As the weather warms up homeowners are all facing the same dilemma. How do you create a beautiful and inviting front yard without breaking the bank or spending hours in the heat every weekend? The truth is that with just a little planning and effort you can have the kind of lawn that is the envy of the neighborhood without giving up your weekends.
Use pavers, gravel or groundcover to create pathways and geometric patterns
One way to give your yard a touch of class is to create dedicated walkways. They can also be used to cover patched of bare earth that seems to never be able to grow grass. Gravel is a cheap and easy way to “pave” your driveway or cover bare patches. Pavers, usually made of stone or metal, can be used to mark out walkways through your yard. Scatter them or use mismatched pavers to create a mosaic. Planting moss around the stone tiles is a great way to get some contrast. All of these solutions are low-maintenance and relatively inexpensive.
Plant perennials and succulents
Both perennials and succulents are choices to add pops of color and life to your yard. The great thing about both of these varieties of plants is that they return year after year without much help from you. This is a very practical idea for anybody who wants to have a beautiful lawn but doesn’t have the time or the energy to spend tending more delicate plants like roses. Check your local garden center for ideas about which plants would be best for you.
Photo by Gardens by Gabriel, Inc.
Use planters
Planters don’t have to be expensive. In fact, if you have a few old tires, unused baskets, storage containers or even an empty bookcase, you can easily use them as decorative planters for the yard. Be sure to drill holes in the bottom for drainage. Using surprising and unique materials to plant decorative grass patches or other decorative plants in your yard can add to the charm. Be creative. But if DIY is not your thing, there are plenty of inexpensive and durable planters available for purchase. If you’re planning to plant trees, make sure to speak with an arborist about what kind of planters will allow for the proper expansion of a trees roots over time.
Photo by Bruce Clodfelter and Associates
Never underestimate the power of simple maintenance
It’s easy to forget how much of improvement simply mowing the lawn and trimming the hedges can make on the appearance of your lawn. A mulching lawn mower will help you avoid the extra burden of bagging and disposing of clippings. It will also help keep your lawn green and beautiful but recycling your clippings back into the yard as mulch and compost. Take the time once a month or so to make the edges of your lawn neat and cut away any unwanted overgrowth of trees or bushes. These are inexpensive and practical ideas that go a long way in improving the look of your yard.
These solutions are quick and easy, require minimal investment and promise to deliver results year after year. Just a few practical steps can go a long way to beautify your home.