These tips to Create Curb Appeal will not only jazz up your entry but may also increase the value of your home.
There is a saying that one can only have one first impression. That saying applies to the front of your home as well as to your personality or appearance.
The front door and entry is the focal point of your home, and it conveys to the person who visits a lot about your style.
Jazz up your home look with these 22 secrets to create curb appeal.
This has been the summer of make overs for me. In the past few months, I have been growing vegetables on my back deck, I transformed my back side garden to a Southwest themed retreat, and got super great harvests from my vegetables.
Now it is time for me to tackle the project that will change the way my front yard looks.
Create curb appeal with these tricks.
I have a very modest home. The gardens are lovely and it’s decorated nicely inside, but I have always hated the way it looks from the front.
The shutters are totally outdated in color, and the front door is rusted at the bottom and has no appeal.
Super huge boxwoods dwarf the entry step, the garden on the right is totally over grown, and basically the front of the house has zero curb appeal.
The front entry needs a total redo to make it look more modern and inviting.
Would you like to create curb appeal to your front yard, and perhaps add value to your home? Join me in seeing how I make over my front entry.
Perhaps you can put some of these tips for adding curb appeal into practice to see what a difference they can make.
It does not need to cost an arm and a leg either. Sometimes just a little elbow grease can go a long way.
1. Entry door
The front door can do so much to create curb appeal to an entry. Give the door a splash of color and update your hardware.
We will be painting our brick later this year to a light grey color, so we changed our old, rusty white door to a lovely dark blue color.
The rounded glass panel adds interest to the door and softness as well, which the house needs since it is so rectangular.
It gives the entry a huge pop of color that I love. New hardware make the whole look brand new. See this project here.
2. Make your shutters match
Nothing brings a look together like coordinating paint. Shutters make windows look larger and painting them the same color as the front door ties the whole look together.
It is an inexpensive fix that adds a lot of appeal to the front appearance. We turned our shutters back to front and painted them.
The finish of them was like new and it saved us almost $350! All it cost was some paint and a generous amount of TLC.
3. Enlarge the entry step
Do you have bushes on either side of your step that are too large? If you do, they definitely will dwarf the entry. Trim them down to size.
We had two HUGE boxwoods that made the front door area look much smaller than it actually is.
Cutting the bushes down to a very small size opens up the front step and gives me a blank slate to start my make over.
We did this early this year to give them time to fill out by the time the makeover is finished.
The step in the photo above is larger but not very great looking. This is how it looks after cleaning and some TLC.
4. Dress up your house numbers
There are lots of different ways to add house numbers to a front entry. Before my make over, I had used tiered planters on the front step with my house numbers on them.
I liked them when I made the project but wanted something new for my make over. Adding the house numbers to this plaque also balanced the door way opening.
You can view the tutorial for the project on this page of my site.
5. Change the lighting
I am ashamed to say that the door light on the front of our house is the original one from the 1970s.
The bulb could only be changed by taking the light apart, so I left the outside of it off and it was just a bulb hanging in place from the fixture. (it is amazing what one can get used to and never notice, but I bet my guests noticed it every time they came to the house!)
We changed the light to one which coordinates with the glass panel on the door, and, other than the front door, it is probably the single biggest change to the appeal of the entry.
Not a bad investment of $37!
6. Give the door a personal touch
Add a swag or festive wreath to give it a soft touch and to showcase your personal style. This burlap wreath is a simple project to make and can be changed as the seasons transition, and it holds up well outside too.
Since my new front door has an oval center, I’m not using the wreath right now, but as the holidays approach, I will add a swag to the oval center of the door that will showcase it well and welcome holiday visitors.
This photo shows it on a plain paneled door.
7. Add potted plants
Containers with potted plants add lushness to the front entry and give a welcoming touch and create curb appeal.
They are easy to care for with just a splash of water every few days and also give some softness to the entry point.
I have a small patio at the right side of the house, where I have added a seating area and a cluster of plants.
