Summer Landscaping Tips to Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal

You’ve probably heard that most people form an opinion about you during the first three seconds, but the premise applies to your home, too. Buyer perception is made or broken at the first glance. Landscaping has a crucial effect on your property’s perceived value and the speed at which you will sell your home.

Intelligent landscaping choices can yield a return on investment of up to 400%. Even small, inexpensive improvements can yield exceptional results, so even if you have a mere $100 lying around, you can push your curb appeal to an entirely new level. Profits don’t tell the full story, though—landscaping will improve your outdoor living space and quality of life.

Essential lawn care practices

A lush, beautifully maintained lawn is the canvas of your home. Studies show that a badly maintained lawn can chop 5% to 10% of your property value. The first step to a luscious green space is regular mowing and deep, irregular watering. During summer, cut your grass once it reaches two or three inches.

In fall and spring, fertilization will help your grass to regenerate its nutrient supplies. If your soil becomes compacted, your lawn might also need tilling to loosen soil and allow oxygen to reach all the way to the roots. Finally, in early spring, check for aggressive or invasive weeds. This is a good time to remove foreign species before they have time to strengthen and establish themselves.

Colorful flower planting ideas

Seasonal blooms offer a bright, joyful, and ever-changing display of color. They’re easily accessible and more affordable than hardier plants, so if you’re gardening on a budget, they’re the perfect solution.

A spray of color can create visual clutter, but if you establish defined focal points, you’ll achieve maximum visual impact. Whether you choose harmonious hues or high-contrast colors, a decisive palette will make all the difference. The best landscapers layer their shades, establishing brighter palettes in sunlight and cool-hued complementary tones in shady areas. Remember that your tallest plants should be at the back, with eye-catching fire pits and water features stealing the show.

Maintaining flowers for long-lasting beauty

As with any plants, your flowers need water, compost, and fertilizer. You can also help them thrive by deadheading your flowers and keeping pests at bay. Perennials need more fertilization than you might think. Bi-monthly application of nourishment is best. Annual bloomers are slightly easier, requiring just one fertilization a month. If you’re struggling to keep weeds at bay, mulching might suppress them while retaining the moisture your blooms need to thrive.

Hardscaping enhancements

The difference between adequate and exceptional landscaping often comes down to composition. That’s a challenging skill to learn. Adding hardscaped focal points is, however, one of the easiest ways to improve your composition. Your pathways will improve your focal points enormously, too, but they must fulfil both your aesthetic and practical goals.

Form should always follow function. It’s best to establish a sensible layout before adapting it to enhance your garden’s beauty. Your practical elements will guide your aesthetic choices and make your job far easier.

Using decorative stones and retaining walls for visual interest

Flagstones, retaining walls, and polished pebbles will accentuate your garden beds while providing a barrier for your mulch and flowerbeds. They also add an oft-needed color contrast. You might want to use color wheel to find the perfect contrast for your flowers. Complementary colors lie side by side on the wheel, while contrasts are opposite one another.

Don’t limit yourself to retaining walls, though. Timber containers, interlocking bricks, or tiered landscaping will add visual interest and achieve a “wow” effect nobody will be able to ignore.

Creative outdoor living spaces

Your garden is, above all, an extension of your living space, so don’t forget seating and lighting. Your lifestyle is the perfect guide for which elements you should include. If you love weekend barbecues, an outdoor kitchen is the perfect addition. If you have a family of animal lovers, a pond will add ambiance to your setting.

Inviting seating areas needn’t be limited to your backyard, though. They have the potential to boost your curb appeal, so turn them into a front-yard focal point. Now all that’s needed is a collection of sculptures, chimes, and other garden art.

Adding outdoor lighting for ambiance and safety

Security and safety are highly prized by home buyers, so your lighting is more than a mere aesthetic finishing touch. It will reduce crime, prevent accidents, and secure your entry points.

First impressions count, but your landscaping has practical benefits, too. A few strategically placed trees can improve your energy efficiency by removing some of the load off your HVAC equipment. An outdoor eating area allows you to entertain, and a serene pond is perfect for de-stressing at the end of a challenging day.

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