Landscaping - where to start?

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. 

I talk to a lot of people about their homes and yards. Many times they are just moving into a new or new-to-them home and want to pretty it up. Often, they have been in their home for a while and think it is time to give it a face lift. At other times, people are looking to sell their home and they want some help in making that happen. They want help with what has come to be called “curb appeal.” When someone sees your home from the street, what is their first impression?  I'm not a painter.  I don't wash windows or power wash driveways.  And that is where curb appeal begins. 

Make a great first impression!

If the structure of the house is painted well, clean and well kept that is much of the battle.  But curb appeal doesn't end at the foundation of your home.  It spills out onto the landscaping and lawn.  Quality landscaping can make a huge difference.  I can honestly say, I have helped a lot of people sell their homes.  Sometimes they cringe at the price, and sometimes people do the bare minimum but I don't know that I have ever seen good landscaping not pay for itself (and then some) in the sale of a home.  

Obviously, landscaping entails a great deal more than the front foundation of your home, but for the sake of curb appeal let's start there. If you are wanting to sell your home, the first question I will ask is "When? What time of year do you want to put it on the market?"  Why does that matter?  Every plant has  seasonal characteristics.  Roses look great in the summer but are an eyesore in the winter.  Selling in the spring – let's get some spring flowers in the landscape.  Selling in the fall – let's get some fall color.  The time of year matters!

Keep direction in mind when choosing plants!

Second question, what direction does your house face?  Landscaping is very exposure specific.  Many plants that look good and do well on the south side of a home will suffer and look poor or even die on the north side of a home.  Typically a south or west exposure will be very sun rich.  East and north exposures require plants that can thrive with less amounts of direct sunshine. The direction the front of your house faces will make a dramatic difference in the type of plants that will do the best.

Here's another question, what color and style is your house?  You want to install plants that accent your home.  You may not want plants with a blue cast in front of a blue home where they may clash or even get lost.  A contemporary home can be significantly enhanced by contemporary style landscaping.  

There are many more questions we can ask but the first is, "What is the first impression of your home?  Appealing or appalling!?"  We'd be glad to help you make sure that first is the best!

Endless options to fit your families landscaping needs.