Landscaping is an important part of being a homeowner. Not only does keeping your outdoor space clean and organized help with the overall look and vibe, it boosts your home value, too. Jamie Delaney, Realtor® with the Terebey Relocation Team, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, says landscaping can increase your home value by up to 30 percent. “The National Association of Realtors reports that well-maintained lawns and native plants yield up to 217 percent ROI,” she says. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
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Landscape With Potted Plants for Curb Appeal
Homeowners often ask, how can I make my front yard look better? Well, enhancing your curb appeal landscaping goes beyond keeping the lawn manicured. For an overall beautiful exterior, don’t neglect the front entrance — adding just a few potted plants can make a huge difference. You don’t have to have a green thumb either; there are some great plants that are easy to grow in containers, like evergreens or boxwoods. For a classic and affordable design that always looks great, place two identical pots on either side of the front door. A single stunning flower box will also do the trick.
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Plant Flower Beds and Borders
Flower beds make the biggest impact when it comes to improving your curb appeal landscaping. Consider lining the pathway to the front door with new flowers, or planting a flower border along the front of your home’s exterior. For a modern and clean look, choose one type of flower in just one or two colors. If you’re going for more of an English garden style, add many different variations and colors, and pack the flowers in closely.
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Outdoor Lighting for Nighttime Curb Appeal
Installing landscape lighting may sound like an intimidating undertaking, but solar light fixtures make it a simple and inexpensive project. Solar path lights charge in the sunlight, so no wiring is needed. Simply place the staked fixtures along a pathway or in flower beds. When the sun goes down, your yard will light up with a charming glow.
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Add Fresh Mulch
Freshening up the mulch around your shrubs and in your flower beds is an easy and cheap way to enhance the curb appeal landscaping of your home. A layer of mulch is important because it helps discourage weeds and retain moisture. But, too much mulch can have the opposite effect. Old, faded mulch loses its wow factor, so replace mulch as needed to keep your curb appeal strong.
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Prune Shrubs
If your shrubs have been neglected, pruning them all to a manageable size can really help boost your curb appeal. Start by removing any dead, damaged or sickly looking stems. Also, cut off any suckers; these are small shoots that start near or even below the ground. Keep shrubs pruned to the same size for a uniform look, usually not any bigger than about waist-high.
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Plant a Tree
Not only good for the environment, planting a tree is a guaranteed way to improve your landscaping and curb appeal. Remember when choosing a location for a tree, take into account the growth over the next 10 or 12 years. It shouldn’t be placed too close to the house or nearby walls or fences. If you want a blossoming tree, and your region allows it, consider a dogwood tree like the one shown here. Looking for lots of shade? Try a fast-growing tree like a Freeman maple.
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Add Border Edging
Another way to add curb appeal to your landscaping is with border edging. Line flower beds with edging material to keep them looking nice and tidy and prevent grass from invading. It’s an affordable project when you tackle it yourself.
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Add Short Plants and Ground Cover
A variation of heights in your plants is what makes your landscaping look professional and manicured. To complement your taller plants and shrubs, plant some shorter plants and ground cover (shown here is creeping thyme)! Ground cover is a low profile plant that spreads to cover the ground and can be a beautiful addition, especially if you have area where it’s hard to grow other plants. Most types are fast-growing and require minimal maintenance, which make them a great choice if your yard needs a quick makeover.
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Create a Pathway
Incorporating a pathway into your landscaping design adds extra interest and beautiful curb appeal. And don’t worry, you don’t have to be a contractor to create your own front yard path. Affordable DIY paths can be created with gravel, pebbles or stepping stones. Line the walkway with flowers for an even more eye-catching result.
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