Sep 14, 2012

Outdoor appeal is easy to obtain.


front door container gardenFall is a great time to garden and update your yard. Here are a few ideas to add curb appeal, color, detail and a change that you'll love.
  • Play up an easy focal point – your front door! Paint the door a contrasting color complimentary to the house color. If you have a walkway, help it flow easily up to the front door. The front walkway should be a clear path  from the driveway to the front door. A soft curvy line is good - but you don’t want your guests wandering around and wondering if they took the right path to the house.Lead visitors to the front door by placing progressively smaller plants near the door, you frame the house and focus attention on the entryway.
  • Freshen up plantings Sometimes all that is needed is a good pruning and shaping to help revitalize your front landscape design. Soften the corners of the house with vertical plants and shrubs. If you need to replace some bushes and hedges-and want something different, then try tall ornamental grasses. There are so many new grass varieties that you’re bound to find something that you like in the right color tones. Grasses are a great way to add texture to your front gardens, without color competition, and when they blow in the wind it creates a feeling that’s very relaxing and soothing.  driveway planting 
  • Create a container garden at the front door with flower pots flanking either side.Fill the planters with evergreens or low maintenance annuals like geraniums and petunias. Using large single plants in the containers is a trend that’s becoming popular. Transform container gardens with different plants seasonally.


  • Use garden structures like an arbor, trellis, or tall sculpture to add a vertical dimension to the front yard. If the plants and flowers are all growing at the same level, adding some height will break up the line and offer a secondary focal point.  I like to use old wooden architectural pieces with vines growing up as a vertical garden accent.    

  • Plant a tree.  If you don't have a shade tree or focal point, add a tree.  Don't have a yard? Ficus are beautiful and effective in containers. 

  • Add outdoor lighting for security and also to bring your house and garden to life after dark. You can use solar lights for a quick and easy transformation in your front yard landscaping.Ideas like shining the solar lights on the paths and walkways or using up-lights underneath trees for a cool effect.
    Solar lights are easy to install- no wires or electrical hookup. This is one of the front yard landscaping ideas that you can complete in an afternoon.