I use a staggered, asymmetrical look to the pots and plants in this section. The chair cushion covers match the brick work of my house too. Total cost for the seating was $32!
8. Make over your mailbox
Even though the mailbox is not near the entry, it still adds to the curb appeal of the front. Try to tie your plants into the look of the plants near the house for an extra cohesive effect.
The pure white mail box post matches the vinyl siding on the side of our house. I used easy to care for perennials that won’t need a lot of tending or watering.
Be sure to visit this page to see the mailbox transformation.
9. Renew the planter beds
Get the garden beds near the house in shape by pulling weeds, pruning old plants and adding new ones. My garden bed on the right of the door was overgrown.
I pulled everything out of my border on the right of the entry, and added shade loving perennials that match those on the left side.
I added a layer of mulch to control the weeds and help in watering. My front entry faces north and does not get much light, so flowering plants were not an option.
Fortunately for me, I love ferns, coral bells, helleborus, hydrangeas, and hostas!
10. Hide your hose
Hoses are necessary to keep your garden growing in tip top shape, but can look unsightly if left sitting on a lawn or a garden bed. Do you know that they actually make hose hiders?
Basically they are just a big tub with a place for the hose to pull through that keeps it out of sight. I made a DIY hose pot from a large galvanized trunk.
This big holder is the perfect place to store my Flexogen hose and garden nozzle.
The hose pot adds a decorative touch to the front border and keeps my hose handy for times when I need it.
11. Add height with a shepherd’s hook
The brick on the front of my house can over power the surrounding garden beds and step.
I added some height to the left garden bed and softened the brick facade by using a large shepherd’s hook.
Begonias add a splash of color and give some much needed dimension to the wall. Two hanging baskets add some much additional softness here.
The plants that I used are a chenille plant and two varieties of begonias: Rex Begonia and Angel wing begonia.
12. Trim the edges
All of my garden beds have edging in place to keep the weeds and grass from growing into the borders.
Be sure to keep them trimmed for a super neat affect that adds great curb appeal.
13. Incorporate a seating area
Earlier this year, I did a make over on a front garden bed to add a second pretty seating area.
I have several lovely garden beds in the front yard, and the seating area adds great curb appeal and gives me a place to sit and admire my flowers.
I did this make over on a budget too. You really don’t need to spend a lot on seating areas to add a great deal of curb appeal.
14. Clean the trim and discolored brick work
Brighten up the look of the eaves, siding or brick by giving them a gentle cleaning.
If the house is not too grimy, a spray with a good cleaning nozzle will work just fine.
A nozzle with a high burst cleaning setting makes it easy to clean them up in no time at all.
15. Keep the walkway weeds in check and be sure it is clean
The walk way to our front door has a small crack in it. We can’t afford to replace it now, but that does not mean that we should allow weeds to grow in the crack, or on the spaces in the brick steps.
Easy ways to keep them the weeds are bay are to either boil some water and pour it on the weeds to kill them, or use a DIY weed spray to keep them in check.
Using a high burst cleaning nozzle to remove the weeds and make it sparkling clean is also a simple way to go.
16. Hide your garbage bins
Garbage bins are a necessity, of course. But they don’t have to be an eyesore too.
The patio area shown above in tip #7 once housed my garbage bin, recycling bin, four or five bins for all my garden yard waste, and a huge mess of things that could easily be stored in our back shed.
After cleaning the cement patio, I decided “NO MORE!!
We tidied this area up and moves the bins around to the side of the house (only about 10 extra steps to add garbage to them). You could even put a white enclosure around them if you really don’t want to see them from the side view.
I had a long narrow garden border that was an overgrown mess of raspberry bushes that had never produced.
I pulled them all and placed the bins in this area. They can be seen from the side but from the front it looks like a single bed.
This is a great tip to create curb appeal, and it gave me a charming patio seating area in the front that actually adds to the look of the house, instead of detracting from it.
17. Lay down a welcome mat
After spending time making the door the focal point, draw the eye to it with a welcome mat. This simple addition welcomes the guests, adds a focal point, and helps to keep dirt on the outside of the front door.
