Landscaping How-to: EASY Steps to Foundation Planting from Bettendorf's Landscaper Pros

After 11 years of transforming landscapes here in the Quad Cities, I've learned that foundation planting is one of the most impactful ways to boost your home's curb appeal. Whether you're dealing with an exposed basement foundation on a slope in Bettendorf or a slab foundation in LeClaire, the right foundation plants can completely change how your home looks and feels.

Before we dive in, I want to give a shoutout to The Lawn Whisperer for creating an excellent video on foundation planting basics. Check out their channel for more great lawn and landscaping advice. As someone who's installed foundation plantings for over 500 clients across the Quad Cities, I'm excited to share some insights that'll help you get the best landscaping in Bettendorf’s local conditions and the general Iowa climate.

Why Foundation Planting Matters in the Quad Cities

Here in Bettendorf and the surrounding areas, we deal with unique challenges that make foundation planting even more important. Our homes often sit on slopes due to our Mississippi River terrain, which means more exposed foundation than you might see in flatter areas. Plus, our harsh winters and hot summers mean we need plants that can handle Iowa's weather extremes.

In my experience working with hundreds of homeowners, foundation planting serves three main purposes:

• Hide unsightly foundations: Especially important with our basement homes and varying foundation heights

• Add year-round structure: Critical during our long winters when everything else dies back

• Increase home value: Good foundation planting can boost curb appeal significantly

Choosing Plants That Survive Iowa Winters

This is where local knowledge really pays off. Over the years, I've seen homeowners make expensive mistakes by choosing plants that look great in the nursery but can't handle our Zone 5 winters. Here's what actually works in our area:

My Go-To Foundation Plants for the Quad Cities:

• Green Mountain Boxwood: These are workhorses that handle our climate beautifully. They stay green all winter and grow to about 4 feet tall.

• Arborvitae varieties: Emerald Green and Green Giant both do well here and provide excellent foundation coverage.

• Yews: Incredibly hardy and can handle our winter winds.

• Juniper varieties: Great for areas with poor drainage, which we see a lot of in our clay soils.

The key is choosing evergreens that won't leave your foundation exposed during our 4-5 month winter season. I always tell my clients - if you're going to invest in foundation planting, invest in plants that work year-round.

Dealing with Quad Cities Soil and Drainage

One thing that's often overlooked in general landscaping advice is how different our local soil conditions are. Most of the Quad Cities sits on heavy clay soil that doesn't drain well. This creates unique challenges for foundation planting that I've learned to work around over the years.

My approach to soil prep:

• Always amend clay soil with compost - it's worth the extra cost

• Consider raised beds in areas with poor drainage

• Install French drains when necessary (we do a lot of these alongside landscaping projects)

• Choose plants that can handle wet feet during spring thaw

We also deal with a lot of downspout drainage issues that affect foundation areas. At Boscage, we often combine foundation planting projects with underground downspout drainage work to solve multiple problems at once.

Proper Plant Spacing and Design

After installing thousands of plants, I've learned that proper spacing is crucial for long-term success. Many DIYers and even some contractors plant too close together, thinking it'll look fuller immediately. But in 3-5 years, you end up with overcrowded, unhealthy plants.

My spacing guidelines:

• Boxwoods: 3-4 feet apart (they'll fill in within 2-3 years)

• Arborvitae: 4-6 feet apart depending on variety

• Accent plants: Follow mature width recommendations

• Always plan for 10-year growth, not immediate fullness

I also like to create symmetry where possible, but not at the expense of practicality. Your home's architecture should guide the design, not fight against it.

Installation Tips from 25+ Years of Combined Experience

Our team has refined our installation process over the years to ensure the highest success rate. Here's what we've learned works best in our local conditions:

Timing: Late spring (after last frost) or early fall work best here. Avoid planting during our hot July-August period if possible.

Installation sequence:

1. Prepare and amend soil first

2. Install plants before adding mulch or rock

3. Water thoroughly to settle soil

4. Add 6-inch mulch rings around each plant

5. Finish with decorative rock or additional mulch

We prefer slate chips for rock installations - they complement our Midwest architecture and provide excellent drainage. The key is getting everything properly watered before adding the final touches.

Maintenance for Long-Term Success

Foundation planting isn't a "set it and forget it" project. In our climate, ongoing maintenance is crucial for keeping plants healthy and attractive. That's why we offer our recurring bed maintenance service - we visit every 8 weeks during the growing season to keep everything looking sharp.

Essential maintenance tasks:

• Spring cleanup and pruning

• Regular watering during dry spells

• Mulch refresh every 1-2 years

• Winter protection for sensitive plants

• Periodic soil testing and amendment

Why Local Expertise Matters

I've seen too many foundation planting projects fail because they followed generic advice instead of considering local conditions. Every region has its challenges, and the Quad Cities is no exception. Our clay soil, variable elevations, harsh winters, and humid summers create a unique set of requirements.

That's why our team has invested in understanding what works specifically in our area. With over 500 satisfied clients and a 4.8-star rating, we've learned through experience what thrives here and what doesn't. When you're investing in your home's curb appeal, local knowledge makes all the difference.

Ready to Transform Your Foundation Areas?

Foundation planting done right can completely transform your home's appearance and boost its value. But it requires the right plant selection, proper installation, and ongoing care to be successful long-term.

If you're ready to create beautiful, lasting foundation plantings that enhance your home's curb appeal, I'd love to help. Get in touch with us at (563) 209-4636 or visit our website to book a consultation.

We provide fast estimates - typically within 24 hours - and our experienced team knows exactly what works in our local climate.

Serving Bettendorf, LeClaire, Moline, Davenport, and the greater Quad Cities area with professional landscaping services since 2014. Let's create something beautiful together!