Gardens - Curb Appeal

Creating Lasting Impressions

By Iris Watson.

Day in and day out, consciously or subconsciously, we are influenced by something real estate agents refer to as curb appeal--that instantaneous response you feel when you first lay eyes on a house (or business, for that matter). This initial reaction can make or break a sale, and subsequently, affect the sellers' return on their investment.

If you are considering putting your home on the market, I suggest you take a walk outside, stand in the middle of the street and really look at your home. Take some photos from two or three different angles--it's amazing what you see on paper that you miss in person. Then, make a list of what improvements you think are necessary and discuss them with your real estate agent. Next, bring the photos and list to your local nurseryperson.

Landscaping should enhance the appearance of a home, not dominate or obscure it. I realize that budget is always an issue, but I encourage you to dream freely and then purchase wisely. But before you spend any money, there are a number of things you can do to improve the aesthetics of your home with just a little bit of sweat equity. Think clean. Think order. Look at the visible trees and large shrubs. Is there a lot of dead wood? Broken branches? Has excessive growth overshadowed the house, perhaps inhibiting the available light indoors? Does the landscape make it difficult to see the front door? Judicious thinning and pruning can make a world of difference. If it looks tired or half dead, then chances are it is, and so, let it go. This may create some bare spaces, but not to worry; we will get to that in a minute.

Now look at the lawn. If it is more than 25 percent weeds, it may be time for a new one; otherwise, you can do some cosmetic work that will last for months or perhaps years. To spruce up your grass, get rid of prominent weeds by either spraying or hand removal, mow the existing lawn as close as possible and apply layers of seed, fertilizer and top soil, in that order. Water twice a day for several weeks and mow for the first time when the new grass is about three inches tall. You may still have some weeds, but if the overall effect is green and healthy, neat and trimmed, well fed and watered, then don't worry.

If your lawn is looking less than green, keep in mind that bare soil is prettier than weeds or dead plants, especially if it is tilled, so remove all debris, weeds, and anything else that doesn't belong there. Next, trim hedges if you have any, dead head any flowering shrubs or bushes, remove dead wood and excessive growth, empty any containers that are not gorgeous, and then go get your shovel or hand trowel. Turn over all of the visible soil until it is loose, smooth, and tidy. Now look at the bare spots. If they are glaring, you may need to invest in some plant material. Do shop for an appropriate plant that is of a comparable size to the rest of your landscape--putting a dollar plant into a hundred dollar hole will not work. Take your photos with you to the nursery; a picture is worth a thousand words in this case.

Now you are ready for some instant color. If your budget will only allow you a dozen pansies, do not try to spread them out to fill a 10-foot bed. It would be far better to group them in a cluster in a highly visible spot, or fill one dramatic container by the front door for maximum impact. But if it is at all possible, fill your front beds with bountiful color. Colorful flowers viewed from the street are friendly, inviting and remembered, so be as generous as your wallet will allow.

Always ask us how long any plant can be expected to stay in flower. Annuals give you the most flowers for the longest time, but when they are done, they are really done (as in dead), so combining them with colorful perennials works well for texture as well as color. When choosing colors, coordinating with the color of the house is dramatic and appealing. You could also consider color themes such as all white, burgundy and lime green or shades of blue and lavender. Color themes give the landscape some "pop." Also, know that certain colors like white and lime green show up really well at night or on cloudy days.

Once you have the housekeeping and the planting done, the last step is to top dress the bare earth in the beds around the existing plants with a beautiful mulch such as micro bark, which is a rich brown bark the size of peas; or cocoa hulls, which are actually the hull of the cocoa bean and have the lovely color and fragrance of chocolate.

Now that's a lasting impression.