I was going to buy a new welcome mat, but cleaning my old one got it very clean and the color now matches my brickwork, so I don’t need to replace it! What a change!
18. Transition the seasons
It is easy to have a welcoming look to your front door with great curb appeal in the summer time when flowers and plants are growing well. But as fall and winter approaches, think of ways to transition.
Add asters and mums in pots instead of summer flowers. Colorful pumpkins welcome in fall in a fun way, and corn stalks can be added to your wreath with just a bit of a switch out.
Add white lights on bushes, and a Christmas wreath to your front door to create a holiday effect.
Just because summer will be gone doesn’t mean the front door won’t need decorating as the days get cooler.
The change of seasons often gives the home owner a lot of tasks.
From cleaning a bird bath, to getting the trim on a house clean, a freshening up brick work, and cleaning cars – all add more appeal to your home.
These tips to Create Curb Appeal will not only jazz up your entry but may also increase the value of your home.
19. Plant a tree
My favorite tree is a Japanese Maple that my daughter gave me for my birthday. It graces the front yard and I planted a small border around it to showcase it.
The tree is small still, but it adds a lot of appeal to the front yard and I think of Jess every time I look at it.
20. Garden beds add softness
Break up your lawn area by adding a flowering cottage garden bed.
I have a kidney shaped bed in my front yard and I get comments from all of my neighbors as they pass by about how beautiful it is.
21. Garden decor adds so much
Garden decor breaks up garden beds and gives them a finished look. I use large urns and birdbaths in most of my garden beds.
Plus it brings the birds and butterflies to the garden which is lovely!
Keeping the birdbath clean requires regular maintenance.
22. Add matching planters
The front entry is the perfect spot for symmetry. Nothing does this in quite the same way as a set of matching planters.
In my front entry, I have two matching pots of white caladiums at the beginning of the step area, and two tall planters at the doorway, with liriope muscari variegata in stylish tall block planters painted to match my shutters and new front door.
The change from start to finish is amazing, and even though our house is still quite modest, the new curb appeal of my front yard makes me feel as though I am living in style! I can’t get over how the changes of color makes the house look completely different. I’m proud to say that I love the way my house looks now!
Pin these tips for curb appeal
Would you like a reminder of these tips for adding curb appeal to your home? Just pin this image to one of your boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.
229 responses to “22 Ways to Create Curb Appeal”
I love how nice your home looks. What a difference between the before and after photo.
My tip is to either water your plants early morning or late in the day to avoid the sun from burning them.
HI Margaret. Thanks for the tip. Morning is best I think especially if you live in the North. Here in the south, it dries out quickly no matter when. Sometimes we have to do it morning and night! Carol
Stay ahead of the weeds
Hi Katherine? Do you have a secret for that? I spend so much time weeding. Carol
I put them all in a bucket and I try to weed atleast an hour a day to keep ahead of it. If it rains and I can’t get out I just know I will have to spend more time on another day
Hi Katherine. I have a bucket out there handy too. It reminds me to weed and not let them grow. Carol
my tip is not to worry about the grass. It will come up on it’s own. If it gets a little brown and water isn’t an issue, hose it down in the evening.
Thanks for the tip Kimberly. Our lawn is full of weeds. I need to reseed this fall. Carol
My tip, I use household products to kill my weeds, vinegar, salt, dish liquid and water.
Hi Harolde. Thanks for the tip. I love using organic means for weed control. Carol
Use a drip hose in the garden instead of a sprinkler to conserve water and reduce the possibility of plant disease
Great tip Ann.Thanks for leaving it. Carol
So glad to hear about Gilmer Flexogen hoses…it’s always difficult finding a decent hose that’ll last. I take good care of my equipment but if you start with junk, you’ll still have junk.
The burlap wreath…beautiful and love how it can be adjusted seasonally.
The re-bar hose guide…brilliant and love the color. Until your tip re. re-bar, I’d given up on hose guides.
