What To Put Around Foundation Of House (Here's What You Can Do)
Whether you’re building a new house or want to do some work around your old one, it’s a good idea to have something around your foundation. Having something around the foundation of your house is an excellent way to improve its looks and provide protection. But are there certain things that are better around a home than others?
You can put many things around the foundation of your house, including flowers, landscaping, trees, plants, or gravel. When putting something around the foundation of your house, the goal is to have it look good and provide protection. Putting the right things around your foundation also offers stability and drainage.
The perimeter of your home is the first thing that many people see when they arrive at your house. It’s essential to have things around your foundation that give your home a welcoming and attractive feel. If you’re struggling to think of what would look good around the foundation of your house, this article is here to help!
Do You Need Landscaping Services?
Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.
Is It Necessary to Put Something Around Your Foundation?
Putting something around the foundation of your house isn’t required, but it’s a good idea. Adding things like landscaping and foliage around your home adds character and charm to an otherwise bleak portrait. Putting the right stuff around your foundation can even add resale value if you ever want to sell your house. Additionally, there are certain things that you can put around your foundation to add an extra layer of protection to your home.
What Should I Put Around the Foundation of My House?
If you know you want to put something around the foundation of your house but aren’t sure what, here are some great options.
Flower Beds
Few things add more beauty to the perimeter of your house than a nice bed of flowers. It doesn’t matter what kind of flowers or roses you choose. Just make sure that they’re compatible with your soil and climate. The last thing you want to do is put a bunch of work and money into flowers that can’t thrive in your area.
A Deck or Porch
I made some of my best memories growing up on the deck and porches around my home. It would be pretty expensive to have a deck or patio around the entire perimeter of your house. However, it’s a great idea to add one into the midst of your landscaping or flower beds.
Adding a deck or porch is a fairly expensive endeavor so make sure that the whole family is on board before building one. You can build a deck yourself or hire a contractor to do it for you. Porches, however, feature large amounts of poured concrete, and it can be difficult and costly to do it yourself if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Apply Stone Finishing to the Walls
A great way to add Style and Character to the foundation itself is to add stone to it. Adding stone finishing to foundation walls is something that’s increasing in popularity. People have discovered ways of doing it on the cheap and feel like the beauty it adds is well worth the cost.
If you have structural damage to your foundation, adding a rock face is a great way to hide it. Many times, cracks in the foundation don’t actually compromise the strength of the foundation. They simply make it look not good. Covering those cracks with rock is an excellent idea if you want to avoid uncomfortable conversations with an inspector or prospective buyer.
Moisture Wrap
Depending on where you live in the country, moisture wrap might be an absolute necessity. Moisture damage is a huge problem in some areas, and wrapping not only the foundation but your entire home might be necessary. Luckily, house wrap can come in the form of pain, siding, rock face, steel sheets, or anything else that’s decorative and waterproof.
Trees
Trees are a long-term investment in terms of planting them around the foundation of your house. They take a long time to grow into full bloom, and not everyone is willing to wait for them. However, if you’re willing to wait, trees are an excellent way to spruce up your foundation and hide minor defects. They also add much-needed shade to your front or back yard or patio area.
Shrubs
Shrubs are another excellent option for hiding the foundation of your house. There are tons of different shrubs to choose from, and there’s sure to be at least one for every occasion. Whether you want a shrub that grows flowers, a thick and dense shrub for maximum coverage, or a fruit-bearing shrub, there’s something for everyone.
You can even purchase them full-grown from a nursery and have them transplanted to your home. That way, you don’t have to wait for them to grow tall as you would with a tree.
Stone Beds
Running in the same vein as using mulch in the landscape around your home, you can also opt for stones. The advantage of using stones versus mulch is that you never have to redo them once they’re in. It would be best to redo mulch every year or every other year because it decays and rots. On the other hand, stones and rocks stay the same way no matter what. In some cases, they even provide more stability and protection for your foundation.
