One of my avocations is gardening and landscaping, with a specialization in xeriscaping with cactus, succulents, and containers, so I'm always looking at what other people have done for, or to, their properties when I'm out doing home inspections. Figure 1 and Figure 2 illustrate two extreme examples.

  Figure 1

  Figure 2

Obviously there are people out there who prefer each type, but let's look at what each type does to our homes.

Figure 1 is probably what the great majority of people would like, that subtropical look. However, remember that the picture there was taken in a desert environment, so to get that subtropical look with those plants requires a lot of water to keep it looking that way. The ground will almost certainly always be wet, and wet ground won't support the foundation of the house as well as dry ground, resulting in interior ceiling cracks, exterior and interior wall cracks, and sometimes a cracked foundation or slab. Picture that house on jello because that's essentially what happens.

Additionally, all the trees and shrubs create a micro- or mini-environment which can cause moisture damage to the exterior siding, door and window framing, and the roof.

The house in Figure 1 was only 7 years old, yet guess what problems I documented there, all of which could be attributed to the landscaping and overwatering.

Figure 2 is the absolute best type of landscaping. The sidewalk is away from the house, rainwater that falls at the foundation moves through the gravel and into the soil rather than ponding on a sidewalk right next to the foundation, and there is no vegetation rubbing on the siding and creating moist micro-environments, or with roots crushing the foundation. However, it truly takes an anti-plant person to enjoy that specific type of landscaping.

For most homeowners, the goal is to find a comfortable medium between the two. I like Figure 2, but I would be inclined to place some large boulders and container groupings in specific locations holding small plants and seasonal flowers, which also allow me to better control watering to those containers (see Figures 3-6, all low-water-use plants).

  Figure 3. Container with cactus

  Figure 4. Container with angel's wing begonias

  Figure 5. Container with waxleaf begonias

  Figure 6. Container with kalanchoe.