Common Front Yard Landscaping Mistakes in Southeast Michigan Landscapes

A well-designed front yard can dramatically improve your home’s curb appeal, but even small landscaping mistakes can lead to long-term disappointment. Between our cold winters, variable soil types, and short growing season, problems from choosing the wrong plant can show up fast.

The good news? Most issues are easy to avoid once you know what to look for.
Here are some of the most common front yard landscaping mistakes we see, and how to fix them before they become expensive problems.

1. Ignoring Mature Plant Size

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is planting trees and shrubs too close together or too close to the house.

That small plant at the garden center may look perfect today, but in a few years it can:

• Overcrowd walkways
• Block windows
• Grow too close to the house
• Compete for nutrients and space

How to avoid it:
Always plan based on the plant’s mature height and width - not its size at purchase. Give each tree or shrub room to grow naturally.

2. Choosing the Wrong Plant for the Location

Not all landscape plants perform well in every spot. A plant that thrives in full sun will struggle in shade, and vice versa. This is an important consideration because light and soil conditions can vary widely even within a single yard.

How to avoid it:
Match plants to:
• Sun exposure (full sun, partial shade, full shade)
• Soil conditions (especially clay or poorly draining areas)
• Moisture levels

3. Using Plants That Aren’t Truly Hardy Here

Southeast Michigan sits in USDA Zone 6, which means winters can drop well below freezing. Not all shrubs sold at big-box stores are suited for these conditions.

Planting borderline-hardy shrubs can result in:

• Winter dieback
• Poor spring growth
• Constant replacement costs

How to avoid it:
Stick with proven Zone 6 (or colder) shrubs like hydrangea, spirea, ninebark, and arborvitae.

4. Ignoring Drainage Issues

Many local yards have heavy clay soil, which holds water longer than sandy soil. If drainage is poor, roots can struggle.

Common symptoms:

• Yellowing needles or leaves
• Slow growth
• Shrubs that “never take off”

How to avoid it:
Choose plants that tolerate heavier soils or improve drainage with soil amendments and proper grading before planting.

5. Over-Pruning (or Under-Pruning)

Pruning mistakes are extremely common in front yard landscapes. Some shrubs get trimmed too aggressively, while others are never properly shaped at all.

How to avoid it:
• Learn each shrub’s pruning needs
• Avoid shearing every shrub, unless that’s the intended design
• Prune at the correct time of year to avoid removing flower buds
A light, consistent approach is usually best for most low-maintenance shrubs. As a rule of thumb, prune flowering shrubs shortly after they have completed flowering.

6. Forgetting About Winter Salt and Snow

In Southeast Michigan, snow piles and road salt can take a serious toll on front yard plantings, especially those near roads, driveways and sidewalks.

How to avoid it:
• Avoid planting salt-sensitive shrubs near the road
• Use salt-tolerant species in exposed areas
• Put up burlap barriers in late fall
• Plan for snow storage zones before planting

7. Planting for One Season Only

It’s easy to fall in love with a shrub when it’s blooming at the nursery, but landscapes should look good all season long. If everything blooms at once, your yard may look great for two weeks…then flat the rest of the year.

How to avoid it:
Mix plants with different seasonal interest:
• Spring bloomers (forsythia, serviceberry)
• Summer color (hydrangea, weigela)
• Fall texture (ninebark, smokebush)
• Winter structure (arborvitae, yew)

Build a Smarter Landscape from the Start

Most landscaping problems don’t come from bad plants, they come from less than adequate planning. When you consider Michigan’s climate, soil conditions, and seasonal changes upfront, you can avoid costly mistakes and create a front yard that stays attractive and low-maintenance for years.

If you’re unsure what will work best for you, working with our professional landscaping team can help in designing a landscape plan that’s built specifically for your property. To set up a meeting, send us a message or give us a call today at 800-724-6680.

Up next: When is the best time to plant shrubs in Southeast Michigan for the healthiest long-term growth?