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While we’re taught not to judge a book by its cover, most people can’t help but judge a home by its exterior appearance. Whether you’re looking to make your home the envy of the neighborhood or you want to attract potential buyers, these front yard landscaping ideas can improve the curb appeal of your home while helping you plan and execute the landscape design of your dreams.
1. Create a Pathway
Photo: xiaoliangge / Adobe Stock
Yes, you likely already have a sidewalk that leads to the front door of your home. But a separate pathway can add interest to your landscape design and beautify your home’s curb appeal. It can also help link points of interest in your yard, such as visually connecting a fountain to a flower bed or a tree to the main sidewalk. Here’s one of just a few hardscaping tips. You can make a pathway from stepping stones, pebbles, or gravel.
2. Keep It Low Maintenance
Photo: Courtesy of Louis All-Service Landscaping
There is a secret to keeping landscaping costs at a minimum over time. Work with a landscaper near you to help you design a low-maintenance landscape. These yards have minimal patches of grass to mow, plants that adapt to the local climate, and individually contained flower beds to avoid drainage, weed, and pest issues. And remember, low maintenance doesn't mean low curb appeal. Work with shrubs that grow at various heights and incorporate new annuals each year in designated flower beds.
3. Install a Retaining Wall
Photo: Courtesy of Bleekers Landscape and Nursery
While the practical purpose of a retaining wall comes down to—quite literally—containing soil, it plays a litany of roles. Retaining walls make a sloped yard safer for steps and walkways, manage drainage, prevent erosion, and even allow you to garden with more freedom. The cost of a retaining wall averages about $6,100, or between $40 and $200 per linear foot. And when it comes to front yard landscaping ideas, opt for locally sourced natural stone for optimal curb appeal.
4. Plant a Tree
Photo: Freedom z / Adobe Stock
Planting a tree is not only good for the environment, but also improves your landscape design when done well. When choosing a tree location, take into account the growth over the next decade or so. Begin by researching trees native to your region, such as the various types of pine trees or deciduous trees. Then begin to think about how the tree will affect your landscape. Will it add shade for a garden or even grow fruit for your fall pies? Whether you plan to stay in your home or not, think long-term.
Plant the tree at least half the distance of its mature canopy width from the home. For example, if a tree’s canopy is 40 feet at maturity, plant it at least 20 feet from the home. It's also a good idea to call 811 to have the utility lines in your yard marked before digging and planting anything, especially a large tree. This will help you determine where to plant to avoid potential root damage to underground pipes.
5. Mulch Your Beds
Photo: Ozgur Coskun / Adobe Stock
Learning how to mulch flower beds is an affordable way to boost your home’s curb appeal. Plus, mulch helps discourage weeds and retain moisture in your garden. Even better? It’s a low-maintenance way to periodically refresh your yard.
Pro Tip
Too much mulch can hinder plant growth as it blocks the nutrients, sunlight, and water it needs to grow. One to four inches of mulch is your average mulch depth for most plants.
Owner, Lazo Landscaping & Contracting
6. Complement Your Architecture
Photo: Courtesy of Universal Pavers
Similar to the best backyard landscaping ideas, your home's exterior should reflect the style of your home, both in balance and in style. In this example, the multi-layers of the garden retained by stone walls reflect the multiple gables in the home design. Additionally, a range of deep greens, reds, and yellows complement the red and tan undertones of the exterior of the house. The hardscape may look highly structured, but the naturally hued pavers and masonry make it appear as if it blends right into the lawn with ease.
7. Illuminate Your Home With Lights
Photo: Photographee.eu / Adobe Stock
Nothing feels more welcoming than bright, warm lighting at night. Use pathway lights or small lanterns to highlight stairs and walkways. Try strategically placed porch lighting to help highlight your entryway. Or, install a headlight to make a particular landscape feature the star of the show. The cost to hire an electrician to install outdoor lights may seem hefty, but it's well worth the price tag. The right lighting designer can turn a shadowy front yard into the best stop on the block for Halloween candy.
8. Incorporate Xeriscaping
Photo: Courtesy of San Antonio Landscape and Design
Even if you want to keep a bit of your lush green lawn, consider the cost of xeriscaping and how much it can save you in the long run. Xeriscaping incorporates landscaping stones, drought-resistant plants, and an updated irrigation system to keep maintenance and costs low. The ideal xeriscaped lawn requires as minimal water, fertilization, and pest control as possible. Working with a local professional can significantly cut out the guesswork of xeriscaping, particularly because the method changes from region to region.
9. Hang a Plant or Two
Photo: Iriana Shiyan / Adobe Stock
Looking for super easy landscaping ideas for the front of the house? Hook some hanging baskets on your porch to help highlight the entry and patio area of your home. Choose one large hanging plant or a couple of smaller identical ones to prevent the look from being overwhelming.
