The best bungalow front yard landscaping works with the home’s low, wide shape. Use plants that stay below the windowsills, a clear and welcoming walkway, layered garden beds and good lighting. These changes frame the house instead of hiding it, and they make a strong first impression for guests and buyers alike.
Key takeaways
- Keep foundation plants low so they do not cover bungalow windows.
- A wide, well-lit walkway does more for curb appeal than almost anything else.
- Layer plants by height, from the house out to the lawn.
- Choose hardy, low-maintenance plants suited to Ontario winters.
- Grade soil away from the foundation to protect the basement.
Why bungalows need a different landscaping approach
A two-storey house can hide behind a big tree or tall shrubs and still look balanced. A bungalow cannot. Its roofline is low, and the front windows sit close to the ground, so oversized plants quickly swallow the house.
The goal is to emphasize the bungalow’s horizontal lines, keep sightlines to the front door open and add height in the right places, usually at the corners.
Start with the walkway and entrance
Your walkway leads visitors to the door. In many older GTA bungalows, it is a narrow, cracked concrete path straight from the driveway.
- Widen the path so two people can walk side by side.
- Use a gentle curve if the yard is deep enough.
- Choose pavers, flagstone or stamped concrete for texture.
- Keep it level and slip-resistant for winter.
- Consider a no-step approach if aging in place matters to you.
A fresh front door colour, new house numbers and a modern light fixture finish the entrance for little money.
Plant in layers, scaled to a low roofline
Think of the front garden in three layers, from the house outward.
| Layer | Where | Plant ideas |
|---|---|---|
| Back | Against the foundation, at corners | Dwarf evergreens, compact hydrangeas, a small ornamental tree at a corner |
| Middle | In front of the back layer | Ornamental grasses, boxwood, spirea, hostas in shade |
| Front | Along the lawn or path edge | Low perennials, sedum, creeping thyme, seasonal annuals |
Check each plant’s mature height and width before you buy. Keep shrubs at least a short distance from the foundation so air can move and roots stay out of the way.
Bungalow tip: Put taller plants or a small tree at the corners of the house, not in front of windows. It frames the bungalow and makes it look wider and more grounded.
Low-maintenance plants for Ontario front yards
Ontario front yards face cold winters, road salt and summer heat. Native and hardy plants handle these conditions with less watering and fuss.
- Native perennials: black-eyed Susan, purple coneflower, wild bergamot.
- Grasses: switchgrass and little bluestem add movement and winter interest.
- Shrubs: serviceberry, dwarf ninebark and native dogwood.
- Salt-tolerant edges: daylilies and some ornamental grasses near the driveway.
- Groundcovers: to reduce lawn and weeding in small yards.
Mulch beds to hold moisture and block weeds. Group plants with similar water needs together.
Lighting, driveways and snow
Lighting
Low-voltage or solar path lights guide guests and add security. Uplight a corner tree or the house’s texture for evening curb appeal. Pair it with a motion light by the garage.
Driveway
A cracked driveway drags down the whole yard. Sealing asphalt, replacing it with pavers or adding a paver border are common upgrades. Check your municipality’s rules before widening a driveway.
Plan for snow
Leave space beside the driveway to pile snow without crushing shrubs. Avoid delicate plants where plows or shovels will dump salty snow.
Protect your foundation while you landscape
Good landscaping also protects the basement, which matters in a bungalow where the basement is often finished living space.
- Grade soil so it slopes away from the house.
- Keep garden beds and mulch below the siding and away from window wells.
- Extend downspouts away from the foundation.
- Avoid planting large trees close to the house or sewer lines.
- Check before removing any tree. Many GTA municipalities protect trees on private property and require a permit.
Front yard upgrades by budget
- Weekend projects: edge beds, add fresh mulch, plant annuals, paint the front door, new house numbers.
- Moderate: new foundation plantings, path lighting, a new mailbox and light fixtures.
- Bigger investment: new walkway, interlock driveway, a front porch or retaining walls.
Get at least three quotes for hardscaping. If you are planning to sell, our seller’s guide covers which exterior updates to prioritize. For ideas at the door itself, see our front porch ideas for Ontario homes. Backyard projects are covered in our backyard garden plan.
Frequently asked questions
What plants look best in front of a bungalow?
Low and medium plants that stay below the windowsills work best, such as dwarf evergreens, compact hydrangeas, grasses and perennials. Save taller plants for the corners.
Does landscaping add value when selling a bungalow?
Neat, well-kept landscaping improves first impressions and listing photos. It is not a guaranteed value boost, but a tidy front yard helps a home stand out.
How do I make a bungalow look bigger from the street?
Keep plants low in front, add height at the corners and widen the walkway. A uniform garden bed across the front also makes the house look wider.
The bottom line on bungalow curb appeal
Bungalow landscaping is about scale. Keep it low in front, frame the corners, create a welcoming path and choose plants that thrive in Ontario.
Curious how your updates affect your home’s value? Get a free home evaluation to see where you stand.