A Great Drainage System
No matter what you decide to decorate the foundation of your house with, it’s essential not to forget the practical stuff. A sound drainage system around your foundation is an absolute must. Thousands of basements flood every year because of poor drainage, and you don’t want your house to be one of them.
A sound drainage system is also essential to maintain whatever plants you decide to surround your house. Mulch, plants, and even stone will wash away if your perimeter floods. A drainage system might cost you money upfront, but it will pay off in the long run.
Stucco
Stucco is rarely seen in northern parts of the world, but it’s trendy in southern areas like Florida and Mexico. Stucco is a classic look that you can put on your entire house or just around the foundation. It’s guaranteed to dress it up a little and hide any foundation damage.
Important Notes to Remember
Here are a few helpful tips and reminders for when you decide to put something around your home’s foundation. Remembering to do these things will save you a world of heartache in the future.
Don’t Plant Trees Too Close to the House
Trees are great additions around the foundation of your house as long as you plant them a safe distance away. Tree roots are one of the leading causes of foundation damage and water line damage in the U.S. All too often, people forget that trees roots grow and expand in all directions. If a tree is planted too close to a house, it could puncture a water line or the house’s foundation.
If you’re going to plant trees yourself, make sure you research your specific specimen and plant it a safe distance from your home. It would be wise to leave tree planting to professional landscapers and arborists, as they know what to expect when the tree is full-grown.
Maintain Whatever You Choose
Just because you plant or install something and it looks good today doesn’t mean it’s going to stay that way. Plants, shrubs, and trees require watering and nurturing to blossom and grow. Mulch and rocks in your landscape beds need to be maintained and replenished from time to time.
Slope Your Landscaping Away From the Foundation
If you decide to add landscaping around your home’s foundation, make sure you slope it the right way. Rainwater will fall on your landscaping and naturally drain whichever way gravity allows. If your landscaping is sloped down toward your foundation, water will flood that direction like a river. This is a recipe for disaster and almost guaranteed flood or foundation damage.
Landscape Every Side of Your Home
Most people don’t realize that it’s crucial to landscape every side of your home rather than just the side that people see. The soil in and around your landscaping will naturally soak up more water than the rest of the earth around it. Heavily watered soil expands with time, which means that it will push against the foundation of your house. If one side has more pressure than the others, that side is prone to cracking and damage.
Get Help When Necessary
Most importantly, seek help and advice when you need it. Don’t let pride get in the way of doing an excellent job with your foundation and putting things around it. Seeking the help of a landscaper will ensure that you choose plants and materials that can thrive in your specific area.
Related Questions
How can I tell if my foundation is damaged or not?
If your foundation is damaged, there will be visible chips, cracks, or breaks in the concrete of the foundation itself. Foundation damage often leads to flooding and mold damage if left unfixed.
How far away from my foundation should I plant trees?
Trees should be planted at least 15 to 25 feet away from your foundation to ensure that it doesn’t damage anything. Depending on the size the tree will be when it’s full-grown, you should consider planting it even farther away.
Do You Need Landscaping Services?
Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.
Final Thoughts
Putting something around the foundation of your house is a great idea, but choosing the right thing is crucial. Once the landscaping is installed, trees are planted, or rock face is applied, it’s extremely difficult and time-consuming to undo them. Seeking professional advice is a great idea to make sure that you don’t choose something you’ll live to regret.
Before I started writing, I worked for 6 plus years in the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC business. I was primarily an HVAC installer but also worked as a plumber and electrician. Now I'm a copywriter, focusing on home improvement content and guides.
More by Jalin Coblentz
![How Much Weight Can a 4×4 Support Horizontally? [It Depends!]](https://cdn-fastly.upgradedhome.com/media/2023/07/31/9070333/how-much-weight-can-a-44-support-horizontally-it-depends.jpg?size=350x220)
![12 Washing Machine Brands to Avoid [with Recall Data]](https://cdn-fastly.upgradedhome.com/media/2023/07/31/9075781/12-washing-machine-brands-to-avoid-with-recall-data.jpg?size=350x220)
