 | Whether you are fixing your place up to sell or you simply want to improve your surroundings, giving your front yard a landscaping makeover requires a planning, implementing and, finally, a long enjoyment stage. The following article offers practical and stylish landscaping ideas to revamp your front yard for an attractive new look.
A small city lot or large country estate home can each benefit from a front yard makeover. Before making any improvements, however, a bit of cleaning out the old is generally in order. Remove excess debris and pull up any elements you no longer want in the front yard including a decrepit porch, trees, messy shrubbery, flowerbeds, a poor lawn, etc…Once you clear the front of unwanted items you can begin to incorporate your changes.
A porch is that bridge from the outer to inner realm; certainly it must be sturdy and safe, but consider whether it out to be enlarged for plant containers, a sitting area or some other purpose to suit you. A stone porch pairs durability with elegance while a wooden porch could suggest a country or rustic appeal. Consider new wrought iron railings and even built in planters for sections of the porch’s siding. If you choose not to replace your porch, consider painting it and employing a decorative wreath pattern along the steps.
The top of the porch should not appear too cluttered. Replace your old porch light with a new fixture—perhaps one that hangs from the porch ceiling or an ornate wall sconce in brass or wrought iron. Decorative planters filled with healthy plants also make for appealing porch ornaments. If room permits, a stone bench to set groceries or a simple swing for relaxing outdoors may be great options as well.
A simple sidewalk up to the front porch might suffice, but to really give the path some pizzazz think about adding a brick or cobblestone walk for old-world charm. Also, large flat stepping stones make for a quaint unobtrusive path to your front door. Consider one that winds along the front of your home for a change of pace that allows your entire front yard garden to be noticed. Or, an overhaul of the current path may be required; rid the walk of cracked sections and grass or weed growth in the crevices.
Next, consider the trees on your property. Do they enhance or detract from the overall view of the house? You may be able to reshape them with some strategic pruning, but removal may be necessary. Do this before you lay a new lawn or plant new flowerbeds. If you have a plain view, consider planting one or two ornamental trees. If you have removed old shrubbery from the front wall of the house, either replace with something attractive to you or consider something entirely different; raise the area with a stone terrace and incorporate some large plants with attractive foliage. You may even choose to add a trellis for climbing plants.
When it comes to the existing lawn, you have the option of putting in a new one or as an alternative, consider ornamental grasses. These can be easier to maintain and extremely pleasant to see. They not only break up the monotony of lawn after lawn, but they can be selected for types that don’t even need mowing. Consider them especially for yards that slope.
Finally, you will want to lay out some new flowerbeds mulched and blooming with your favorite perennials and foliage plants. Decorative tiles or stonework makes for attractive edgings, but even railroad ties add rustic flair to the yard. You may even choose to incorporate large decorative containers in the front yard with tall or broad-leafed plants. Again, choose plants you are able to maintain as unhealthy plant life will leave your front yard looking equally poorly.
Optional changes may surround the kinds of ornaments you choose for the front yard. You may want an arbor at the beginning of your front walk strewn with climbing tea roses. A large lot may even benefit from a small garden pond landscaped with water-loving plants like water lilies. Simple ornaments could include hanging baskets of flowers, birdbath or simple basin, a gazing ball, rock features, statuettes, etc…Be creative; don’t be afraid to shop antique stores and flea markets alike. Your local garden center and online stores will have many items to consider.
If you are landscaping in order to sell, than you probably want to stick to simple improvements like a new lawn and tree maintenance—practical options that will enhance your home for prospective buyers. However, if these changes are for your benefit, than be sure your designs suit your needs. Any positive change should impact your home’s value and of course, personal enjoyment of your new features is priceless!
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