10. Decorate Your Entryway with Planters
Photo: Maryna / Adobe Stock
There’s no better way to welcome guests to your home than with a pop of color from some flowers gathered on your front porch or stairs. Try coordinating front porch planters with a painted front door to create a cohesive look.
11. Explore Landscape Stones
Photo: Courtesy of Keyman Construction
It's a wonder how much color and texture you can incorporate into your front yard landscape ideas with stone. Explore the many types of landscaping stones that pair with either your paver walkway, driveway, front lawn, or flower beds. Not only do stones act as a stylish addition to your yard, but they can also assist with drainage and act as an inorganic type of mulch for gardens. Remember that landscaping stone includes everything from the loose gravel in your garden to the large slabs below your outdoor kitchen.
12. Incorporate Bright Colors
Photo: Barbara Helgason / Adobe Stock
If your front yard is a sea of green, add color to your landscape to balance things out. Strategically incorporating brightly colored flowers or shrubbery throughout your front yard will add cheer and prevent monotony. Incorporating colorful flowers, shrubs, and even trees that change colors throughout the year can break up the wash of green in the summer and brown in the winter.
Also, don’t be afraid to blend hues and work with a variety of shades. Choose a color theme that you think goes best with your home and work around it.
13. Install a Fence
Photo: jomo333 / Adobe Stock
While fences are often associated with privacy and safety, they can also be used in the front yard to bestow beauty on your property. Vinyl, wood, aluminum, and iron are all attractive front yard fence materials.
Just make sure you know the local rules before installing, as not all localities allow front yard fences. Plus, you may want to consider leveling your front yard before installing a new fence if your yard is uneven. That way, you’ll have a perfectly symmetrical front fence.
14. Prune Trees and Shrubs
Photo: neofile / Adobe Stock
Before planting new trees and shrubs, take a look at the ones you already have. Pruning trees and shrubs to a manageable size can polish the appearance of your home’s exterior and keep it from looking neglected. Shrubs should be pruned to the same size to create a uniform look, and they typically shouldn’t be any taller than waist-high.
15. Green Your Lawn
Photo: fotomine / Adobe Stock
Lush green grass can make a big impact on your curb appeal. Fortunately, making your grass greener doesn’t have to break the bank, as it only requires a few supplies and a little effort. Focus on watering your lawn deeply instead of often, and remember to fertilize your grass in the fall. This is when your grass absorbs nutrients and stores energy for the next growing season.
16. Clean Up the Edges of Your Lawn
Photo: Iriana Shiyan / Adobe Stock
If the edges of your lawn are spilling into your driveway, it’s time to bust out your string trimmer. Trimming up the edges of your lawn will instantly give your front yard a manicured look, and it’ll smarten up your footpaths. Learn how to edge your lawn to cut costs and stay ahead of messy weeds and unruly grass. In nearly all cases, edging only requires the standard gardening power tools you already have in the shed.
17. Plant a Flower Bed
Photo: Yay images / Adobe Stock
Homeowners often reserve flower beds for the backyard. However, a front yard flower bed can make a huge impact on curb appeal. For a modern and clean look, select one type of flower in just one or two different colors. For a more English-style garden design, add flowers in a variety of colors and variations, and pack the flowers close together. Consider adding colorful perennials to your yard to cut down on gardening each year. Top examples depending on your region include daylilies, black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, and lavender.
18. Work With a Designer
Photo: Courtesy of West Metro Snow Plowing LLC
If you're hitting a wall about how to make your front yard landscaping ideas a reality, it's time to call the professionals. Hiring a landscaping designer costs between $50 and $150 per hour, but they can take a blank slate and build a landscape that grows into something breathtaking. Landscape designers have expert knowledge of local plantings, the best hardscape elements to encourage structure, and ways to make your front lawn look more welcoming.
19. Install Window Boxes
Photo: Andriy Blokhin / Adobe Stock
If your home is lacking color, try adding window boxes. Install them on your front porch railings, as well as below your windows. Paint the window boxes the same color as the trim of your home to give the boxes a custom look and tie them into your home’s color scheme.
20. Use Rocks to Fill Gaps
Photo: Iriana Shiyan / Adobe Stock
Do your flower beds look sparse? Lug some rocks or large boulders to the front of your home to fill in the gaps. Rocks add dimension and year-round interest to your landscape. Buying large boulders can be expensive, though, so check construction sites for discounted or free rocks.
21. Add a Water Feature
Photo: Rinata / Adobe Stock
Enhancing your front yard with a water feature helps create a tranquil, one-of-a-kind landscape. Plus, water features are low maintenance, and because they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, they work on a range of landscapes. Large front yards will do well with waterfalls or cascading streams, while fountains or birdbaths will complement small front yards. Outdoor water fountains cost an average of $2,700 to install, but simpler self-contained designs can cost as little as $50 when you can install them yourself.
Kristin Salaky contributed to this piece.
