7 Landscaping Tips to Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Your home’s landscape plays an important role in its overall appearance. When guests first approach your home, the first thing they see is the landscape. This can either help or hurt your home’s appearance depending on how it’s done.

Neglecting the landscape will result in overgrown brush and grass, taking away from your home’s visual appeal. But the right approach to maintaining the landscape will enhance your home’s appearance, setting the tone and atmosphere in the process.

1. Choose the Right Plants

Selecting the right plants for your landscape can make all the difference in creating a low-maintenance, sustainable garden. Native plants are a great choice because they are adapted to your local climate, requiring less water, fertilizer, and care. Plus, they help support local wildlife, making them a win-win for both you and the environment.

To keep your yard looking vibrant throughout the year, consider incorporating plants that offer seasonal blooms. This ensures that your garden has color and life even during the colder months. Research what flowers bloom in different seasons to plan accordingly, from spring tulips to fall chrysanthemums.

Incorporating varying heights and textures also adds visual interest to your landscape. Mixing tall shrubs with low-growing ground cover or spiky plants with soft foliage creates a dynamic, layered effect that catches the eye. By playing with different textures and heights, you give your garden depth and variety.

Plant Feature	Why It Matters	Examples to Consider
Native Plants	Low maintenance, sustainable, and wildlife-friendly.	Coneflowers, Black-eyed Susans.
Seasonal Blooms	Ensures color and vibrancy year-round.	Tulips (spring), Asters (fall).
Varied Heights/Textures	Adds visual appeal and depth to the landscape.	Ferns, ornamental grasses, hydrangeas.

Choosing the right plants gives your landscape both beauty and functionality, all while reducing the need for excessive maintenance.

2. Eliminate the Weeds

Whether you live on the east coast, west coast, or somewhere in between, weeds are an all-too-common problem in landscapes. You may notice just one or two sporadic weeds, but if left untreated, they will quickly reproduce and spiral out of control.

Rather than a chemical based weed killer, try using vinegar to eliminate weed. Fill up a spray bottle with organic apple cider vinegar and go around your yard spraying all the weeds you notice.

Due to its highly acidic properties, vinegar is a safe and effective solution for killing weeds. Just use caution to ensure that it doesn’t get on your healthy plants, as it may also kill them.

3. Add More Mulch to Plant Beds

When was the last time that you added mulch to your plant beds? Over time, mulch will blow away and decompose, revealing the bare ground underneath. You can make your plant beds look “cleaner” by maintaining a consistent layer of mulch over them.

When you notice bare spots of the ground showing, simply sprinkle some additional mulch around the plants. With the cold fall and winter seasons fast approaching, mulch will also prove useful in protecting your plants from frost.

4. Watch the Runoff

Rainwater runoff can wreck havoc on a landscape, washing away the soil and killing otherwise healthy plants. This is why it’s important that homeowners identify where exactly the rain runs off, fixing any problems if needed.

Ideally, rain should flow from your roof, through the gutters, and then away from your home. If rainwater is allowed to seep around your home’s foundation, it could lead to moisture problems later down the road.

Check out: Designing the Perfect Landscape

5. Edge the Driveway and Sidewalk

This tip is pretty much self-explanatory. When driveways and sidewalks aren’t edged on a regular basis, grass and brush will begin to encroach, creating a messy look that does your home no justice.

So, try to get into the habit of edging the driveway and sidewalk each time you mow the law. Depending on the size of your yard, this should only take a couple of minutes but doing so will have a significant, and positive, impact on your home’s curb appeal.

HOW TO GET A PERFECT SIDEWALK EDGE EVERY TIME [TRIMMER VS EDGER!]

6. Create a Welcoming Pathway

A well-designed pathway can transform your landscape, inviting visitors to explore and guiding them to key areas of your yard. Whether it’s a simple garden path or a grand walkway, pathways help create a natural flow and give structure to your outdoor space. Think of it as the stage for your home’s exterior—leading the way to your front door or garden with purpose and style.

When choosing materials for your pathway, it’s essential to pick ones that blend seamlessly with your home’s design. Stone pavers, gravel, and brick are classic options, each offering its own texture and visual appeal. Consider the overall style of your home—rustic, modern, or traditional—and choose a material that complements it.

Adding lighting to your pathway not only enhances the beauty of the space but also ensures safety after dark. Soft, warm lighting creates a welcoming atmosphere while guiding guests down the path. Solar-powered lights or low-voltage options are energy-efficient and easy to install.

Design Consideration	Why It Matters	Options to Consider
Pathway Material	Complements your home’s design and provides durability.	Stone, gravel, brick, or concrete pavers.
Lighting	Enhances safety and adds ambiance.	Solar lights, LED lights, or lanterns.
Pathway Functionality	Guides visitors and creates a flow in the landscape.	Curved paths, straight paths, or meandering walkways.

A well-lit, well-placed pathway doesn’t just direct—it elevates the entire atmosphere of your outdoor space.

7. Add Functional Outdoor Spaces

Creating functional outdoor spaces is all about enhancing how you live and entertain in your yard. Patios and decks provide the perfect spots for relaxation or gatherings with family and friends. Whether you’re enjoying a quiet morning coffee or hosting a weekend barbecue, these areas serve as extensions of your home, offering comfort and style.

Incorporating outdoor furniture takes these spaces to the next level. Comfortable seating, such as lounge chairs or a sectional sofa, invites people to stay and enjoy the outdoors. Choose pieces that complement the design of your patio or deck and are built to withstand the elements.

Shade structures, like pergolas or umbrellas, are essential for comfort during hot summer days. They provide relief from the sun and create a cozy, inviting atmosphere. A pergola with climbing vines or sheer curtains adds both shade and style, making your outdoor space feel like a true retreat.

Design Element	Why It Matters	Options to Consider
Patios/Decks	Adds a space for relaxation and entertainment.	Pavers, wood, composite decking.
Outdoor Furniture	Enhances comfort and usability for outdoor activities.	Sofas, chairs, benches, and tables.
Shade Structures	Provides comfort on hot days and creates ambiance.	Pergolas, umbrellas, shade sails.

By adding these elements, you create a welcoming and functional outdoor environment where you can unwind and entertain in style.