Front Yard Ideas for a Great Street Appeal

 
New Zealand suburbs with front yards
 

Whether you’re hoping to fetch the best price for your property or you want a home you can be proud of, learning front yard ideas for a great street appeal can serve you well.

Street appeal is something that can often be overlooked as you go about making sure your interior is up to scratch. Still, as it’s the first thing visitors see, it’s a lot more critical than you might think. Read on to learn some handy tips and tricks for making sure your front yard is as pretty as a picture.

Don’t Underestimate Proportions

If you have a large home with a flat, square front yard, the options are endless for how you make it stand out from the crowd. In saying that, this yard shape doesn’t tend to benefit from an eclectic mix of your favourite flowers like less-uniform yards tend to.

Instead, work with your yard’s perfect proportions by adding plants that enhance this look. Repetitive, uniform shrubs lining a path, box hedging, and symmetry all come into play. Essentially, you’re pairing a uniform home with a uniform front yard for perfect harmony.

Make Property Access Obvious

Have you ever visited a home that didn’t provide the clearest access? You weren’t sure whether to go up the driveway to the back door or cut across the lawn to the front door. If you want to benefit from a great street appeal, let your home’s front entrance make a statement.

Consider paving a pathway if you haven’t already. If you have lawn access to your front door, make sure you keep on top of lawn mowing, so it’s a pleasant walk from the street to the home.

You may even like to invest in lighting when visitors turn up at night. There are plenty of options, such as fairy lights, solar path lighting, and even in-stair lighting.

Focus on Low Maintenance

Many people hire gardeners and lawn mowing companies as they don’t have much time or passion for property maintenance. You can do yourself and future owners a favour by creating a front yard that requires little to no care. Otherwise, make sure you hire a gardening team who can take care of it for you.

Low maintenance plants like grasses handle most weather conditions and can be paired with bark or small stones. Even succulents can be a focal point in your front garden, particularly in the driest parts of New Zealand.

Don’t Forget Seasonal Changes

If you are adding new plants to boost your street appeal, it’s a good idea to consider seasonal changes. What may look beautiful in spring and summer may look absolutely dreadful during the colder months of winter and autumn.

That’s why many homeowners opt for shrubs and trees that look stunning at any time of the year. Sure, annuals offer a beautiful burst of colour for a few months, but perennials are hardier and more likely to survive as temperatures plummet.

Attention to Detail

Sometimes, it’s the small things that end up making the most difference. That can be a good or a bad thing. For example, you might have the most beautiful home and a neatly manicured garden. Then you’ve got a beaten up, tatty-looking mailbox that spiders are now calling home.

Your fence may even be the picture of perfection, but you’ve paired it with a rusty, broken gate that doesn’t open. It’s these small things that can detract from the beauty of your yard. If you’re not quite sure where to begin, ask a friend or an outsider. They can point out the flaws that are preventing you from having an otherwise perfect street appeal.

Healthy Lawns

Diseased, dying, and patchy lawns can stick out like a sore thumb. Your gardens might be neat and tidy, but your grass can be letting the team down. A simple soil test can determine if your lawn is lacking something. Otherwise, there are other things you can do like mow it properly, add fertiliser, overseed it, or start from scratch.

If you’re not quite sure how to achieve that lush, green patch of grass you’ve always dreamed of, there are always lawn mowing contractors around who can lend a helping hand.

Brighten Your Door

If you’re trying to achieve vibrancy to enhance your street appeal, your door can be an excellent place to start. In recent years, homeowners have been steering away from neutral tones in favour of red, yellow, and even pink doors. They look fresh and fun while also leaving no doubt in a visitor’s mind about where they should gain access to your home.

Great Street Appeal Starts Here

Armed with helpful tips and tricks, now is an excellent time to start working on your street appeal. You can then enjoy the fruits of your labour or put your house on the market with a lot more confidence.

If you lack time to carry out property maintenance, don’t be afraid to contact a lawn mowing company in New Zealand who can take care of it for you.

Klaris Chua-Pineda