Refresh Your Front Landscape in a Single Weekend
Your front yard landscaping is one of the first things people look at when they drive up to your home. The way it looks will have a huge impact on the way people perceive your home. So it’s important that you create a landscaping style that tells your home’s story.
When it comes to property, one simple tweak can make your home and landscape stand out from the crowd. Refreshing your front garden doesn’t have to be a time-consuming project— especially if you’re prepared to put a little elbow grease into it!
If you have been putting off your landscaping maintenance for a while, it can be difficult to figure out exactly what to do, how long it will take, and how much it will cost, making it feel like a daunting task. Don’t worry. You are not alone.
If you’re ready to give your front yard landscaping a refresh, here is a quick and easy way to tackle a simple landscape refresh in a single weekend.
Saturday Morning: Landscaping and Front Yard Clean Up
Your goal for Saturday morning is to set yourself up with a tidy working space. This lets you see what you are working with and what areas of your landscape need more work than others. For example, if you pull the weeds that have surfaced inside your garden bed, that can instantly change the look.
When thinking about what to clean in your landscape focus on these steps:
- Pick up any “household” debris such as old newspapers in the yard, shoes left out on the porch, or that water hose that has been in a pile on the ground for months (we’ve all been there).
- Get rid of unwanted “plant” debris such as leaves on the lawn weeds in garden beds, and any dead plant materials.
Saturday Afternoon: Make the Entrance Inviting
Walk to the curb in front of your house, then turn around and look at your entryway. What do you see? Is the path to the front door clear? Does your front porch invite people to your house or does it feel off putting?
Start by assessing the pathway that leads to your front door. Ensure that it is easily navigable by adding solar powered lighting to illuminate where you step. You can commonly find solar powered landscape lighting at your local home improvement store in packs of 6 for anywhere between $5 and $50. We recommend a middle of the road price point of $10-$20 per 6-pack. Budgeting less than that is doable but you may find that your selection is sprace. Place your solar lighting at key points along the pathway to your front door. Try not to “overlight” the area. You don’t want to overwhelm eyesight or create blinding light.
Now look at your entryway. Is the door in good condition? How about that door mat? Using the style of your house as a guide, redo your front door. A simple coat of paint can work wonders. Start by choosing your paint color. Consider taping paint swatches to the door and assess them at different times of the day to see how the natural light impacts the hues. A quart of outdoor paint is typically around $20. Once you have picked the perfect share, clean and prime your door. Don’t forget to remove the hardware. Then paint (go for 2 coats)!
Sunday Morning: Upgrade Your Landscape Edging
If you want your landscaping to stand out for the right reasons, upgrade your tired, dated edging to steel. Steel landscape edging is an excellent way to define and accent your garden beds and walkways.;
Steel landscape edging is a durable alternative to plastic or wood edging that will never be the victim of rot or deterioration. It’s a cost-effective way to accentuate the beauty of your landscaping. It can be used to create borders around your plants, flowers, and trees, or used to line sidewalks and driveways.
Steel landscape edging is easy to install and is a flexible tool for keeping your garden in place. Whether you like a clean, crisp landscape edging or a flowing design with abstract curves, steel landscaping can bend and flex to be placed exactly where you want it. The amount of steel edging you need will vary significantly based on the size of your landscape and your design.
To find how much steel edging you need to purchase for your landscape project, you need to first measure the area you want to edge. For straightaways such as driveway borders and some walkways, you can use a tape measure to obtain total linear feet needed. For curves, we recommend using a water hose or rope to lay out your curved design. Once you have the desired shape, straighten the hose or rope and measure this length in linear feet.
Combine all of your straightaway and curved measurements into a single amount of linear feet needed for your project. Then divide this number by 7.33. This will give you the total number of Colmet steel edging strips you need. If you end with a fraction, always round up.
For example, if your landscape area measures 97 linear feet, it would require 14 strips of Colmet steel edging.
97/7.33=13.23
It’s a good idea to have a couple of extra pieces on hand just in case.
Sunday Afternoon: Make Your Beds
Now that you have an efficient edging system that will keep your ground cover in place, it’s time to refresh your garden beds. One of the most impactful and easy to use ground covers is mulch. Mulch is like a secret weapon in your garden. It helps to retain moisture in the soil and prevent weeds from growing while keeping the soil temperature more consistent, which means your plants will be less likely to get stressed. Furthermore, it provides a beautiful pop of color while being functional.
If you’re staring at mulch in your local home improvement store, then you might be wondering what color and type of mulch you should use. Common mulch varieties include rubber mulch, bark chunks, shredded bark, and pine straw. The most popular type of mulch, which is shredded bark, is available in colors such as brown, red, and black in most local home improvement stores. It’s important to consider your garden’s overall design and style in your decision process.
Putting It All Together
When it comes to landscaping, people often think that it’s an expensive and time-consuming endeavor, but that’s not necessarily the case. You can refresh the look of your front landscape in a single weekend and the results can make a big impact. If you’re ready to get started, head to the Garden Center of your local Home Depot to stock up on Colmet steel landscape edging.