Central Keystone Living - Spring 2018 - 25

C

urb appeal is the impression made from someone looking at
your home from the outside; what guests and neighbors see
and experience. Having a well-manicured front yard is not
only about making a good first impression when people come up
to your door or pass by. Curb appeal also increases the property
value of your home. One key to creating the right curb appeal is
to create a yard that is low-maintenance while still being inviting
and attractive. Why not have a beautiful front yard that's affordable
and doesn't take you hours to maintain?
Here are 5 front yard landscaping ideas to improve the value of
your home and not break the bank:

1. Dressing Up the Entrance
Your front yard landscaping can be accentuated with
a simple rock garden or a
rock feature installed by
the entrance to your drive
or even one on each side.
You can also use various
types of stone pavers as a
walkway and accent with
shrubs and perennial flowering plants. Nothing adds
unique and elegant qualities
like stone. Stone can be used to build retaining walls and borders
that create more space, elevate areas, edge beds and lawns, and
separate elevations. The many style selections are truly as unique as
you are. The timeless look of stone will accentuate any landscape,
from formal to rustic.

2. Outdoor Lighting
Solar lights are a practical and attractive way to add variety to your
front yard. Take advantage of the abundant sunshine and use solar
lights that soak up the sunlight during the day and then glow as
they change colors once the sun goes down. Few are better than
many and with strategic placement in your yard you maximize the
effect. Best of all, they require very little maintenance.

3. Evergreen Trees & Shrubs
Planting small evergreens
are a great way to add a
lush feel to your front yard.
A row of Arborvitae also
makes a perfect privacy screening year-round
along with other popular evergreens such as
Canadian Hemlock. Such
trees are fairly inexpensive
compared to other more
decorative and specialty
trees that can be commonly
promoted by nurseries and

landscapers. Additionally, both Arborvitae and Hemlock grow very
well in the Northeast. Evergreens are green all spring, summer and
fall, while acquiring that "Christmas tree" look during the winter
as snow settles in and covers the branches.

4. Non-plant Materials and Adornments
Brickwork, tile, decorative boulders,
fieldstones, pillars, and sculptures
make functional, low-maintenance
features and provide interesting
ground cover that adds variety and
dresses up a front yard. Again, as
with lighting, few or even just one
elegant feature is most times better
than many. When you intersperse
these with native plants, flowers,
shrubs, and grasses, it will create a
well- balanced, eye-catching scene.

5. Add Color

There are few things that make front yard landscaping pop like
patches of vibrant color. A mix of perennials and annuals makes
a nice combination to liven things up. There are a tremendous
number of plants that can introduce abundant color to your front
yard which are low maintenance and bloom throughout the season.
You can add a few hanging planters on your porch for even more
color. Even simply planting some tall grasses, sage, or lavender in
your beds can add some pizzazz to your yard.
You can, and should, have it all-a front yard that catches the eye
of your neighbors and guests, one that isn't too difficult to manage,
and one that adds value to your home. Practical landscaping doesn't
have to be dry or boring. Outdoor Expressions PA can help you
design and construct a front yard that is functional and fabulous!
Contact us to schedule an assessment today at (717) 766-8760 or
sales@outdoorexpressionspa.com.

HarrisburgBuilders.com

25
http://www.HarrisburgBuilders.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Central Keystone Living - Spring 2018
