Heather Tuckman's Front Entry Garden Makeover
Designer Heather Tuckman transformed her Pennsylvania home's confusing, flood-prone entrance into a welcoming, functional courtyard garden by overhauling
Designer Heather Tuckman purchased her home in eastern Pennsylvania a decade ago, drawn by a beautiful Japanese maple. The front entryway, however, was confusing and had major drainage problems. Working with the existing layout, she overhauled the hardscape and installed a curated plant palette to create a dramatic yet inviting entrance.
Define the entry to guide visitors
When Tuckman bought the property, the entrance was unclear. Additions had relocated the front door, and a long driveway led to a small garage with an inconspicuous stoop. She says it was common to find delivery people wandering, trying to locate the door. Tuckman removed the driveway and relocated parking to the front. She added a walkway framed with plantings that points directly to the entrance, which opens to a small courtyard. Raised steps lead diagonally to the door, flanked by staggered containers that help announce the otherwise hidden entrance.
Pick plants for curb appeal and function
The first plants visible upon arrival are mixed grasses, chosen for their resilience and visual impact. Tuckman selected grasses that can survive in conditions with both full sun and full shade, and in heavy clay soil. These include pink muhly grass and 'Shenandoah' switchgrass, which provide airy foliage and prominent seed heads. Taller trees and shrubs behind them form a backdrop and add privacy.
As visitors walk to the door, smaller succulents and dwarf conifers draw the eye with bright colors and spiky forms. These contrast with the fine-textured grasses. A series of woody plants line the side of the house, providing four-season interest and structure.
| Plant Name | Botanical Name | Zones |
|---|---|---|
| Pink muhly grass | Muhlenbergia capillaris | 5-9 |
| 'Shenandoah' switchgrass | Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' | 5-9 |
| 'Curly Tops' Japanese false cypress | Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Curly Tops' | 4-8 |
| Rocky Mountain juniper | Juniperus scopulorum | 3-7 |
Create a courtyard garden full of interest
Entering the courtyard reveals a full moon maple as a focal point. Potted plants underneath it and on the porch balance its size. The tree's bright green leaves echo chartreuse highlights from nearby plants like 'Ball Gown' heuchera. Containers surrounding the front door hold woody plants that live there year-round, with some annuals and perennials swapped out seasonally.
Alter hardscaping to solve problems
One of the first issues Tuckman fixed was a flooding basement. The old asphalt driveway went right up to the house, leaving no space for stormwater runoff. Regrading the entrance and leaving space between the new concrete courtyard and the house allowed for garden beds where thirsty plants could absorb excess water. She also salvaged, cleaned, and repaired damaged cedar siding, and added stone veneer near the doorway for contrast. The too-small garage was converted into a workshop. The central area that was once a driveway is now a courtyard shielded from the road, where they occasionally set up a fire pit. The space, once confusing and problematic, is now a functional garden room. Heather Tuckman is the owner of Resilient Ground Design and a graduate of the London College of Garden Design.
