The first impression of your house is from the street. Before you greet anyone at the door, they have already started to form impressions of your house. That’s why curb appeal is so important. This article will show you the easiest way how to improve curb appeal with landscaping. Most of these you can do on your own in an afternoon or two.
Best ways to improve curb appeal with landscaping
Landscaping is all about being creative. It’s about putting our own personal touch on something. So you can let your imagination run wild on this. We’ve outlined a few ideas to help get the wheels turning. These are the easiest ways to improve the curb appeal of your house.
Mulch
This is a great way to define spaces in your yard. You can use mulch around plants and trees so that you don’t have to get so close to the mower.
You can create a whole section of plants and shrubs surrounded and defined by mulch to add color and texture to your yard. The best part is that mulch is light to shovel (a pitchfork actually works best), and many places sell mulch in multiple different colors now, so you have even more options.
Check out all the different kinds of mulch here.
Rocks
Rock can be used like mulch to outline planting beds or surrounding trees to add texture and making mowing easier. Large rocks or boulders can also be strategically placed in the yard or in planter beds to add a dynamic look.
You can also get decorative rocks to hide things in your yard that you don’t want visible. We use these fake rocks to camouflage our septic tank.
Plant Some Trees
Everyone loves trees, and it’s good for the environment too. As long as the tree you’re planting is appropriate for the climate, be as creative as you want.
You don’t need to stick to the standard spruce tree that everyone else plants. Do something unique. Just consider future growing size when deciding on a location. The last thing you want is roots starting to come into your pipes or leach field.
Lay New Sod
Your lawn has the largest impression on a house, mostly because it is such a large part of the curb appeal.
Old brown uneven grass looks terrible. Don’t be scared to get some topsoil to re-level it and lay new sod. As long as you water it often for the first bit until it takes, you’ll be happy you did this.
The look of perfectly green grass with no weeds is hard to beat. If you are looking to create a budget for your backyard renovation, you can get our free Renovation Budget Template here.
Put Down Pavers
Laying down paving stones is a great way to improve the look of your house. This is a nice way to improve the walkway from the driveway to the front door or to create a path in your backyard. It also saves the lawn from people walking where you don’t want them to walk.
This might be something that’s out of your comfort zone; if that’s the case, check with a landscaping company to get a quote. If you’re doing it yourself, be sure to rent a packer and put down a proper base of crushed, packed stone, so your pavers don’t sink and settle over time.
There are so many options to choose from now with paving stones; there’s even one out there that looks like barn board. Again, here’s another chance to be creative and add a really nice feature to your yard.
Create Raised Planters
This is a great way to add some height variations to your property. Raised planter beds can be done alongside a house or as stand-alone boxes in the yard. You can use treated lumber to build them up or simply an assortment of boulders and rock.
I know what you’re thinking, all this sounds great, but it also sounds expensive! Don’t worry; there are ways to save and ensure this doesn’t break the bank. The first thing that’s worked well for me is to complete landscaping projects in the fall.
Greenhouses and other stores often put all of their landscaping products on sale later in the season, especially plants and trees. Take advantage of these seasonal shifts.
Retaining wall
This one may not be a one-day thing, but it can add a tremendous amount of appeal to your home and is one of the better curb appeal ideas.
Window boxes
Window boxes are a picturesque addition to any house. They give a nice fresh floral look to the house and are easy to install. If you don’t want to put window boxes, you can also use deck boxes that sit on the railings to give the same effect.
Fire Pit Area to Your Backyard
If permitted to have open fires in your area a patio with a fire pit area can add a nice focal point to a yard and allow for gatherings with friends and family. We love our fire pit area and did it ourselves.
Add to your landscaping over time.
Landscaping is also something that you can do in multiple stages to spread out the costs. Keep in mind, landscaping adds value and equity to your property, so if done properly and cost-effectively, this money isn’t wasted; it’s invested.
It’s an important thing to remember that improving your curb appeal with landscaping depends on your timeframe. If you are looking to sell your house and you want quick improvements, then buying 5-gallon plants is a quick way to do it. But if you have a 5-year plan to build your landscaping into something awe-inspiring, you may want to get the 1-gallon pots and use the time to grow them and save money. The choices are endless so do what’s right for your budget.
Final thoughts on ways to improve your homes curb appeal
Landscaping is really only limited by your imagination. Most landscapers I’ve met are like artists, and the good ones create a basic plan and then use their own creativity to bring it all to life. So get out there and let your imagination run wild! There’s no reason why your yard shouldn’t be the nicest one on the block.