The Beauty home

Archive for April, 2011

Houses are never-ending home improvement projects. Some projects cost as little as a same day payday loan and others can cost tens of thousands of dollars. When spring fever hits, it’s nice to know that landscaping is among the type of projects that can offer a large visual payback for very little money. All you have to do is make the best of what you have, add a little color, and add some sculptural detailing.

Make the Best of What You Have

First think about what features your yard already holds.  Are there shrubs, flower beds, a fence?  What kind of light does your yard get?  How about foot traffic like kids or pets?  Is your driveway in front of the house?  Since yards often mean plants, all these factors affect your choices.

Add Color

Some yards need color.  Flowers are an instant burst of brilliance but don’t be limited by tradition.  A Japanese maple has hand-shaped leaves that turn bright red in cool weather.  Decorative pepper plants may appear dark green until you’re close enough to see the brilliant red and yellow peppers among the foliage.  Chinese lanterns produce a bright orange fruit almost like a papery gourd that can be left on the stalk to dry.

Add Details

Flower gardens can seem like a lot of work for a busy person but there are other options.  A fence or a trellis can support morning glories, trumpet vine, moonflowers or roses.  Put down a layer of plastic liner, fill it with mulch or rock and add large potted plants for clusters of color.  When the plants die in season, simply remove them and replace them with something else.  Or fill the area with gravel and one or two interesting small boulders to create a Zen garden effect.

A simple well-kept lawn with a trim hedge is a tidy backdrop for yard art such as a birdbath or a gazing ball.  A stand of daisies or cosmos at the base of the art softens the look without much visual clutter.  Add a garden gnome for a traditional look or a stone rabbit or frog to round out the display.