Curb appeal

Question

I want to add some curb appeal to our house and do something else with the driveway.  We currently have a stone drive but the grass has grown over it since we put stones down 5 years ago.  Any input would be appreciated.  We have a nice apple tree that is nice for shade and privacy but it takes away from the front of the house and the addition on the left. The house is sideways to the road.  What type of driveway?  Move the driveway? Take out the apple and the dogwood tree or keep them in? Thanks!

Carol Potts · Answer

You have a lovely house but if you are looking to add some curb appeal there are some ideas that you can do in the short term and the long term as funds allow. I wouldn't cut down the apple tree as it is mature and adds to your yard. Maybe have some tree trimmer who knows what they are doing could trim the limbs and make it more shapely. Then you could add large area below it with mulch and some hostas or day lillies that are hardy or large pots that you can add seasonal flowers to. You could also put a cute bench under the tree. As for the dogwood, I love them and yours looks nice. However there might be a way to transplant it on the corner of your house closest to the front door and add some smaller plants below it to give some color to the front of the house. If you want to keep the darker color on the shutters, then I would add a pop of color to the front door. My favorite is a cranberry red that looks good in all seasons. Then you can play off that color with your flowers and plants around the yard. For the driveway you may want to just use asphalt as it is pretty much maintenance free for years before you have to have it resealed. You could add some large planters along the white fence where you park. On the side of the house that is closest to the street, it has no windows, so you might think about planting some kind of evergreen like arborvitae that grows to 6 - 8 feet tall. You could space a row of 3 across the side to give it more interest. You could also make the area around your mailbox a little bigger and add some other plantings to go with the evergreen and add mulch and maybe some interesting rocks. I hope this might give you some ideas.

Janet Pizaro · Answer

Personally I would start with the color of the shutters and front door.Once that is complete I would re-edge the front of your gardens making them wider to add to the landscape. It is hard to see what is in the garden now so to give you advice I need to know that.The apple tree could be pruned once it is finished producing the fruit.The dogwood looks fine where it is but I would scallop that out and add rock or mulch.I would remove the shrub around the mailbox and make that a flower garden with seasonal change outs.As for the driveway I would reconstruct the position some how and pave it.I would also continue the fence for a little more privacy.

Lorie Bossone · Answer

You have a beautiful home.  For your curb appeal question,I would consider a 'horseshoe' shaped drive way in front of your home. I would add very decorative lighting to the driveway and along the house for beautiful curb appeal at night.   I wouldn't remove your trees, they add such natural beauty. Infact i would uplight them as well.  Maybe trimming them back a little though.   I love the cranberry shutters idea of the previous post. It will definetly add that bit of pop you're looking for.  A beautiful simple garden starting in the front and going around to the roadside will complete the look. I would incorporate a tree or two with some height on the road side of the garden.

Kim C · Answer

I agree with not taking out the Apple Tree, but I would have it trimmed professionally. On the side of the house I would add a row of tall plants or trimmed hedges and then line the front of them with some nice flowering perennials for your area to give some more color. I like the dove gray siding with the black shutters but I would add some flower boxes on the second floor and the windows on the porch with some nice pops of Red Flowers. Edge the flower beds in the front and go with a row of veriated hosta close to the house and a nice Vinca Major in front of that. The plants in front need to be more uniform in height so they don't look wild. Lastly I would add some height to the front beds with some yard art like a nice iron yard art, climbing tower or gazing ball. You can easily control the weeds in the stone drive with round up, it kills everything. If you have the money adding a parking space drive way out of cement is the way I would go or really splurge on a circle drive in the front but that would distract from the curb appeal if it's the only place to leave your cars.

Neva Dew · Answer

Small idea: Move the #270 mailbox down with the other box and the road sign (and use identical boxes if possible) and make a planting bed from the apple tree to the road, to include the tree base and those posts. I'm sure you could find ideas on the internet for putting the 2 boxes on one post to help even more with the visual appeal.

Anna Marie Gustafson · Answer

Stepping stone path to the car area and enlarge the bed around the side with the small fenced in utility pipe area.  Add color there...having grass and no walkway from the street needs something...take out the tree on the left that looks old and has not been thinned out to allow sunlight  or try the professional pruning and maybe raise the canopy...make an oval bed or other curve under the tree and if shady, add shade loving plants...you could create in the middle of the yard in front a small stone patio with a large tall planter in the middle or fountain...a couple of metal bright colored chairs and little round table and some planters on the corner if you go with a table set (bistro) and a little stepping stone path to the front door...define the parking area with fresh lines and gravel...add plants and taller bushes along the white fence line..too much white!  Maybe a few hanging baskets to break up the white as well...add color to the door and shutters....home siding looks gray, use deep red or keep what looks like black for shutters...and add wooden window boxes under the windows and on the side top bumped out area add an iron ornament in black to match shutters...or deep red...if keeping all the black though, add red geraniums, ivy hanging....maybe some other complimentary color in flowers as well...for fall and winter, top planters dirt with landscaping fabric and add small pumpkins and mums or for Christmas...greens and large colorful ornaments and tiny boxwoods shaped like trees...or fake ones...glue on the fake ones if used...tiny bright ornaments/..you just need color.....