Very nice post, full of useful information and thanks for the opportunity to win.
Hi Sandra.Thank you for all the nice comments. Best of luck on your entry. It really is a fabulous hose. Carol
The dark blue paint and the light fixture add the most, imo. I weed after a rain, when the ground is soft. Next place I live, I’ll have soaker hoses.
Thanks Sandra. I love weeding after it rains too. So much easier! Carol
The best tip I ever recieved – don’t water your yard for 15 minutes a day, you need to soak it to establish roots deeper in the ground. Water every 3 days for longer.
That is a great tip Jennifer and so true too! Carol
My tip is to stay on top of the weeds. They get out of hand so fast!
I wish I could Denise! Carol
create natural markers using flat faces of stones of various sizes. Use a permanent marker and place the stones at or near the base of your plants.
Thanks Nickie. I have seen markers like this and love them! Carol
Keep shrubs trimmed. I know it’s work, but it is SO worth it in making your house look neater and clean. I recommend having at least a couple of kids to train for this particular job. An added benefit is that it tends to keep them out of the house for a while.
Great tip Mike. Thanks for sharing it. Carol
I have to agree with some of the people who have already posted: Water either very early morning or just before it gets too dark to see.
I live in Texas so it’s not only good so the sun doesn’t dry out the water too quickly but also being in the Texas heat in the afternoon is waaaaaay too draining. 🙂
Thanks!
Thanks Debbie. It is amazing how many times I see people watering in the middle of the day. Total waste of water! Carol
My tip is to keep things weeded on weekly basis and stay ahead of them
Thanks Richard. I agree. My problem is actually doing it EVERY week! LOL Carol
Use a rain barrel to save on water costs for watering your lawn and flowers!
Great tip Kristen. I wish we had gutters. I would love to save rain water. Carol
Feed your flowers/plants every 7-14 days with plant food.
Thanks Melissa. The flowers (and vegetables) do benefit from nourishment just like we do! Carol
Keep your garden weeded! We let ours get a bit out of control this year…the weeds were taller than the some of the plants. It we would have just kept up with it, it wouldn’t have taken so long to get it back to normal.
Hi Ryan. They can get out of control. I once had what I thought was a day lily plant that was a piece of crab grass monster sized! Carol
To prevent accumulating dirt under your fingernails while you work in the garden, draw your fingernails across a bar of soap and you’ll effectively seal the undersides of your nails so dirt can’t collect beneath them. Then, after you’ve finished in the garden, use a nailbrush to remove the soap and your nails will be sparkling clean.
Great tips Cindy. I think of this each time I am in the shower AFTER weeding. LOL Carol
My tip is to try to do everything natural. I might get less of a harvest but better taste.
So agree Jennifer. Carol
Use plants that continue to flower all summer and into the fall for maximum eye appeal and enjoyment.
That is a great tip Tina. Rebloomers are just wonderful in the garden. Carol
My tip is try to do your watering early morning, don’t wait until the sun is blasting.
Hi Jennifer. Thanks for sharing. Very good tip! Carol
Plant complementary plants together to help them grow faster and tastier, like tomatoes and basil.
Great tip Arielle. It really does make a big difference. Carol
My favorite tip is to use garden decor. I have lots!
Hi Kelly. A lady after my heart! I LOVE garden decor of all types. Carol
Use companion planting to help your plants grow better.
Hi Dj…great tip. Thanks for adding it. Carol
Don’t be afraid to try new flowers in your yard – we are still learning what works well for our yard and our area. We tried a lily and it has come back for 3 years now.
That is so true Bridget. Sometimes it takes a while to see what works. Carol
If possible water your plants in the early morning as opposed to watering them late at night!!!
Very good tip Lanae. It’s warm here in NC so I can water a little later, but morning is best. Carol
Weeds are the enemy stay on top of them and your yard will look great
Hi Sarah. I need to get out there and do some weeding! LOL Carol
Weeds are horrible in our yard! We have to stay on top of them or they grow so darn fast! And, also water early in the morning.
