Low Water Needs

• Choose plants tall enough to conceal defective areas in the foundation and to hide unsightly elements such as meter boxes and air conditioning units. Raised beds offer a pleasing structural element in front of a raised home. Varying heights of beds can be used for foundations on a slope. Fill the beds with an organic soil that retains moisture. Include moisture retentive polymers to keep watering at a minimum.
  
  

Low-Care Native Plants

• Include native flowers in the beds such as Gaillardia (USDA zones 3 to 8), Echinacea (USDA zones 3 to 9) and Stokes aster (USDA zones 5 to 9) that require only deadheading and occasional watering.Native plants are adapted to the area and require little care. A layer of organic mulch keeps moisture in, shades roots and keeps weeds down. Keep fertilization to a minimum. Fertilized plants grow more quickly and require additional care.
  
  

Keep it Simple

• Keep plantings simple. Repeat a few kinds of flowers and shrubs throughout the landscape in front of the raised home. This creates consistency and eliminates the selective care necessary for many different specimens.