Garden Design For Curb Appeal Articles | Garden Information Center

"Curb Appeal" has become an especially important consideration for many homeowners in recent years. While backyard and formal garden design are for the homeowner and those who they chose to bring into their home and garden, street-side design is a much different animal, taking into consideration anyone who might pass your home, especially potential buyers, whether you are looking to sell your home or just keep property values up. While the basics of design for curb appeal are the same as for any landscape design, the methods of implementing them are different because the goals of the design are different.

When designing for curb appeal, clean, simple designs are your friend. Many design elements that can work so well in a back yard or formal garden to create moods will most often just seem chaotic from the street. Opt for simple, elegant plants where possible, and try to choose background plants that will allow your specimen plants and trees to really stand out. Keep in mind, also, that the goal of your street-side plantings is generally to allow the architectural elements of your home to shine, so avoid plantings that are distracting or cluttered. A little maintenance can go a long way in this, too. A trimmed lawn with sharp edging and well-pruned, uniform shrubs and trees can easily do just as much for your home's appeal as a fresh coat of paint for far less money and time invested.

One of the most important design tricks for improving the curb appeal of your home is to use your design elements to draw the eye where you want it to go. Carefully look over your home with a critical eye from all angles and distances that viewers are likely to see it from. Note the strong and weak points of your home, and keep those in mind when landscaping. Use bright, singular elements to draw the eye to a desirable point. Lower elements and plants can help to allow the eye to slide over less important or desirable features. You'll also want to frame your house and important features with plants to really make them pop.

Choose your street-side plants carefully to reflect the amount of maintenance you have the time for. You don't want to let your front yard go to seed if you miss a week's pruning. In most areas this means drought-tolerant plants as well as those that require less pruning and trimming, especially in containers that dry out more quickly. If you are redesigning your street-side garden to sell, annuals are a great, inexpensive and quick way to improve the look of your front yard. If you're simply looking to improve the curb appeal of your home, on the other hand, easy-care perennials may be a better choice, as they'll be easier and less expensive in the long term.

Whatever your purpose in redesigning your front landscape, keep in mind that the appeal you're looking for is something broader than plantings that are for your own enjoyment only. Simple designs highlighting your house and easier maintenance will help hugely to increase the value of your property, as well as to put a smile on your face when you're coming home.