Landscaping
 for Historic Homes 

Craftsman and bungalow style homes usually have a smaller, compact footprint and fit well on small lots. To create a lush look, plant in layers to connect house and land.

A low ground cover with variegated bushes or colorful flowers behind can be offset with a background of solid green (hedges) or large cut leaf plants (for texture). Be careful to not cover the architectural details of the home. A minimalist approach is usually best and lets the landscape mature around the house.

Traditionally, these homes would have been built in wooded areas or within neighborhoods with mature trees.

To emulate that feeling, plant tall, fast growing trees in the back yard to create a feeling of history and scale. The Southern Magnolia would be a good choice and other selections can be found by visiting garden sites on the internet. Remember to watch for sun, shade, moisture & hardiness requirements. Or, if you're fortunate to have a wooded lot, be careful when clearing to select and leave healthy specimens that will frame the house. Our Florida live oaks create a beautiful background for the Craftsman style.

Since Craftsman style relates to the naturalist movements, the use of large rocks and water elements are a great accent. Natural rock borders and specimen boulders (watch the scale for the area you're planting) add stability to the landscape and water features (fountain, small pool/mini stream with a recirculating pump) offer a comforting natural sound.

It is fortunate that the internet abounds with landscape ideas for any style home and can offer you a great resources for plants & styles.

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After many years of experiencing what makes customers happy as well as hearing horror stories from people I meet, I've put together this FREE SPECIAL REPORT
to illustrate the top seven mistakes to avoid when approaching any construction project, whether remodeling or building new, these concepts apply.