Hi Kim. It is the same for us here. I totally weeded everything in the spring and put down a heavy layer on mulch. There is still one (as well as crab grass) that just won’t quit. Carol
We always put down a weed barrier and re-mulch our flower beds every year to keep them fresh.
Good tip Liberty. What do you use as a weed barrier? Carol
Using old coffee grinds in gardens.
Hi Lacey. Roses, hydrangeas and azaleas love this! Carol
Water daily?? I’m still learning to turn my brown thumb green.
thanks for the tip Jennifer. I water daily when it is really hot but not so often as it gets cooler. Plants in containers often need daily watering. Carol
Take pictures of when the garden is blooming, so when you are planting new plants, you can remember what has already been planted.
HI Karen. That is a great idea, especially for bulbs that lose leaves as the summer goes on. Carol
Make sure you are planting the right flowers/plants for the right seasons.
That is a great tip Brittney. It also means that you will have flowers all through the seasons too. Carol
Living in the South-water daily!
Unfortunately I have to agree. It is a daily job here in NC too! Carol
Plant marigolds by your veggies! I had a huge pest problem the first time I planted veggies and someone told me to try planting marigolds to keep the pest away. It works!
Thanks for the tip Amanda. I planted them last year and had good results. Carol
Save your used coffee grinds and use them on your tomato plants — tomatoes love the acid.
Thanks Kathy. Other plants do too…roses, azaleas, blueberries and hydrangeas love them. Carol
use water resistant grass to save water
That is a great tip Sandra. What grass do you use? I’m going to reseed this fall. Carol
Use vinegar to kill weeds!
Thanks for the tip Lindsey. It does work well! Carol
Trim you rose bushes faithfully to promote growth
Thanks for the tip Vicky. That reminds me….need to trim my roses! Carol
Thanks for the tips, love a neat garden with no weeds. I worry about mowing all the time. Hate for my yard to look scraggly. Have planters and birdbath in my yard and tired of pulling weeds. What weed killer do you use if any?
HI Carolyn. My weed killer is my hands. LOL. Although when they get out of control, I do look at the round up bottle and want to use it! Carol
Plant a match or two around your pepper plants. They love the sulfur.
Also, epsom salts make a huge difference in your garden with both veggies and flowering plants. They love the magnesium! . Spread it like you would an extended release fertilizer like osmocote, or put a teaspoon in the hole before you plant your bedding plants.
Hi Rust. Thanks for the tips. Some of them I had not heard of yet! Carol
I love adding flower baskets on the porch for added color!
Hi Laura. Such a good tip. I have a lot of planters and baskets this year and love them. Carol
Use rocks in an area where you have open space between shrubs. They add curb appeal without much maintenance.
Thanks for the tip Lea. I added a few rocks in my front border this year and love the way they look. Carol
Don’t be overly ambitious when planting your garden. The more you plant the more you take care of.
HI Rachel. GREAT tip. My husband would totally agree. He keeps trying to get me to downsize. Carol
Always water in the morning and that in the evening to prevent the water from being to absorbed.
Thanks for the tip Erica. Carol
When purchasing your garden tools, buy the best you can afford, and take care of them. They will serve you well if you do.
Hi Missy. That is a very good tip. Many people try to save by purchasing cheap tools but they just do not last. Carol
when i live in country we use cow manure and then dig up the garden and then re do before ready to plant we got over 20 ft sunflower and had it in the paper
Hi Desiree. Thanks for the tip. I wish I had access to cow manure. It is like a miracle with plants. Carol
I try to do lots of research on perennial plants and what grows best in my state. I only planted things that had excellent growing recommendations for her, and it all will come back year after year so that saves me save gardening time and money each spring
Very good tip Ashley. This saves on watering costs too. Carol
We tend to water the lawn in early morning.
Hi Heather. That really is the best time to do it, isn’t it? CArol
My husband puts down a sheet of black plastic and cuts holes where he wants to plant flowers and then he covers the plastic with mulch and then there are no weeds.
