Maximize Your Springtime Curb Appeal
Springtime brings thoughts of full gardens, blooming flower beds and lush lawns…but the reality is that it’s going to be weeks before our lawns and gardens look their best. There are some fairly simple ways to brighten up your yard and add to curb appeal, though. Here are some suggestions for adding a splash to your yard without breaking the bank.
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Add Some Colour With Mulch
Mulch is an easy ways to add colour to your garden and to make things look more intentional and tidy. Black, red and brown colours are all readily available at garden centres and regardless of the colour you choose, all mulch is super easy to apply. Just empty the bag out and use your hands or a rake to spread it around any plants that may already have begun to grow.
Not sure how much mulch is enough? According to John Esslinger in Country Living magazine, “A 2 inch depth of organic mulch is ideal to retain moisture and keep down weeds. But don’t go overboard: This is one time when more is not necessarily better. Plant roots need air to survive, and too deep a layer can suffocate roots and cause water to shed off the top of mulch instead of filtering through and soaking into the soil below.”
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Add Some Edging
Most walkways and flower beds can benefit from a bit of edging. If your grass continues right into your other plants, it makes it harder to keep things looking tidy and that grass will eventually overtake any smaller plants that get in it’s way. Edging a garden bed or walkway keeps everything looking neater and will help cut down on the amount of regular maintenance required. Bricks and molded plastic are popular options but all you really need to do is use a sharp edging tool to make a clean, deep division between lawn and garden.
If you’re up for a bit of additional effort, a low-maintenance ground cover might be a good option for you. In The Spruce, Peg Aloi suggests “Euphorbias and succulents like creeping sedums or hens and chicks are an easy way to have a lush, low- maintenance border. These plants spread quickly but not aggressively and there are many flowering varieties.”
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Plant a Tree
Planting one tree may not seem like it’s going to have much impact but it’s a great way to boost curb appeal and add to your landscape for the long term. And once you get your new tree well established, it should require very little ongoing attention. A bit of trimming every year or two should be all that your new addition needs in order to stay healthy.
The type of tree you select is up to you. If you’re serious about wanting something low maintenance, choose a variety that is native to your area. Some of my favourites are maples, spruce trees and tamaracks, all of which grow with little to not attention where I live. Another variety I’d like to add to our yard is Japanese Maple – they’re colourful, hold a nice shape and do well in most climates.
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Add Some Personality
Add a bit of your own personality to your garden by including some personal touches. Some of the most attractive gardens I’ve been in have included painted pots, windchimes or have even incorporated pieces of furniture in the plantings. I’ve seen old metal bed frames, wheel barrows and old wagons all used in container gardens or as accent pieces.
