Whether you have a large landscape or a small patch of grass, your front yard creates a powerful first impression. So regardless of size, it’s a good idea to keep it looking sharp if you want to improve your curb appeal and property value. Here are our expert tips on landscaping your front yard to guide you in sprucing up your exterior.
Find a Look that you Love
When starting out with any home improvement project, a helpful way to ensure you’re left with something you love is to do a bit of research and find examples to inspire you. Pinterest is a great resource to find landscaping layouts and ideas that you can adapt into your own yard. This will make the process much easier when you have a clear idea of what you want and can outline a plan to achieve it.
Pay Attention to the Front Door
The front door is the main focal point of the front yard, so any improvements to the landscape should focus on framing the entrance. This could include planting shrubs or trees on either side of the doorway or front steps to compliment the colour of your door and exterior.
Plant to Frame the Pathway
Edging your landscape to highlight the pathway that leads to your front door is another excellent way to create an eye-catching element. Place plants densely along the edges to outline the path, but leave enough space between the curb and each plant.
Add Contrast with Mulch
Mulch is a staple ingredient used by professional landscapers, not only for protecting plants and vegetation from the weather, but also for adding a splash of contrast to the landscape. Even with a few simple shrubs or trees, dark mulch can make your exterior look sharp and tidy.
Consider Ground Cover instead of Grass
For a colourful and low maintenance alternative to grass, use ground covers like Canadian Anemone, creeping Phlox, or Lamium. These can grow quickly and densely, offering vibrant pops of colour that can hide dead leaves and look stunning against stone hardscapes.
Add Lights
After putting effort into upgrading your front yard, show it off during the day and night by incorporating light features into the landscape. There are many different varieties available today that are solar-powered and easy to install. Place them along the path, steps or throughout your garden to highlight vegetation.
Take advantage of the colder months and start planning out a fresh, upgraded front yard that you’ll feel proud to show off. At Hansen Lawn & Garden, we’ll be happy to assist you, whether it’s planning, performing landscape construction or maintaining your garden. Contact us today to learn more about our services in Ottawa.