Experts reveal the worst front yard landscaping mistakes and how to avoid them.
The National Association of Realtors found landscape improvements deliver up to 217 percent ROI.
Neglecting Curb Appeal Basics
Well-maintained edges in plants, hardscaping, and finishes are vital tocreating curb appeal.
Credit:Laurie Black
That way, your neighbors, postal workers, and pizza delivery persons can find you quickly and safely.
Peeling paint, slippery steps, shaky railings, worn pathways, and sticking doors need to be addressed.
Take care of these basics before moving on to making the space more inviting.
Credit:Adam Albright
However, the front is your first opportunity to welcome visitors and display your sense of style.
So, show your front yard some love.
Curb appeal starts at the curb, so dont forget your driveway andparking strips by the sidewalk.
The journey to your front door should be a rich and rewarding experience.
LISA BAUER
3.
Unintentional Oversizing
People tend to underestimate a plants ultimate sizeoften because of wishful thinking.
The result is an easy-to-read garden picture thats restful on the eye and mind.
Too-sparse front yard landscapes are neither satisfying nor helpful to the environment.
Layering creates a landscape that is both visually and biologically rich, feeding birds and beneficial insects alike.
The caveat is to plant densely by choosing plants that match your sites conditions and wont overgrow their welcome.
Planting densely can equate to less work in the long run, Vogt says.
“That density also leads to resilience in the case of a severe drought year.”
So, how to strike the correct balance?
Choose theright plants, repeat them, and mass smaller plantsin waves of color to help tame the chaos.
Neglecting Year-Round Appeal
Another mistake Miller sees is forgetting to plant for visual interest throughout the year.
Use a mix of evergreens, flowering trees/shrubs, and perennials for maximum interest, says Miller.
Evergreens provide needed structure and interest throughout all the seasons.
Adam Albright
8.
Lack of Personality
Style is personal.
Maybe those arent for you, but theres no reason to have a bland garden.
Whether you express yourself in exuberant plantings,clipped boxwood hedges, or colorful art is up to you.
Until then, its their garden to enjoy, and theres no reason it shouldnt reflect their personality.
Apply these designers suggestions to avoid common landscaping mistakes that result in low curb appeal.
Then use their tips to find myriad ways to express what you love about gardeningbeautifully.