That is a great tip Debbie. I do something similar in some of my garden beds too. Carol
We weed almost weekly, to maintain our lawn/yard.
Hi Candice. That is such a good tip for keeping on top of the weeds. Carol
growing native plants and getting starts from local friends and neighbors. I live in high desert country and the only plants I have had continued success with are those that have been climatized to the area. They also will be more hardy.
Hi Jill. It really makes a big difference not to fight nature. Carol
Compost your organic trash, and use in the garden. I have the best soil, and I keep organic material out of the landfill.
Hi Kelly. I love this tip. Gardens really make great use of our trash, especially kitchen trash. Carol
Plant marigolds around other plants to discourage insects, try to water the soil rather than pouring water on top of plants, a spray of baking soda and water helps rose leaves fight black spot.
Hi Francine. All very good tips. Thanks so much for adding them to the comments. Carol
lay newspaper under soil/mulch in beds to prevent weed growth
Hi Cassie. Thanks for the tip. Cardboard also works the same way too. Carol
I’ve learned that I’m not much of a gardener, but I love a pretty garden. When we moved into our new home we created low maintenance flower perennial flower beds and they have looks great for the last 2 years with very little upkeep.
Hi Sarah. That seems to be a lesson I keep needing to relearn. I have 8 garden beds and they are all large. As much as I love them, I have to admit, I can’t keep them up. Too much work. Carol
I asked a garden nursery worker how they got the plants to bloom so well and she told me they fertilize the heck out of them … Since fertilizing the heck out of my plants (especially in the pots) my plants have done very well.
Hi Christine, Thanks for the tip. Glad this is working well for you. Carol
I love all the simple changes you made that make up into such great curb appeal. We need to do some tweaking to the outside of our home.
Hi Barb. Thanks for the nice comment. It really was fun doing the whole project. I’m very pleased with the way it came together. Carol
I LOVE your hose pot…I love to put items like that in my yard. I found a broken bench in the garbage, which was missing the legs. I attached it to 2 log stumps and display plants on it. It cost $0.
Hi Kim. My kind of project. I love to save money on redos. Carol
I Love the new door!
Hi Jana. Thanks! That is my favorite part too. Carol
I like your tips & I would love a seating area! 😀
Hi Meg. I have them all over my garden. So nice to just sit and admire the flowers when I get a chance. Carol
Fantastic job! I can hardly believe it is the same house. Love the door, and what a great idea to hide the hose! Well done
Hi Maureen. Thanks! I feel the same way when I look at the front of the house. It is as though it is someone else’s house. Carol
I have to agree, your front porch and door make over looks amazing. Planting plants and vegetables native to your area will greatly reduce the amount of water you need. If your local area allows it, rain water tanks can be a great way to reduce your water consumption. Use the tank water for gardening.
Hi Elizabeth. Thanks for the nice comment. And also thanks for the gardening tips. Carol
Salt and vinegar poured on weeds ends the progress
Hi Katherine. Thanks for the tip. This really does work too! Carol
Water early in the day, especially when it is going to be 100 like today!
Hi Pat. Yes. that is a good tip. Watering in the heat of the day just wastes water. Carol
Love the blue and white together!!!
Hi Danielle. Thanks for the nice comment. Carol
I know people are said similar things but I like to garden early in the day when it isn’t too hot! Thanks for the chance!
No problem on the repetition Amanda. It is interesting to see what it most important to others. Carol
Take a sample of your soil in for analysis so that you know exactly what you need to get it looking good.
Hi Marilyn. Very good tip and one that many people ignore too often! Carol
“Embrace the bugs. There are a number of bugs that are helpful for your garden. Ladybugs, praying mantises, bees, and even many spiders are helpful at keeping the pesky bugs at bay. Consider building a “bug hotel” to make your backyard a more bug-friendly place.”
HI Ken. Thanks for the tip. You are right. People reach for chemicals way too often But many bugs are beneficial. Carol
Honestly, hire someone to do it, because I kill everything!! LOL Thank you for the chance.
