Front yard needs something!?

Jennifer
by Jennifer
I recently purchased a home and there's zero curb appeal. Any suggestion what to do? Landscaping would be nice. Something tropical?? What should I do to the front door? Any other thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
  22 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Sep 16, 2015
    Its hard to tell how much room you have to plant from the picture.Heres what I think you can do .Plant tropicals that have color croton is one variety. Start with a focal point in the one corner. Perhaps put a bench wither on the porch or by those palm trees. If you can send a closer picture I think I can give you more ideas.
  • Looks like a lovely house! Congratulations! Not sure what your budget is, but you could add a stacked stone look to the pillars, or add a small pad or patio space on the left of the door (under the overhang) with chairs and colorful pillows (a good way to meet neighbors). If funds are tight, you could paint the pillars in either white or a darker brown and pop the door in a contrast color. Colorful tropical plantings will help as well. Enjoy!
  • Vicki Snyder Vicki Snyder on Sep 16, 2015
    Maybe put a half rounded canopy over the door. Lovely house!
  • Vicki Snyder Vicki Snyder on Sep 16, 2015
    Just a thought...maybe a small water fountain to the right of the door where the shrubs are
  • Z Z on Sep 16, 2015
    How exciting for you to have a new Jennifer. It's a lovely one too. I'm not familiar enough with your planting zone so I'll give you general ideas that you can take to a local nursery to help you with what plants will work for you best. I'd fill the area to the right with flowers that are native to your area. More than likely taller than the ones I drew, but this gives you a bit of an idea. I also like @Vicki's idea of adding a fountain there. I'd make an island around those beautiful palms and again fill with flowers suited for you area. I'd probably add more islands, but without seeing your curb and driveway I couldn't be sure where to put them.
  • Duv310660 Duv310660 on Sep 16, 2015
    This modern home has the accent on it's own architecture - it's all about it's own lines. The placement of the palm trees mirror this: sure, they are plants, but they are mostly big supporting columns reaching up for the sky. New additions should be strong, uncomplicated accents to keep in this vein. Walk around similar developments to see what other properties have done, and what you think works. OR if you have access to the original architectural design rendering, you will see a suggestion of what the architect had in mind. I think you will be considering a row of plants that will give you a line or shape of COLOUR as your new element. Croutons have the required spark, but find out about their growing habit - you want strongly edged plantings (bushy habit) unless you want to trim them. You are going to want to stay away from soft, feathery plantings. Second to colour is plant type: while a Yucca has strong bones like a palm, it is out-of-place in your tropical setting. Cruise a nursery and talk to help to see what they suggest. Don't paint the door a different colour. What you have here is architecture based on wide, bold strokes - a definite turn around from the fussy Victorian era. You could paint ALL the exterior trim if you wanted, but your home comes from a narrow pallet: Tropical Island redone as Sophisticated Minimalist. You may be inured to this colour restriction if you've lived in Florida for long - take a drive and think about these things as you look around. Your solution will reveal itself to you.
  • Sandie Sandie on Sep 16, 2015
    That is how we got our ideas for our landscaping, take note of other homes. We added a four trunk small palm tree in front of window. If you are facing Southwest it will help shade the window. Warning, if you are new to Florida, the motto is, less is better. We learned that the hard way.
    • See 1 previous
    • Jennifer Jennifer on Sep 28, 2015
      That's interesting you the only one out of 21 who thinks that way?!,!, I'm confused. Thank you.
  • Kurt Sprague Kurt Sprague on Sep 16, 2015
    2 or 3 "Little Gem" Magnolia trees (grouped together) Keep a decent distance apart to allow for adequate growth and walking distance between them. They can be purchased at your local gardening center (in the Orlando area) or through mail order... very reasonable prices for what they eventually turn into. You might consider a concrete bird bath/fountain as well. But that could be added later and is optional.
    • Jennifer Jennifer on Sep 28, 2015
      Where would u suggest I plant the group of trees?? Thank you I like the ideas so far!!
  • HouseLogic.com HouseLogic.com on Sep 16, 2015
    You'll find some awesome ideas in this post: http://goo.gl/4TkyZJ Even better, the post shares which landscaping projects add the most value to your home.
  • Sheri N Sheri N on Sep 16, 2015
    Paint the front door! Something bold and tropical!
  • Kathy Bitzan Kathy Bitzan on Sep 16, 2015
    When it comes to landscaping I always go low maintenance because the older I get the less I want to take care of. A few colorful pots would be all that I would do. But like it was said previously drive around and get some ideas. A garden hose to swirl around a bed to see if your interested in expanding the planting area.
  • Pam sanders Pam sanders on Sep 16, 2015
    Pam Sanders, San Diego, CA I think Pygmy Palms incorporated into raised succulent beds and small ornamental grasses with various size rocks that blend with home colors. I would curve the outside edges of the rock beds with smooth curves to balance the geometric lines of the home. You could finish the rock bed floor with small 1.5" multi-color rock or brown mulch. There is all types of succulents and colors that would look great for some added color.
