Simple Curb Appeal Landscaping

A lot of folks don't know that landscaping not only makes good curb appeal, but it can also increases the value of the home or house by as much as 15 percent. This is quite a major increase, so it is very much worth looking at some of the more easy ways of landscaping your yard whether you are planning to sell your home or simply want to make sure to maintain its value.

There are many ways you could develop pleasing landscaping garden plans that include arrangement, focal points, color, and design. There are many people who assume that curb appeal is just a matter of planting a few flowers to fix up your front yard and calling it a day. It's true that plants are an important part of the landscape designer's arsenal and can do a great deal on their own. However, choosing the wrong kind of plants and flowers can do more harm than good.

There isn't much that looks uglier than flowers that are grouped raggedly, and it's most definately not going to boost your yard's curb appeal. Your landscaping design ideas should take into account the work involved in clearing flower beds and taking off spent blossoms. You need to also consider how the front yard is going to look come fall or winter when the flowers have withered and died.

You might want to think about using flowering bushes judiciously, mostly relying on perennials which are not only low maintenance but will also come back every year. Put in annuals where there are gaps in color. For instance, if you have planted roses, they'll most likely be faded and dead by July. If you've done some planning and put a few annuals in the flower beds with the roses, you'll still have vibrant colors all summer.

As the foundation of your plantings, use evergreen or semi-evergreen plants, bushes, and shrubbery that will give you color and beauty all year. Strive for an array of shapes and patterns, and go for flowers of different leaf structures and various heights. Look over some landscaping photos to find out how contrast works. You could contrast compact and rounded plants with leafy and thin ones, for a good effect. Don't underestimate the use of evergreens, which will remain green the whole season and also come in numerous varieties and shapes. Interspersing evergreens with deciduous plants is an attractive way to experiment with texture and design and build curb appeal with your landscaping.

Another great trick in landscaping for curb appeal is to build focus areas. Use shrubbery to border stairs, or put in a light standard at the top of the steps. You can use garden decor like bird baths, fountains or pillars to build compelling landscaping ideas. Just don't overdo it. You could also go one step further and create a water feature such as a waterfall that resembles those in nature. Waterfalls are a surefire way to create instant curb appeal with your landscaping and it's especially easy to do if you like a good project.

Remember to keep things tidy and well-groomed, and the lawn mowed. A major part of a great landscape design is to have a nicely kept yard. With these few easy guidelines you will be well on your way to establishing great landscaping that will add curb appeal.