Winter is still alive and well with snow falling heavily in the Northeast and temperatures dropping all over the country. People everywhere are bundling up before they step aside, but still generally preferring to just stay inside, bundled up on the couch with a hot mug of cocoa and a good book. Can you blame them? It’s cold and windy out there! But even though it’s snowing outside, it doesn’t mean you can’t start thinking about and planning your spring landscaping. As soon as the weather begins to turn, you will be ready to start putting those plans into action. Not sure what to do with your front lawn this spring? That’s understandable. There are a lot of options out there. But if you are currently selling your house or plan to put it on the market soon, you should carefully consider your landscaping ideas so that you boost your home’s curb appeal. Below are some tips to get you started, but since every lawn is different, it’s up to you to make sure that yours looks its best.
SPRING LANDSCAPING TIP #1 – Plant a mix of trees in the front yard.
This spring, do some landscaping that will last longer than the sunny weather. Sure your home looks great when you’ve got flower beds out front but what about in the winter when the lawn is covered in snow? You can improve your home’s year round curb appeal by planting some new trees in your yard. Include a variety of tree types. Plant an evergreen like a pine tree next to a leafy deciduous tree. It will make your yard look great whether it’s hot or cold out.
SPRING LANDSCAPING TIP #2 – Clean out any flower beds that you have.
Flower beds can look great but if not properly maintained they can start to look messy. Make sure you take the time to clean yours out. Get rid of any leaves, sticks, and other detritus that may have accumulated over the winter and make sure your flowers look tidy and pretty.
SPRING LANDSCAPING TIP #3 – Trim the branches.
You want to make sure that you can see your home and see it well from the curb. So trim any branches that are low hanging over your home obscuring the view from the street. This way if a prospective buyer drives by, he or she can get a good look at the home.
SPRING LANDSCAPING TIP #4 – Put some plants in containers.
One great way to spruce up your home’s curb appeal in a low maintenance, low cost, low labor way is to use containers with plants in them on your stoop. Mix up the sizes, shapes, and colors of both the containers and the flowers. The combination of the pots with the flowers creates a vibrant and inviting entrance.
SPRING LANDSCAPING TIP #5 – Add some mulch.
Mulch is great for a lot of reasons. When it comes to selling your home, the best thing about mulch is how good it looks. But after the winter, it has usually taken a severe beating. Give your mulch a new thick layer, step back, and admire the view.
SPRING LANDSCAPING TIP #6 – Prune the bushes.
When the sun comes back out, you might start to notice how raggedy your bushes and hedges are looking after a long winter. Now is the time to take out the pruning shears and clean things up a little bit. Like trimming the trees, this will show off and frame your home, making it look significantly better to passersby.
And of course, don’t forget to keep your lawn clean and tidy and neatly mown!
Mike Zook writes about various environmental and green living topics for MPC Group.
