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The beds and borders you plant at the entry to your home should match the style of your abode, as well as the scale and purpose you have in mind for the garden area.  Here are a few things to keep in mind as you plan your entry plantings:

An entry garden should enhance and complement your home.  It should have curb appeal and suit the architecture of your home.  Don’t plant a traditional, formal garden as an entry to a contemporary home; it won’t have the desired effect. 

If you need to warm up a very formal home, you can have a loose, informal entry garden to make the entry area more inviting.

Consider the scale of the home as you select plants.  Don’t obscure a ranch home with very tall trees or shrubs, and make sure the plantings in front of a two-story home have some height to keep the garden in balance with the scale of the house.

Give some definition to your garden.  Use edging, fencing, hedges or other border materials to give the area shape, a beginning and an end.

Consider the scent of your plant selection, too.  While you generally would avoid very fragrant plants near decks or other areas where your guests will sit outside, you can go ahead and plant strongly scented plants in an entry gardern, where guests will pass through instead of lingering.

Keep in mind what your time restrictions are.  If you can only afford a minimum time to maintain your entry garden, stick with low-maintenance plants.  Avoid a “jungly” feel, or obscuring the door.  If you have plenty of time to maintain your entry garden, it’s a great place to show off your gardening skills.

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