When it comes to owning a home, first impressions count. A property with great curb appeal makes your home appear more inviting and attractive, while increasing its value and enhancing the look of the entire neighborhood.
Even if you’re not planning on selling your home, curb appeal is still important. A well-maintained and attractive exterior creates a welcoming atmosphere, making your home a place you can be proud of.
In this post, we'll explore the importance of curb appeal and share some tips for improving your home's exterior without extensive renovations or enormous expense.
Maintain your lawn
We’ve all walked by properties where there are more weeds than grass, and it looks like the lawn hasn’t been properly mowed or trimmed in ages. The impression it leaves — whether it’s accurate or not — is that the homeowners just don’t care.
Maintaining your lawn is one of the quickest ways to boost curb appeal, and all it takes is time, some proper equipment and a little know-how. We’ve written about this extensively in a previous post, but here are the basic tasks you’ll need to perform if you want a thick, lush lawn.
- Choose the best grass for your lawn.
- Aerate your soil to extend the life of your grass and encourage deep root growth.
- Overseeding rejuvenates your lawn by supplying it with a continuous supply of healthy new blades.
- Apply the right fertilizer at the right time to give your lawn the nutrients it needs to grow green and healthy.
- Mow your lawn correctly, varying the pattern and using sharp blades set to the proper height.
- Water your lawn by giving it a long, deep soak once a week to encourage deep root growth.
- Watch for signs of weeds, disease and pest infestations and take action before they become problems.
If you want your lawn to look professionally maintained, don’t forget to trim and edge it… it not only looks great, it promotes healthy growth and keeps grass out of your flower beds.
Take care of your gardens
It doesn’t take long for a garden to look neglected, particularly if it wasn’t properly designed in the first place. Here are a few tips to keep it looking great from spring to frost and beyond!
- Edge and define your garden beds.
- Install mulch to retain moisture, deter weeds and give your garden a beautiful, cohesive look.
- Fertilize your garden to keep the plants healthy and vigorous.
- Control weeds by hand-weeding or applying weed control products to your garden.
- Choose perennials, trees and shrubs that add interest and structure to your garden.
- Consider adding annuals to brighten up your garden with seasonal colors.
- Prune and trim trees and shrubs to help them maintain their shape and appearance, taking care to remove all dead or diseased plant material.
Improve walkways and other hardscapes
Hardscaping elements like walkways, patios, retaining walls, and garden borders are small projects that can have a big impact. They add structure and definition to your landscaping and enhance the overall appearance of your outdoor spaces.
- The first step in upgrading hardscapes is to clean and repair any damage. This includes power washing patios and walkways, filling in cracks or gaps, and repairing any loose or broken stones or bricks.
- If you’re replacing your patio or walkway, consider upgrading to higher-quality stone or brick.
- Remove weeds that keep popping up along patios and walkways.
- Trim the grass from around hardscapes to keep them looking crisp and inviting.
- Soften the edges of your hardscapes and make them more inviting by adding potted plants or a small garden adjacent to your patio or walkway.
Light up your landscape
A good lighting system lets you spend more quality time outdoors while increasing your home's property value. It's an investment that really packs a big punch!
- Downlighting and uplighting can be installed in trees or on a rooftop to cast a shadow on the objects below.
- Undercap lights are installed under the “caps” of hardscape features, such as stone walls that surround fire pits and patios.
- Post lights are perfect for lighting up a path or walkway.
- Step lights are installed beneath the risers of stairs or steps, keeping people safe from trips and falls.
- String lights add a bistro-like feel to your outdoor spaces.
There are other lighting options available too, as well as a wide variety of fixtures and finishes to choose from.
Ready to ramp up your property’s curb appeal?
Keeping a property looking top-notch isn’t a difficult task, but it does take a fair bit of time and knowledge. If you have the time and like to work with your hands, you should be able to tackle most of the tasks outlined in this post.
But if you’re like most people, you’ve got a lot of other things that need your time and attention… if that sounds like you, we’d be happy to take care of your lawn and gardens for you. Getting started is easy too. Just book a free consultation with one of our property care specialists.
