Basic Landscaping For Curb Appeal

A lot of folks don't understand that good gardening not only makes good curb appeal, it also increases the value of a home or property by as much as fifteen percent. This is a fairly large increase, and because of that, it is well worth looking into a few basic methods of landscaping your yard whether you want to sell your house or you just want to make sure to retain its value.

There are a number of ways you can establish an attractive landscaping plan that includes focal points, color, pattern, and arrangement. There are many that think that adding curb appeal is simply planting some plants and flowers to dress up your yard and assuming it's good. It's true that plants are an integral part of the landscape designer's arsenal and can do a lot alone. Unfortunately, getting the wrong kind of plants and flowers can ruin the look of your yard.

There just isn't much that looks worse than a bunch of ragged flowers, and it's obviously not going to boost the curb appeal of your home. Your landscaping design ideas should take into consideration the work involved in things such as clearing flower beds and removing spent blossoms. You should also think about how the yard is going to look in the fall or winter after the plants have all withered and died.

You might want to consider using bushes judiciously, relying mostly on perennials which are not only low maintenance but also come back year after year. Try planting annuals where there are color gaps. For instance, if you have planted a rose garden, they will probably be faded and dead in July. If you plan ahead and planted a few annuals at the base of the roses, you will still have lively color for the rest of the summer.

For the center of your plantings, use semi-evergreen or evergreen plants, shrubbery, and hedges that will provide color and beauty year-round. Look for a mixture of shapes and patterns, and buy greenery of various heights and various leaf structures. Check out landscaping photos for an idea of how contrast can work for you. You can contrast compact and rounded plants with rangy and leafy ones, for a great outcome. Do not overlook the value of evergreens, which stay green the whole season and also are available in many textures and shapes. Using semi evergreens or evergreens with deciduous plants is a wonderful way to experiment with design and structure and build landscaping curb appeal.

Another good curb appeal landscaping secret is to establish focal points. Use hedges and shrubs to border a stairway, or install a light standard at the top of the steps. You can use garden decorations such as bird baths, fountains or columns to build intriguing landscaping ideas. Just be careful not to overdo it. You could also go a step further and establish a waterfall that resembles those in nature. A waterfall is a guaranteed way to create instant curb appeal with your landscaping and it's especially easy if you like a good project.

Always remember to keep your lawn cut, and everything uncluttered and orderly. An important part of a beautiful landscape design is to have a nicely kept yard. With these few simple guidelines you will be well on your way to creating attractive landscaping that will add curb appeal.