How to Landscape a Colonial House

Choose low-growing evergreen shrubs, such as dwarf boxwood, to line your front walkway. Cap the ends with a pair of miniature Japanese maples for color contrast and autumn interest.

Flank your doorway or entrance with a pair of tall, narrow trees such as junipers or larches. If your colonial home has a concrete porch, plant the trees in large decorative containers.

Create a three-season flower bed beneath the first-story windows. Choose flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and crocus for spring; plant taller, colorful annuals such as delphiniums, snapdragons, hollyhocks and foxgloves for summer blooms. Autumn color may include gladiolus and black-eyed susan.

Plant a fragrant climbing rose at a corner of your colonial home. Secure the plant to a trellis with green florist wire as it begins to climb.

Select spring-flowering trees for dramatic effect in your front yard. Choose any combination of flowering dogwood, weeping cherry or redbud for spring color.

Install a section of picket fence or a stand-alone garden gate along a path leading from your front porch to your backyard. Plant climbing vines and flowers such as nasturtium, morning glory or honeysuckle on the fence. Interplant the pathway with grass and fragrant thyme to provide fragrance.