Fall Garden & Fall Porch Before & After

by Val Frania {Love My DIY Home}

We bought our house two years ago and it was in a shambles! The yard looked (and still does in some areas) like it was a back woods farm that hadn't been touched in years.

fall garden fall porch before after, gardening, landscape, porches

The front was non-descript with overgrown greenery (weeds) and stones full of dirt and dried up greenery (weeds).

After a year of not addressing the stones in front, tons of weeds took root and made it look even shabbier. After I dug out the rocks, I found plastic. This is not uncommon, but it's awfully hard on the dirt below. Dirt prefers to breathe. After first doing some research, I decided to either use landscaping fabric or mulch and compost with nothing beneath. This time I didn't use the fabric.

After adding dirt, mulch and compost, I planted a few things, but due to family issues, left the rest for this summer. It's amazing what a little DIY can do for the front of a house...check out this summer's fall garden.

A bit of care, addition of more greenery and time makes a huge difference. Next came our fall porch decor.

Fall is a great time to spiff things up. Winter is so long here in Wisconsin that we need to encourage ourselves to go into it with a positive attitude. A welcoming front porch will do a lot to lift your spirits.

Happy fall y'all!

I dug the marigolds out of my garden - where they protected my tomatoes. The ladder was from my daughter's back yard, formerly a railing for their deck.

Basket from Goodwill, Fake leaves from JoAnns on clearance last year, spray painted antique chair from a local auction - DIY can be VERY inexpensive if you look hard and patiently wait to find the good deals.

The flag came from my MIL after my FIL's passing. He was a Korean War veteran medic.

Basil in hanging baskets instead of flowers - smells so fab!

DH was good enough to paint the front door for me today - isn't it amazing how paint can totally change a look? It went from white to "brandy wine" a satin exterior from Menards.

You don't have to be experienced, talented or extraordinary. You just have to research, ask a lot of questions, experiment and then just go for it. It's worth the effort. Don't pay anyone to do it for you. DIY!