• This entry is unbalanced since only one column exists.nice bricks. image by mdb from Fotolia.com
  
  Creating balance in a landscape with perfect symmetry in plants (their type, habit, color and form) is relatively easy and straight-forward. If your home's entrance is off-set to the far left or right of the building's facade, asymmetry or visual imbalance occurs. Or, if a striking architectural feature such as a column or window is omitted, the house or entrance overall can look unfinished or unstable. Pretend the entrance door is resting on a triangle's point (a scale). Imagine what size feature or element is needed in the wider landscape to visually make the door visually balance on top of the scale.
  
  

Specimen Plant

• The tree to the left balances the massive block weight of the house and garage.house image by Brett Bouwer from Fotolia.com
  
  Selecting an ornamental and striking tree or shrub can provide visual weight to an asymmetrical entryway. If the entrance door is located far to the left of the front facade, planting a tree to the left of the doorway will balance the visual "weight" on both sides of the doorway as illustrated by the University of Missouri Extension. Texas A&M University recommends planting a tree or shrub that grows large enough to be in appropriate scale with the house. For example, if it's a two-story home, choose a tree or shrub that will grow at least as tall as the house or wide enough to be noticed from the street or sidewalk. Don't plant a very narrow or tall plant, though, as its visual "thinness" may not seem to balance the heavier block-shape of the house. Choose trees or shrubs with multi-seasonal interest such as pretty bark, flowers and fall foliage color so it is always competing for attention on the unbalanced side of the entrance door. Consider groundcover or small shrub under-plantings to make the landscape immediately around the specimen tree look wellconceived and designed to look linked to the house.
  
  

Container

• An urn with flowers can visually replace a missing column at the entrance.summer container image by Tom Curtis from Fotolia.com
  
  If a column or window is missing on the building facade and makes the entrance doorway look naked or unbalanced, consider adding an architecturally interesting container where the column or window should be. The container can be boldly colored to draw attention, or be just mundane but large enough to hold a favorite plant or annual flower composition. The container or plant material in it can counter-balance the window or column on the opposite side of the entrance. A hanging basket is another type of container that can be used to bring visual balance to an entryway.
  
  

Hardscape Feature

• A rocking chair or railing can balance an asymmetrical entrance.home sweet home image by David Dorner from Fotolia.com
  
  Rather than using a container to offset the imbalance at the house's entrance, perhaps another wood, stone or metal feature can be employed. A useful wooden bench can be placed near the door on the opposite side of the window or column, or a statue or abstract metal piece of art. Moreover, a block of white trellis, copper mailbox, decorative railing, or framed painting suitable for outdoor conditions can be mounted to lure the eye to the side of the entrance where a balancing window or column is lacking.