Rosemary Hesse · Answer

You have a lovely house. I feel the surrounding area need some color There are so many plants to choose from. All I see from your pictures are everything being green. You could plan some Morning Glories or Wisteria at the base of your mailbox and they would eventually climb up. Good luck with your choices.

Kay Takash · Answer

I agree wholeheartedly with the horseshoe driveway and then a curved pathway up to the house. The beauty of custom decorating is you can put in different touches such as curves here and there. When that is all installed the landscaping ideas will come to you. Your home is lovely now and I'm sure will look like a showplace when you are done.

Pis2225486 · Answer

For really awesome inspiration, check out Mark Lakeman's lectures on place making. After listening to him talk, I always seem to have 500 thousand ideas! :-)

Bonnie · Answer

Keep the apple and dogwood trees....but if you have your heart set on removing, take the dogwood and leave the apple. Your home is very nice, but the side area is what detracts from the house, not the trees in front....The white fence looks like an after thought and stands out alone. Is it possible to move or add on to? Edging the stone parking space with brick would trim it out nicely and then you could do a brick walkway to the house, adding a flower border along the way.

Diane Haslett · Answer

Remove the apple tree, I know it is beautiful when it flowers, but is a mess the rest of the year... clean up the flowerbeds in front, and plant some beautiful flowering bushes, bulbs, and annuals..a stone path leading to the mailbox outlined with hostas as along the way....three flower boxes under the windows on the upper level...omg, so many ideas...you have a beautiful home...and when you get started..you will come up with lots of ideas...

Sharon · Answer

I think each change will indicate the next and your design will evolve.  If it were my home I would take out the apple tree first.  Either clean up or start over on the beds next to the house.  It all looks very unkept and a structured design would make a world of difference.  I agree that a screening of plants on the side would be very nice.  Something tall, then layer it
Out as previously suggested.

Sue · Answer

No, please dont take out the tree! Youll spoil everything, you have a beautiful house, and the tree makes it special.

Sandy Perera · Answer

yes I agree with Sue. whatever you do please don't remove the tree. its enhance your house. and you do have a very beautiful house!

Lisa @ 50 Things to Know Life · Answer

Thank you everyone. I think we are keeping the trees. But I do need to learn how to prune an apple tree. I just never had the right tools. I do need to add color too. Right now it is fall so maybe some Mums and a bright wreath on the door. I am afraid to make the gardens bigger because I don't like to buy mulch for the ones I have. Maybe grasses, but that is more green. I guess I need to find plants with more color all year around. I think we are going with stones as they are the least expensive. There is a front walk of stepping stones you can not see. Maybe I need to add a walk you can actually see from the road. We have teen in this house 5 years so lets see what the next 5 will bring us.

Suzette Trimmer · Answer

Lisa, first and foremost never ever be afraid when playing outside with plants. They are very forgiving. So try what is good for your zone your soil type and sun exposure. Wise very wise to keep all or any tree.

Qui2530794 · Answer

Contact 'Curb Appeal' Owner Ken Irons( 443) 422-9404. He installs curbing and beautiful colored or natural concrete. He has one of the few products that can be done in really cool colors to match or accentuate your house even ROYAL BLUE! 
 Though he is in MD he often travels to PA so I'm sure he would consider work in your area. Tell him 'Co Ko' sent you. He is a great guy and the product is beautiful, no more mulch washing out of flowerbeds or grass jumping in. I love this product. PS: Just trim up the apple tree make it neat but keep it. ;-)

Dee McHose · Answer

Your trees need pruning not removal! The dogwood looks like it's young and has yet to reach it's adult height. In a few years, when it is taller, it will give lovely shade to the front windows. To remove the trees will make your yard ordinary. I was shocked and dismayed when I learned the person who bought my house in Connecticut cut down ALL the trees around my yard. Maples, pines, dogwoods, elms, and the crab apple tree. She even pulled out all the rhododendrons if front of the two front bay windows! The apple tree was one of the remaining plantings from the original apple tree orchard that was cut down to make way for houses. The tree was nearly 100 years old and was so precious as it still gave fruit every year for my annual crab apple jelly. The property now looks like tract housing. All the character is gone. Don't do the same to your property.

