Front porch ideas on a budget

Question

This is the front porch repaired after a total demo due to incorrect flagstone install. Now I am out of $, but need a temporary fix until next summer.  Any suggestions? I have three ficus trees, a cactus pot and a small specimum cactus.  Thanks!

Funnygirl · Answer

First, we will need to know the general location of your house so we can make suggestions for your planting guide.it looks like you have plenty is sun. Do you have cold winters, hot dry summers?I recommend that you wait to plant most plants until the fall.It it very difficult to keep most new plants alive during the heat of the summer.The ficus trees cannot survive in a very cold winter climate unless you can take them indoors during the winter months in most locations.Same as the succulents.it is a very nice space.Another question I have is how much time do you want to spend working on your garden.Gardening can be labor intensive if you do not pick the right plants.please include how many hours of direct and indirect sunlight you receive in this area and very important,when you walk out of you front door which direction are you facing,north,south east or west- that will make a huge difference in your success.!Glad to see you have a hose close by for watering!

Chris aka monkey · Answer

@Kelly it really looks like a lovely spot....i think put taller trees on either side of your step and put something on your door...there are a trillion diy wreaths on here you could make something with a little color or better yet paint your door in a bold color to offset all the white and blue grey a navy perhaps you could buy some inexpensive annuals to put in the dirt or if you would rather not plant buy a bag of river rock or gravel as you can afford and pour on the dirt starting nearest your door so dirt doesn't track into house...just use you old noggin lol and have fun with it..remember rome wasn't built in a day xx

Maureen estell · Answer

I agree with Chris, and perhaps add 2 or 4 solar path lights to line the walkway leading to your front door.

Betty819 · Answer

I agree with the other folk, Also you might consider painting the outdoor light maybe a black. Right now it is like facing into the siding that is same or nearly similar color. Usually solar lights are black or silver. How will you avoid dirt splashing up on your siding when it rains? Maybe buying some pavers to put down there to avoid that. They can always be used later somewhere, even spray painted a color.

Billie Wilson · Answer

Paint the door so that it stands out. Red, blue, whatever you love!

Michele Eures · Answer

I agree about painting your door for interest and color, but keep in mind that dark colors will make that door very hot if it gets sun in the afternoon. I also agree with what others have suggested. Lighting, gravel, and perhaps a few larger rocks here and there. Bring the two ficus trees to either side of the door. Trim the one if need be. You could also add some tall, colorful urns.

Angie Bruce · Answer

Adding a kick plate to the door can give it some panache!

Luann Chandler · Answer

I do not like having too many plants around the front door. I would take that bare length area and fill with decorative gravel and add a pretty bench to relax on, with solar lights along the walkway to light up the area at night. A pretty leafy green wreath on the door and a small chair in the other corner along with a small neat potted plant beside it.

Guadalupe Alicia Cepeda Cardenas · Answer

hadadelawa@hotmail.com yo podria una banca en el lado izquierdo y la decoraria con macetas grandes a cada lado. ...

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

You could really use some color! I would fill in with some pea gravel or rock that you like to keep dirt covered and a base for pots. I would spray paint or find pots to spray paint in various sizes to add to larger green pencil/conical type bushes on each side of the front door. since you already have your houseplants, use them along the sides on top of the gravel and mix shorter plants among them for color but do not bunch them up as you have them now-layer them and add maybe a fountain or bench. to avoid planting find shrubs and perennials in pots or houseplants to fill in as a 'ground cover' (I think pothos or philodendron).

are you in love with those plain white lamps? I would spray paint them black or some other metallic color to give them a more elegant look. Every space needs an element of black. Or be quirky and do as I did and find large over the top lights to make the front door stand out even more.

to hide the hose reel I would think about trellis, yard art, or pot with tall plant to help camouflage it. Just some ideas...good luck!

MikkiGirl · Answer

I would paint the trim around the front door a darker shade of gray than the siding, and the door a very dark shade of gray. Put down lava rock or some rock with color between the house and walkway; place the trees in the rock on either side of the front door and the other potted plants scattered on either side of the walkway. Solar lights along the walkway would also be a nice touch when you can fit them into your budget - the door should be a priority.

Judy Adams · Answer

Paint that door the same color as the siding only two or three shades darker , a brass kick plate on the bottom of the door to brighten and use the light . If you want fresh and appealing.Add solar lights on the area that needs lighting at night. I would plant flowers with a scent ,in the dirt on each side of the walkway (Stocks have a beautiful scent as well as some heirloom Putunias .Use the color of the flowers as an accent too., Put the tall Ficus trees one on each side of the door , Set each tree inside of beautiful decorative pots, Maybe a contrasting color of the house ,that match .Around the edge of the dirt area plant a colored (BLUE) dense low growing ground cover to accent the rest of the growing things . Its a canvas for the creative . Go for it . Do not be afraid to explore the possibilities. This idea brings color , light , scent and freshness to your Entry

Shelley Tihen Woelfel · Answer

Do not out trees within that confined space, its too much and they have no room to grow. Paint your front door and trim. Add some bushes that are low growing and are green all year evergreens, offset set them. Maybe add some day lilies,  azaleas are a good mix, . Maybe against the house add a something black for vines to grow up that add color.  Put something in front of that hose real, thats a really bad place for that. I have low growing winter okayed hibiscus on either side on my garage, just watch the kind you get so it doesn't get outof control,

Shelley Tihen Woelfel · Answer

It might be hard to do now but add concrete extension all the way across front door. Pillars look great as does a rail with Banisters

Shelley Tihen Woelfel · Answer

Use lava rock along both sides it, it will look great along the white.

