| ting a convenient, inviting, and attractive entryway | | | | guest parking. So if this is a needed or desired |
| to your home and property, you should first think | | | | landscaping element, we should start designing |
| about functionality and then plants and materials | | | | with that in mind. |
| later. With the main function of front yard | | | | The driveway entrance should be wide enough to |
| landscaping generally being access, our first design | | | | comfortably move in and out of. It’s not |
| focus would be how and where we enter and | | | | required but a lot of times it is desirable to also |
| exit our homes. | | | | have a way to turn around inside the driveway. |
| To what extent you can plan the front yard may | | | | This is an added safety factor to keep from |
| be limited by some landscaping circumstances that | | | | having to blindly back out onto busy streets. |
| you can’t control. The size of your lot, | | | | If you have room, a circular drive usually provides |
| how your home faces the street, and property | | | | the best access to entries along with the safety |
| lines can all be limiting factors. However, with | | | | factor of drive through. It also provides some |
| some careful planning, you may be able to reach | | | | shape and an opportunity for landscaping inside of |
| a medium of functionality and beauty in the front. | | | | the outer circle of the driveway. |
| I know that this seems basic and obvious but | | | | Many times when a complete semi-circle drive |
| many times folks simply just don’t know | | | | isn’t possible, there may be room for a |
| where to start or go with their design. So by first | | | | simple cutout addition. This area can also be used |
| laying out your needed or desired access paths, | | | | as additional parking when needed. It |
| you could possibly be laying out the framework of | | | | doesn’t necessarily need to be paved as it |
| your entire design. Not only will it take up a lot of | | | | won’t receive the same amount of use |
| space, but will also create shape, areas to design | | | | and traffic as the rest of the drive. |
| around, and a visual direction for your thoughts. | | | | Simply widening the driveway in an area can |
| Generally, the most predominant access use is for | | | | provide additional parking as well as enough room |
| vehicles and parking. So our first focus should be | | | | to turn around. Again, this area doesn’t |
| where we and our guests are going to park and | | | | have to be paved or totally improved. It just has |
| drive in the front. Also, walkway access from | | | | to drain well and support the weight of a car. |
| these areas to the front door, side door, or any | | | | By first addressing your vehicle access to your |
| other entry points of the home needs to be | | | | home, you’ll have one necessary element |
| considered. | | | | taken care of and less area to have to have to |
| Most folks need a driveway that not only leads to | | | | plan for. |
| the home but also allows room for offstreet | | | | |