Sarah A. Victory · Answer

First --I would limb up the apple tree and see what you thought of that in lieu of cutting it down. The shrub behind the mailbox could be moved to the right corner of the side of the house and I would make a mailbox planter of plants cold tolerant of the PA winter weather. You have some plants around your home but they need to b defined by a bed w/landscape fabric and mulch as well as edging to define the bed.s from the yard. Remember to always round your beds for good flow to the eye. Depending on how far you choose to embellish your yard--You could make a circular bed under the trees or one tree. As for the drive if you choose to go w/gravel again--put down a very heavy duty landscape fabric to prevent the weeds. Consider your drainage if you go w/something hard surface. You may also define the parking area--don't forget walk ways for the heavy traffic areas to keep dirt and debri out of your home.This can be scaled back to suit your preferences and time to take care of it. Good luck!

360 Sod (Donna Dixson) · Answer

Can you take a picture facing front of home (as level as possible)? This is what I did for the practice for a hometalker http://www.hometalk.com/diy/outdoor/garden/q-curb-appeal-10366680

Elizabeth Gilbert · Answer

I won't go into heavy details.  You mention curb appeal.  I agree.  I believe your first effort should be the FRONT of the house, leave side yard til later.  Have trees pruned professionally.  Paint your front door a neat contrasting color so it brings attention to the home. Make entry a focal point.   Install different, more colorful shrubbery up front, and buy colorful flowering shrubs or plants (put in pretty pots) that you can arrange in group(s) or not (I can't determine front porch space/depth from your photos).  There seems to be some height there, so how about a pretty (largish) pot with a support to accommodate a climbing flowering plant (in conjunction with before mentioned flowering pot(s).  If necessary to 'extend' your front porch to accommodate the plants, get some big-store cement pavers set outside your little front patio on which to set the pots.  Front yard is so nondescript right now.  How about a white picket fence (plastic = no painting!) set back a ways into the grass area, all the way around your yard, to create a perimeter within which to work.  You need to determine what kind of layout you want (correct type and complimentary annuals/perennials, where to place, watering needs properly grouped, high/low maintenance, etc.)  Outside the fence perimeter you can also do all kinds of creative, low-cost, low-maintenance and effective landscape design that will work with what's inside the fence ... and overall give your home powerful curb appeal.  And you can grow lovely vegetable plants in and amongst your regular plants.  Just some thought.  I myself choose to work with a lot of perennials as my foundation, because they are very reliable, require little care aside from seasonal fish oil fertilizer or acid for other plants/shrubs.  I merely fill in with some annuals.  Have tried a lot, and with lots of slugs and snails in our area that really like my annuals, a no-care favourite is the standard small-leafed (and million-flowered) begonias, in reds, pinks, whites.  They only need some water.  They can withstand heat.  Aphids, snails, fungus/ mildew and other pesty things just don't seem to touch them.  OK, I hope this helps you out.  Be blessed.

Elizabeth Gilbert · Answer

Forgot to mention in my first comment...re: front yard area ... I had mentioned a white picket fence in front coming around to driveway area to define your yard.  You need a gate out front and a sidewalk leading to the front door.  Study your million options for gate design; likewise for embellishing your sidewalk with beds.  I would consider boxwood along sides of sidewalk, and then more colorful landscape within the yard.  Outline your existing beds and new beds.  I do mine with small boulders that I pick up in my daily travels about town (Portland is recipient of much rock, compliments of Montana flood eons ago).  I love the 'texture' rocks and concrete chunks lend to the scape.  I tend not to go for everything in a perfect line, straight and all.  Texture, whether in live plantings or materiel is a huge contributor to eye-catching appeal.  OK, I'm done.

Cambridge Pavingstones with Armortec · Answer

You can increase your curb appeal by dramatically transforming your entryway with pavingstones and wallstones by Cambridge with Armortec. A pavingstone driveway will be a beautiful addition to your home, plus they are durable and maintenance free. Adding a pavingstone walkway from your driveway to your front entrance willdraw attention to the new addition on your home. Please go to our website and visit the amazing photos in our electronic brochure. By linking to Cambridge’s Designscape Visualizer you can upload your photograph and actually re-design using Cambridge Pavingstones and Wallstones. Visit our website at www.cambridgepavers.com

Lisa @ 50 Things to Know Life · Answer

Made some changes.

Ginny · Answer

Have the trees and shrubs professionally trimmed/shaped . Costly but you will see a big difference in the appearance of your property. Why take something down that is not 'sick' or hanging over your roof?

Curb appeal

Curb appeal

Suggested Project Book

3 Easy Ways To Upgrade Your Pillows To A High End Look

Other

More

Curb appeal

Curb appeal

Suggested Project Book