Now that we are in the heat of summer, you may be ready to replace some of your dying spring flowers. Maybe you skipped spring planting altogether in favor of warmer weather plants. Although it may be hot, don’t be afraid to get outside and get your hands dirty.
In this article, we will explore some ways you can plant flowers around your mobile home’s foundation. Even if you have never picked up a trowel or a shovel in your life, you can have a beautiful flowering landscape in almost no time. Stay tuned to find out how!
Foundation Planting
Planting close to your home is known as foundation planting. This derives from the fact that you are likely planting right over or right next to your house’s foundation. Although some modular houses do not have this feature, you can still plant up close and personal!
The key to foundation planting is to make your home look more welcoming while still flowing with the overall landscaping. Although it may sound confusing, there are a few rules you can follow to help simplify the process.
Don’t Plant too Close!
There are some rules when it comes to planting next to any building. First, leave a foot of space between the building and the flowers. Anything too close could cause damage. It leads to mold and dampness, which then causes insects such as termites and carpenter ants to invade!
Take the Final Size into Account
When you are deciding where to plant your flowers, always take into account the final size. This is how large the plant will be when it is fully grown. Although flora may be a foot away when you dig the initial hole, there is no guarantee it won’t grow to be a nuisance. That’s why you must figure out the final size and add 6 inches to give your house and your flowers space!
Volume Matters
When you decide to plant anything near your foundation, you need to take the volume into account. Many landscapers recommend planting the tallest greenery in the back and the shortest in the front. That also applies to flowers. Not only will it provide a nice eye-catching contrast, it will also give the appearance of a greater volume of plants and space around your modular.
If your landscaping looks a little sparse, try adding in some ornamental grass or flowering shrubs. Sometimes that’s all you need to add the necessary volume to make your whole arrangement pop!
Avoid the Lone Bed
We have all seen people that like to create a lone flower bed in the middle of their front yard. We are here to tell you that it doesn’t add anything to your curb appeal. If you want to make a nice floral bed, take that desire into your backyard and make a cute flower garden behind your home.
The main reason to avoid the lone bed is because it does nothing to welcome you (and your guests) home. The primary purpose of foundation planting is to make the home look and feel more welcoming and warm.
Plant Tall Flowers around the Corners
If you want to plant taller flowers such as sunflowers, it is best to do it around the corners of your home. Why? First, it will make your modular home look larger. Second, taller plants help soften the square edges and allow the rest of the landscape to fit better.
The More Seasons the Better
If you are just now planting your flowery foundation, you should aim to choose plants that will stay interesting as late into the year as possible. That doesn’t necessarily mean blooming. In fact, some flowers have gorgeous foliage that can only be shown off once the flower dies and the seasons turn. This will save you more work in the long run!
A Word about Windows
Windows are your connection to the outside world. They allow in sunshine and a cool breeze. If you like these things, check and double check that the flowers you are planting won’t block them! Most flowers do not grow large enough to block light, but there are some that do. These are mostly in the form of flowering trees, shrubs, and vines.
Perennials vs. Annuals
Whether you choose perennials or annuals is up to you, but there are benefits and drawbacks to both. Perennials will grow back every year, so you won’t have to plant and re-plant as often as you would if you choose annuals. These flowers are usually tougher than annuals.
Annuals are great if you like to experiment or have a new look every year. You will have to re-plant, but you will always know exactly where everything is located. You also won’t have to wonder or worry about whether your perennial will come back.
Make a Plan
Our last, but most important advice in figuring out how to plant flowers around your mobile home is to create a plan. You can do this in a number of ways, but we will tell you what we recommend.
Trace an outline of an enlarged photo of your home on paper. Chances are you will need a separate piece of paper for the front, back, and sides. This, of course, depends upon how many flowers you want to plant and where you want to plant them.
If you already have any trees, bushes, buildings, or anything unmovable go ahead and sketch those into your drawing. After that, you can add anything anywhere you want! Experiment with different types of colors, heights, and widths in different locations. Always make sure you are drawing the plant or flower at its full size. This is extremely important!
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