Building Curb Appeal
15 Seconds…
That’s about how long it can take for someone to form a first impression of your home. Before they ever walk through the front door, they’re already noticing the lawn, landscaping, entryway, and overall appearance of the property.
Whether you’re getting ready to sell your home or simply want to give your landscape a fresh look, improving your curb appeal doesn’t necessarily require a huge investment. A few simple projects can make a surprisingly big difference!
Eliminate Weeds
Pull them, dig them, or use an appropriate weed-control product—whatever method works for your landscape, get those weeds out of your flower beds, sidewalks, driveway, and pathways. Cleaning up weeds is one of the quickest ways to make your entire landscape look better maintained.
Prune & Trim Existing Plants
Overgrown landscaping can hide the beauty of your home. Trim shrubs that have become unruly, remove dead or damaged growth, and prune trees as appropriate to open up the landscape.
Just remember that when and how you prune depends on the plant. Some flowering shrubs bloom on old wood, so pruning at the wrong time can remove the next round of flowers.
Consider Overseeding for Winter Color
If you’re preparing your home for sale during the fall or winter, overseeding an appropriate warm-season lawn with annual or perennial ryegrass can provide temporary green color while the permanent turf is dormant.
Timing and lawn type matter, and overseeding isn’t the best choice for every yard. Also remember that a recently applied pre-emergent herbicide may prevent your ryegrass seed from germinating.
Apply Pre-Emergent at the Right Time
If you aren’t planning to overseed, a properly timed pre-emergent herbicide can help prevent certain seasonal weeds from becoming established in your lawn.
Pre-emergents don’t eliminate every weed and won’t kill weeds that are already growing. Choose a product labeled for your turfgrass and target weeds, and always follow the application and timing instructions on the label.
Freshen Your Mulch
Fresh mulch can make an established flower bed look cleaner almost instantly. If you already have an adequate layer, there’s no need to pile on several more inches—fluff the existing mulch and add just enough fresh material to restore even coverage.
Keep mulch away from tree trunks and the crowns and stems of plants rather than mounding it against them.
Replace Dead or Struggling Plants
Dead plants can make an otherwise beautiful landscape look neglected. Remove plants that are beyond saving and replace them with healthy selections suited to the sunlight, drainage, and available space in that particular location.
Create an Instant Container Garden
Container gardens add a welcoming feel and colorful curb appeal to almost any home exterior—and they can do it quickly!
Place a beautiful container near your front door, use matching pots to frame an entryway, or group several containers of different sizes together for a more layered look.
Combine plants with different heights, colors, and textures, or incorporate small shrubs and ornamental grasses with seasonal color. And if you’re selling your home, one of the best parts is that your containers can move with you!
Add a Water Feature
If road or neighborhood noise is noticeable in an outdoor seating area, the sound of moving water can help create a more relaxing atmosphere. While a fountain won’t completely eliminate outside noise, its steady sound can help mask some of it.
Choose a fountain that complements the style and scale of your home, and place it where you’ll be able to both see and enjoy the sound of the water.
Add Seasonal Color
Few things brighten a landscape faster than colorful annuals. Plant them in noticeable groupings rather than scattering individual plants throughout a large bed for a bigger visual impact from the street.
Use seasonal color near your front entrance, along walkways, around a mailbox, or anywhere you want to draw the eye.
Create a New Planting Bed
A new landscape bed can add contrast, color, and dimension to the front of your home. Good locations may include the corners of the house, along a walkway or driveway, or in areas where landscaping can help visually frame the home.
Choose plants based on their mature size so they enhance your home rather than eventually covering windows, walkways, or architectural details.
Need some help putting your new landscape together? Take advantage of our Plant by Numbers landscape consultation program. Bring us photos and measurements of your space, and we’ll help you create a plan you can install yourself!
Don’t Forget Outdoor Lighting
Landscape lighting can make a huge difference in your home’s curb appeal after the sun goes down while also improving visibility along walkways and entrances.
Use lighting to highlight beautiful trees, architectural features, planting beds, or pathways. Low-voltage landscape lighting generally provides more consistent illumination, while solar fixtures can be a simple option in areas where running wiring isn’t practical.
Make That First Impression Count!
You don’t have to completely redesign your landscape to improve your home’s curb appeal. Clean beds, healthy plants, fresh mulch, seasonal color, and a welcoming entrance can completely change the way your home looks from the street.
Whether you’re preparing to sell or simply ready to fall in love with the front of your home again, stop by The Home & Garden Center and let us help you get started!