Kelly · Answer

Thanks.  Not in love with the plain white lamps at all.

Shelley S · Answer

Get a can of oops paint.  Paint that front door.  A small can at Lowes or Home Depot is only a couple of bucks.  Ask all your friends for starts off plants.  Most people are happy to share.  You could purchase a few bags of dark color beauty bark to cover the dirt. Very cheap.  Collect some large stones when out walking.  Put them in the bark..

White Oak Studio Designs · Answer

I personally think your little courtyard has tremendouspotential! If it were mine, I would plant several clumping ornamental grassesalong the edges (not symmetrical but staggered) as they will grow up to givesome height and only get bigger around as they grow. They are easy care; changecolors in the fall and just require cutting back in the late autumn. That would leave you room in front forsomething flowering and colorful, perhaps catmint and daylilies. If you wantsome shrubs as well then you might consider native (to your area) hydrangeaswhich will flower and fill in. Whatever you do make sure they are “dwarf” inscale so they don’t quickly overgrow your space. 
After you plant put down bark chips to hold in moisture andkeep weeds at bay.
I’d add a small comfy chair and round side table (if room) tothe right hand side of your picture near the door. That gives you a place tosit out and enjoy your landscape.

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

Temp fix? I'd put the larger tropical to the right where there is more room. Think I see a couple of fairly large, empty pots. Why not just buy some colourful annuals for them and make an interesting grouping. Would give some needed colour and hold you over until next summer. I wouldn't even worry about the bare ground unless there is a weed problem. Gives you winter to refine plans.

Deb · Answer

Love the front entry way. The front door definitely needs to be painted. You could also pick up an old washed out concrete bench that would double for plants and/or packages. You also have enough space to make a relatively inexpensive home made water fountain out of one of your planters.

Le' · Answer

I would take away all the plants.....finish the rest of the area like the walk...put in two nice white chairs....then put two potted plants that are very thick/or tall...paint your door a medium green...add a couple of small outside side tables and you are set...Also, I would put a pagoda-like top on the entire area and you are set.

Kelly · Answer

thanks

Thej · Answer

Hi Kelly
Whatever you do, please don't plant the ficus trees that you have in the picture. The roots are very invasive and go for the house plumbing! My neighbor had the roots coming up her shower drain. The only good ficus is one in a pot!
The yard landscaping is dictated by whether or not you have automatic sprinklers? You would have to water almost every day during the summer in Canyon Country, Ca. Otherwise, go with the natives-grass, lavender, etc.and make your life a lot easier.

Lynda · Answer

I think the Ms Nesbitt's ideas are great. Maybe a nice layer of mulch around the pots of annuals to add texture at ground level. If you don't have time to paint the door, add a
beautiful interesting wreath. If the door is metal, you can find wreath hangers that will
suppose a good amount of weight, are magnetic and barely visible. I bought one at
a Hobby Lobby that will hold about 35 lbs, but it is black & chrome, but the others
I found are ones that you are suppose to use to attach something to a glass window
and come in two parts; one inside-one outside, and are white. Leave the trees in 
their pots, put a weed barrier down, add saucers under the trees, put the tree in the saucers and cover with the mulch. That way no weeds will come through and no
tree roots will escape. You can also use just a few layers of cardboard under the
mulch as it will deteriorate by next summer. Here in Florida you should be able to
get plenty of pine needles for mulch, maybe even free. Opps paint is usually 
available on the back side of the paint counters at Lowes and Home Depot.

Ros · Answer

This space seems to me to need symmetry, which you have started with the lamps. I would paint the door and the lamps, not necessarily the same colors, to make both stand out from the white walls.
I would use big square planters with boxwood or some paired plantings. Again I would use the 2 sides of the path symmetrically (loosely so) with low and medium height plantings but no big bushes and trees to hide the door.The micro climate of the 2 sides may differ due to hours of sun.
Depending on your budget a little v shaped roof with 2 pillars would be very nice.
If possible I would do something with the path, paint it or faux paint tiles or cover with slate or something 'warmer' than the stark white.
It really has a lot of beautiful potential.
Goodluck
Ros (Fremont)

Colleen · Answer

I agree with Ros, painting the door and lamps within thier color wheel. While your painting, spray paint the pots all one color to pull it togather. While on a budget, look around the house for anything you can use outdoors to add interest ( old plant stand). what kind of theme do you want? If seaside- find some rope and create something nautical,maybe put sand along the sides of the walk, and put the potted plants there.

CarolCraig · Answer

If it were mine ... Keep walk clear , hi & low potted plants ,& cover soil with weed preventing  cloth & cover with white stone . Can also ad your choice of bench or chairs

CarolCraig · Answer

Painted door will really pop !

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