s whimsical patterns.

We make our iron wall planters from aluminum, steel or copper. For ease of maintenance and durability, we can galvanize or powder-coat them. And in consideration of those plants that do not thrive in wet soil, we are careful to drill holes in the bottom for drainage purposes.

These planters are particularly fitting when they match or accentuate other iron elements you have already chosen. Exterior Worlds has used ornamental iron, also called wrought iron, for such structural uses as garden gazebos, doors, door panels, screens, window grilles, handrails, banisters, balconies, column capitals, copings, pilasters and outdoor water fountains.

For purposes of functional ornamentation, our clients have also used ornamental iron for landscape lighting fixtures, wrought iron driveway gates, gate ornaments, door knockers, door handles, hinges, curtain rods, andirons and fireplace tools, gratings, partitions, benches, outdoor tables and other custom furniture.

Accents and accessories include such ornamental iron pieces as antique wrought iron rosettes, mirror frames, sculptures, gargoyles and wrought iron wall elements.

While we have found that iron pieces work in almost any landscape, we think wrought iron goes especially well in gardens that have a particular theme. A perfectly placed ornamental iron arbor enlivens and accentuates a Mediterranean landscape design, for example. In a similar way, a wrought iron trellis seems to belong among the riotous colors of an English garden design. A formal landscape design, with its gravel paths and meticulous manicuring, invite the straight lines and embellishments of wrought iron garden gates and wrought iron fences done in a Baroque pattern, for example.

Ornamental iron has a long history as a decorative art, beginning in The Middle Ages. Even though today in our landscape products, true wrought iron has been set aside in favor of mild steel and electric welding is preferred over the hammer and anvil, it is as if it is possible to still see how fire transforms a metal rod into its many amazing contortions. With ornamental iron, the heat and history are palpable. And the artistry is made solid and immutable.

Ornamental iron establishes an enduring beauty within your landscape design. Let Exterior Worlds draw upon our wealth of ornamental iron works, including custom-made iron wall planters, to integrate these inspired decorative trimmings, finely executed artistry and scrupulous designs into your landscape.

Since 1987, Exterior Worlds has provided discriminating clients in the greater Houston area with high-end landscape services, including custom iron works. Call 713-827-2255 for a consultation.