According to folklore beliefs, planting trees in front of or outside the gate of a house is thought to bring many blessings, prosperity, and wealth. However, not every type of tree is suitable for homeowners. In this article, Tây Âu Landscape will tell you what trees to plant in front of your house and provide a list of types of trees to avoid planting in front of your house. Let’s find out together!
Should You Plant Trees in Front of Your House?
Nowadays, planting trees in front of houses, villas, etc., has become popular and preferred alongside potted plants in the home garden. The following reasons will answer the question of whether you should plant trees in front of your house.
First: Attracting Wealth and Good Luck
According to feng shui beliefs, the area in front of the house is considered an essential focal point of the home. It is thought to help attract wealth and good luck to the homeowner if the right type of tree is chosen and planted in the right location.
Second: Absorbing Good Qi and Positive Energy
The area in front of the house is where different types of energies intersect. Therefore, we need to choose Feng Shui-appropriate trees that match the homeowner’s destiny. This will help absorb positive energy and bring good luck and wealth.
Third: Purifying the Fresh Air
Any type of tree with wide leaves offers certain benefits, such as creating clean air, more oxygen, and a refreshing atmosphere for people.
Fourth: Enhancing Overall Landscape Decor
Modern design allows architects to incorporate greenery into the overall interior and exterior decoration of the house. In particular, adding greenery in front of the house has received a lot of approval in modern urban planning communities with many trees. However, there are some considerations you need to be aware of when choosing trees to plant in front of your house, as outlined below.
Considerations for Planting Trees in Front of the House
Planting trees in front of the house is a good practice, but it requires careful consideration. According to feng shui beliefs, it has a significant impact on the homeowner’s destiny. Therefore, keep in mind the following considerations:
1. Choose a Tree Suitable for the House’s Orientation
In addition to selecting a Feng Shui-appropriate tree that matches your destiny, you should pay attention to the orientation of the house.
For example, if your house faces west, you should avoid planting trees in front of it. The west direction is associated with the Wood element, and adding another tree would weaken the Feng Shui of your home. If your house faces west and you still want to plant decorative trees without violating taboos, you should choose vibrant flowers such as sunflowers or daisies.
2. Avoid Planting Trees in Front of the Main Door
Planting more greenery in your garden is better for Feng Shui and creates cleaner air. However, you should never plant trees directly in front of your main door. This can obstruct natural light and the flow of positive energy into your home.
3. Avoid Planting Trees with Sharp Thorns or Pointed Leaves
In Feng Shui, objects, including plants, with sharp, pointed ends are considered inauspicious. Therefore, if you’re uncertain about what type of tree to plant in front of your house, it’s best to avoid trees with thorns to ensure that positive energy is not drained away.
4. Regularly Care for Your Trees
Regardless of the type of tree you choose to plant in front of your house, it’s essential to pay attention to their care. Trees that wither, dry up, or have tangled branches can disrupt the positive energy they bring.
Summary of Specific Trees to Avoid Planting in Front of Your House
You may be surprised to learn that some familiar trees have negative connotations in Feng Shui when planted in front of your house.
1. Banyan Trees
In Vietnamese culture, banyan trees are often associated with reverence and are considered as homes for numerous deities. This explains why banyan trees are often found in front of temples and shrines.
For that reason, due to the strong energy of the banyan tree, it is not suitable for a residential environment. Moreover, as banyan trees grow, their roots can become extensive, leading to an unsightly appearance around your home.
2. Pomegranate Trees
Although the pomegranate tree has various beneficial uses, such as using its leaves for medicinal purposes, squeezing juice from its fruit, soaking it in alcohol, and using it in cooking, it has a negative connotation in folklore. The word “dâu” (pomegranate) in Vietnamese phonetics sounds similar to the word “tang,” which is associated with funerals and the afterlife. Therefore, planting pomegranate trees in front of the house is generally discouraged.
According to Feng Shui experts, pomegranate trees are traditionally planted in the back garden or near a pond with the purpose of warding off evil spirits and protecting your home and family.
3. Willow Trees
Willow trees are among the types of trees to avoid planting in front of your house that you should be aware of. In the Chinese language, the word “liễu” (willow) sounds similar to “lưu,” which conveys a meaning of flowing away or dissipating. In folklore, planting willow trees in front of your house is believed to symbolize family decline and misfortune.
