Landscape Yard
Tips
Tips and Tricks for Adding Curb Appeal to
Your Landscape Yard
You only get one
chance for your home to make a first impression. With a little
help from Mother Nature, you can demand a second look from passersby
with a show-stopping front yard.
"Every canvas needs to start fresh and clean," says James A.
Baggett, editor of Country Gardens Magazine. "So roll up your
sleeves, stick your hands in the dirt and get ready to
personalize your yard with color and style."
With a little ingenuity you can transform a ho-hum landscape
yard into a real stunner with these simple tips that add
professional-looking curb appeal to your home:
* First things
first
You can't enhance anything until you have a clean slate. So
mow the lawn, get rid of the weeds, rake up and dispose of any
leaves, edge the sidewalks and remove the grass growing between
concrete seams and brick pavers. Prune the trees -- especially
the ones near or touching the roof -- and add a layer of dark,
natural mulch to any flower beds or under trees.
* Cover up the bald
spots
Now you need to take a good look at your yard. How can you
enhance your best features and minimize your worst? Here's a
great trick: Print photos in black and white and you'll easily
see the problem areas. Determine what "flaws" you want to fix.
To update your look, fill empty spaces and add interest to a
drab corner or "hide" unsightly spots with colorful,
ever-blooming plants like the very popular shrub roses in The
Knock Out family.
* Put out the welcome
mat
The entry garden is the most visible garden space and sets the
mood for your entire home. Whether formal or relaxed, it should
draw your eye toward the front door. Plant a pair of carefully
pruned boxwoods on either side of the front door to add
symmetry. Add a light fixture that matches the home's exterior
and shows your personal taste.
* Contain
yourself
For those with minimal or no yard, or if you just want the
elegance and ease of containers, pot up  pretty annuals and perennials around your
entrance, mailbox or along the front walk. To have
striking color year after year, use perennials for
fistfuls of continuous blooms that help stretch your
dollars. Yellow and red are hot colors this year so plant
the newest Sunny Knock Out rose paired with your favorite
red annuals to be in step with the latest trends.
*
Express yourself
Decorate a garden with a favorite antique, treasured
collectible or statue. Look for objects such as driftwood,
rocks or even empty mailboxes to punctuate certain areas. Use
color to attract the eye. Paint your front door a bold,
welcoming color or try a bright, punchy color on the
shutters.
* Plan for
sustainability
Look for plants that are easy to grow, save water and don't
require a lot of work. Pick plants that are native to your area
for low-maintenance beauty. Eco-friendly shrub roses are a
great choice, especially when paired with perennials for
year-round color.
Baggett thinks shrub roses are perfect for first-time
homeowners since they are extremely easy to grow and are
low-maintenance. "Shrub roses give you a lot of bang for your
buck," he says. "They are really no work for the homeowner --
and don't require spraying, harsh chemicals, pruning,
deadheading or lots of water. They bloom from May to the first
hard frost in the late fall, offering season-long color and
visual impact in the home landscape."
The most popular shrub roses are The Knock Out Family of
roses. They are available in seven shades ranging from hot
raspberry pink to soft yellow, fitting any homeowner's taste
and landscape style while providing continuous year-round curb
appeal.
Enjoy the days you get outside to renew your yard and garden.
You'll have folks taking a second look.
For more information on The Knock Out Family of roses visit
www.theknockoutrose.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Landscape Yard Tips
Tips and Tricks for Adding
Curb Appeal to Your Landscape
Yard
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