  • Pam sanders Pam sanders on Sep 16, 2015
    Almost forgot, I agree with above Sheri N, Sparks, NV.....A bold color or choice with really pull everything together!
  • Buster Evans Buster Evans on Sep 16, 2015
    well Im from Tennessee, Florida May say less is better, BUT, I think you should create your landscape to suit your own taste.. if you Tend to like more trees,more flowers, whatever... that is a reflection of who you are and what you like... I have lots of plants, trees and bushes in my landscape because thats what I enjoy, others even in my own family dont always agree with it but its my personal space, my comfort zone.. Many of my plants were given to me by friends, some were experiments to see how they would grow here verses where they came from etc.. Some are plants that I have had since childhood.... Some mean something to me that wouldnt mean anything to anyone else.. All I am saying is make it to suit what you like,, and are comfortable with as far as upkeep and maintenance are concerned
  • Barbara Bromwich Barbara Bromwich on Sep 17, 2015
    Try to place some mounds,to give depth, and add some pygmy palms and some flowers.
  • Sandra Whitmarsh Sandra Whitmarsh on Sep 18, 2015
    Painting the front door to something that "pops"- red, blue, mauve-whatever is one of your favorites. Get some big, tall ceramic pots that coordinate to place near porch or in front of the pillars. Not sure I would do much in the grassy area-it looks kind of large so unless you plant something substantial it might look dwarfed and lost.
  • Kincaid99 Kincaid99 on Sep 23, 2015
    My husband would love your yard, he likes clean open spaces, me I would paint that door with a pop of color as they say on HGTV, some flowers with color. I can't tell what is planted in the corner by front door, hope it is not a tree, the roots can harm your foundation, some elevation in different places with dark mulch and ornament bushes with color, you have a beautiful home. .
  • Faye Faye on Sep 24, 2015
    You need more plants with lots of color by the house all out front The shrubs on the right by the door. Get rid of the grass and make a nice flowering garden there. The get some mulch. White marble chips to brighten it up. Even around the palms come out about a couple feet 2 or 4 ft depending the area available and plant more colorful flowers and small accent bushes.. In the open grass area on the right maybe a magnolia tree or something with big flowers like Giant Hibiscus Tree or a Dogwood tree.. There are a lot to choose from.. Make sure your colors meld with one another.. Nurseries can help you too. Even free help planning your landscaping if you buy all the plants from them..
  • Elizabeth Sagarminaga Elizabeth Sagarminaga on Sep 25, 2015
    In my opinion,as front yard is a centerpiece of any home,therefore make your front yard more mesmerizing to look by putting a lovely vines over your fence that not only enhance the look value of your front yard but also protect from treepassers. If you consult a certified fencing company you can get more incredible ideas and tips that make your front yard more stunning.Thanks for nice article.
  • Kea Interiors Kea Interiors on Sep 27, 2015
    brick around trees....colorful plants/flowers and paint the font door
  • Dfm Dfm on Jan 30, 2016
    i would do the front door in a red that works with the roof, now the plants...or lack of them... how do you see your self using the front lawn, and how much time are you willing to invest in maintenance? garden beds need weeding, water, fertilizer, some flowers need staking, some need sunken barriers to keep them from being invasive. all plants need water watered -even when mulched, and lawn needs mowed. the next step would be to make a plotting of your yard ..... get out the tape measure and graph paper...start at the lot lines and plot them on the graph paper. then plot out where the buildings are in relation to lot lines. (get a friend to help) then measure and plot on the graph paper the planting beds that currently exist. take photos of the planting beds and key them to the graph. also note how much sun each area gets. now you've just done the leg work and saved your self a ton o' money. next, check out the neighbor hood....do the rest of the places look like your place? or much more plantings? veggie plots, or flowers? take a photo of what you like, and what you don't like. yup..what you don't like. it's just as important as the likes. now then you've gotten a good idea of what you currently have...go back to the want list..color blooming year round? low maintenance? putting green? nest step- landscape designer. go get acquainted with the neighbor who has the yard you liked best in neighborhood tour . did they diy it, or did they use a landscape service? if so who and, most important- how satisfied were they with the service? were did they buy the plants? was the cost reasonable? if the experience was good, call that outfit. if it wasn't good, do some cold calls at nursery's, ask if they have a certified landscape professional. meet with them, ask to see photos of the mature gardens. ask for references. check with better business office. will they replace a plant or tree/bush if it fails to thrive? a landscape designer will know what is on the do not plant list, (invasive plants that take out the natives) and how to build retaining walls and properly edge the planting beds. most will be willing to plant/ build hardscaping in stages. do xyz this fall and 123 next spring. hope this helps.
  • Socorro Gonzalez Socorro Gonzalez on Feb 01, 2016
    You can add gardening section in your outdoor. Also an attractive outdoor sitting arrangement can be a piece of attraction. It will also be useful where you can relax in your free times. Below you can see an example of fascinating outdoor sitting arrangement. I personally loved it.