Furthermore, since ancient times, our ancestors often used the willow tree as a comparison for girls with difficult and unlucky lives.
In Feng Shui, willow trees carry yin energy, so planting them in front of your house can attract negative energy indoors, which may bring unfavorable circumstances.
Typically, this type of tree is only planted in parks and by lakes to create a pleasant landscape and provide shade.
4. Dracaena Plant
The Dracaena plant has beautiful green foliage, is easy to grow and care for, which makes it a favorite choice for many people. However, in folklore from ancient times to the present, Dracaena tends to attract negative forces that do not bring good luck to the family. Moreover, Dracaena usually thrives in damp places, so you need to pay attention to cleanliness and should only plant it in areas like the bathroom instead of in front of your house.
5. Cactus Plant
Cactus plants are often popular for interior decoration. However, to create a harmonious focal point, you can decorate them behind or inside your house. Avoid planting cactus in front of the house because the characteristic sharp spines of cactus may obstruct the flow of positive energy for the homeowner, leading to stagnation, life fatigue, and affecting the overall atmosphere.
6. Jackfruit Tree
Folk wisdom often says, “Jackfruit trees have evil spirits, banyan trees have deities.” This evokes the belief that planting jackfruit trees in front of your house can attract negative energy and provide a hiding place for spirits and demons. Therefore, the jackfruit tree is one of the types of trees to avoid planting in front of your house. It can affect the health of both the homeowner and family members. To avoid such negative influences, homeowners should consider not choosing this type of tree to plant in front of their house.
7. Areca Palm
This type of tree has many useful purposes, such as providing a refreshing beverage and medicinal properties. However, the areca palm tends to thrive in places with high humidity, like by ponds or lakes. If planted in front of the house, it will grow poorly, withering easily, and has a high risk of dying. This is associated with unfortunate events, so it’s best to limit planting this type of tree right in front of your house. Therefore, it is considered one of the types of trees to avoid planting in front of your house.
Types of Trees to Plant in Front of Your House
Feng shui experts often say that in the area in front of your house, you can plant the types of trees listed below to attract good luck and prosperity. Besides being strategically placed to bring good fortune, these ornamental trees also have the ability to purify the air, making your home cleaner.
1. Betel Palm
The saying “In front of Betel, behind Banana” is a humorous phrase for many people. With its soft leaf stems and beautiful appearance, the betel palm is the best choice and is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to the homeowner.
Betel palms are a very popular and easy-to-care-for plant, belonging to the bamboo family. Betel leaves have elegant veins that will make your home more attractive, while also helping to increase positive energy and reduce negative energy.
2. Bamboo
If you intend to plant ornamental plants in front of your house to improve feng shui for your family, you can choose bamboo or bamboo plants to create a sense of peace and comfort.
Bamboo and bamboo plants have the ability to resist most invading insects, although regular maintenance and pruning can help the plants stay healthy and live longer.
3. Ornamental Coconut Palm
In feng shui, planting ornamental coconut palms (usually a pair of two ornamental coconut palm pots) in front of the house brings luck, ensuring that every family member enjoys good luck. It also contributes to good health and a cleaner environment, ensuring smooth work, and everything positive in life, such as wealth, prosperity, and abundant luck throughout the house.
4. Ficus Tree
Although it belongs to the Four Spiritual Plants: Fig – Ficus – Mulberry – Cassia, the Ficus tree is commonly planted in front of the house without affecting the family’s good luck.
This tree is known for its good feng shui, often chosen as a miniature landscape, making the house look brighter and purifying the air.
5. Money Tree
In addition to its suitable size as a small desk plant, the Money Tree also has larger sizes that are suitable for planting as an ornamental plant in front of the house. The name of this plant already signifies its feng shui significance, bringing wealth to the homeowner. In addition, this plant has a long lifespan, is not too difficult to plant and care for, making it extremely suitable as an ornamental plant for the front space of the house.
When choosing greenery, homeowners should pay attention to the types of plants that are considered inauspicious to plant in front of the house. Do not let the family’s energy be negatively affected by plants with unfavorable feng shui meanings. If you have any questions or are looking to buy suitable plants for your home, please contact Tay Au Landscape for the best support!
