 | Revamping the front of your home is more than just improving the aesthetics of your space; adding curbside appeal to your landscape can actually add to the value of your property and bring in your asking price should you decide to sell. The following article is full of ideas to add curb appeal to your property and transform a dull landscape into the prettiest front yard on the block.
Homeowners well know that making changes to the house and landscape can cost a pretty penny so consider well your space and try to map out a design before you enter the garden center. Whether your space is large or small, the style of your home should offer some direction when it comes to the kind of landscape you will install. Keep in mind that there may be other elements besides plants to incorporate like walkways, retaining walls, water features, stone features and various kinds of ornaments. Choosing a design principle like rustic country or sleek modern will allow you to stick to a plan and work out a landscape that is in keeping with the architecture of your home and perhaps your individual style too.
Once you have a style in mind such as Victorian, Oriental, minimalist, theme, etc…you are ready to lay the groundwork. Remember, when landscaping for curb appeal, you will want to provide a view that is just as pleasing for passersby as it is for you. This may entail choosing a plan that is easy to maintain if your gardening time is limited. There are many plants and gardening techniques that require very low maintenance which makes them ideal for busy gardeners but also for land that can be difficult to manage like slopes.
Perhaps the first point of focus for your plan should be to establish how your visitors will travel from the curb to your front door. Mapping out a walkway entails deciding on construction materials, mapping out the route and incorporating features like steps. Stone is an ideal material; simple flagstone might do well for a rustic cottage or bungalow style home, but a formal paving makes for a neat and eye-catching walkway. Cobblestone adds lots of old-world charm to any walk. Be sure to keep your path free of debris and plantings. Stone edgings may help to keep plants from the path. If you choose to grow plants between stones, consider rosemary which emits a pleasant odor when trod upon.
Water features are generally found in the back landscape, but for dramatic curb appeal, there may be a style that is right for the front of your home. Garden ponds require plenty of maintenance, but they are a true labor of love. Garden ponds for the front of the home can act as reflective pools for the beautiful plants that landscape your front yard; they also make for less mowing. However, for a neat and well-manicured look, consider incorporating containers for your water plants. They will be far easier to maintain and provide a polished look to your front yard. Other water features might include a small wall fountain or a simple birdbath.
When it comes to plants choose those which best compliment the surroundings and style of your home. Trees are always lovely and pleasant, but too many could detract from the view of your home and make the grounds appeal dark and cluttered. When installing a landscape for the first time, it may be helpful to choose one tree as a focal point and possibly a side grouping of trees to act as a screen. Some landscapers choose to rim their walkway or drive with small ornamental trees that can be very attractive given the right setting. Plant trees well away from the house so their roots do not interfere with your house in any way.
Hedges and shrubs make great front yard plantings. Traditionally, these are grown against the house so as not to hide any flowerbeds that can be seen from the curb. Flowerbeds also need not be flat affairs; consider a series of retaining walls and terraces for a hilly landscape or building several raised flowerbeds to relieve a flat landscape. It is always a good idea to choose plants that naturally contour to the land and grow well given your ground’s conditions. If you live in a bog, it is easier to go with it and plant water-loving plants than to install an expensive draining system that may or may not work for other kinds of plants.
Flowers make the best ornaments when it comes to curb appeal. Consider a trellis or other support system for hanging vines and climbing plants. These are extremely eye-catching features and these plants are usually quite hardy once they have the proper support system. You may also choose to incorporate hanging baskets or containers of plants. Colors are optional, but try to choose varieties with large blooms so they could be seen from the street.
While most front yards incorporate traditional style lawns, you may want to consider growing sections of ornamental grasses to break up the monotony of the lawn or to plant them in hard-to-mow areas as there are several species that require little to no maintenance. Creeping phlox is a lovely ornamental grass that blooms in the spring but provides soft green grass for the rest of the growing season.
Finally, choose ornaments that are sophisticated and in keeping with your surroundings. A few urns or pieces of pottery for your front steps can be very pleasing to the eye if you take care not to add too much clutter. Plastic garden features like gnomes or flamingoes may be appealing for some, but if you plan to sell, stick to more nondescript ornaments like stone planters or classical statuettes and other features. Great curb appeal means showing off your home and front landscape to its best advantage. Landscape with this view in mind and choose items that will enhance and not detract from it for best results.
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