Hi Monique. LOL. I know the feeling. I do very well in spring and then the hot weather hits and I always lose one thing after another. Carol
I grind up egg shells and plant them below my tomatoes. The calcium keeps the blossom rot away and gives the tomatoes a tiny calcium boost.
Hi Jen. Thanks for the tips. Good to hear this works. Carol
I use a layer of brown bark mulch to help keep weeds down and keep moisture in the soil.
I also like to keep my watering can on the front porch, when it rains, it fills and i use that water for potted plants. Plus it looks decorative, useful, but not messy!
Hi Janet. I love the idea of the decorative watering can that collects rain water. Must try that. Carol
My tip is to weed the day after it rains and not to try to pull a weed in hot dry weather. Also pine needle mulch is the best I’ve found to control weeds in the first place.
HI Audra. Thanks for the tip. I actually enjoy weeding the day after it rains! Carol
My tip is to remember to clean and oil your tools at the end of the season so they don’t rust. And give your lawn mower a tune up & oil change as needed.
That is a great tip Mattie and one that so many overlook! Carol
I try to build up my soil naturally. We have a couple compost bins which I like to call the magic dirt boxes. Also there is a mushroom farm that gives away free compost ,when I have a chance I go there to collect some to mix in the beds. Also we save all egg shells. After they dry well, put them in a blender, then add to the soil. And no chemicals of course.
Hi Patty. Your soil must be wonderful with all those additives! Carol
I water early in the morning and make sure it gets down to the roots..
Very good tip Julie. Deep watering is so good for plants. Carol
Hi Julie. Tomatoes like slightly acid soil but not too much different from other veggies. The amount of baking soda would not lower it too much I think. Carol
Sprinkle salt between your sidewalk blocks to kill weeds.
Thanks for the tip Janet. Boiling water works for this too! Carol
trying to not over water the plants
Thanks for the tip Natalie. I have the opposite problem. I underwater! Carol
my favorite tip is to use newspaper to stop weeds from growing
Hi Amanda. That is a great tip an it really works! Carol
I use full strength vinegar on the weeds that grow on my sidewalk.
Thanks for the tip Linda. Vinegar works very well. Adding some dishwashing soap to it will also work. (it makes it cling to the leaves.) Carol
Here in CA we now are trying to do less lawn because of our shortage of water. Any ideas for us? A good hose that doesn’t leak is a good start!
Hi James, The only thing that I can think is to use southwest designed plants that need very little water. You can landscape around them with rocks and gravel to use less lawn. Caorl
I love gardening, flowers, fruits veggies, I try taking pictures, of what they look like in the prime. I know at some point I will be down sizing do to aging,so I want the prime ones of each when that time comes–I write facts on each and have them in a 3 ring photo card holder
HI Dianna. What a great idea. It also shows what you have in each area of the garden too come spring when things have not started growing. Carol
We like to start our garden in early spring, and we water & tend it in the evening, when the sun is going down to stay cool and and help our garden absorb the water and growth products Thanks for the chance!
Great tip Mary. I find that my garden is so much nicer in the early spring too. It gets so hot here in the summer and everything suffers a bit. Carol
We have such a large yard and trying to keep all the spots watered can be tough especially trying to do a garden in the front and back.
Hi Danielle. I know what you mean. I’m better at it early in the spring than during the summer when it gets so hot. Carol
I like to water in the middle of the night, it helps not waste water.
My favorite tip is to keep you grass long in the summer(the fourth or fifth highest setting on your mower) to shield the soil from sunlight, which helps it retain moisture.
Hi David. My husband also does this. He says it really helps the lawn. Carol
We water at night when it’s cooler. It seems to last longer that way.
My tip is to use a rain barrel so that you can water your garden with it.
Hi Jessica. Great tip. I wish we had gutters on our house so we could add a rain spout. Carol
Keep things simple.
VERY good tip Erica. It does get over powering if you don’t limit what you do with gardens. Carol
I have no tip. My thumb is nowhere near green and hiring a gardener is mandatory for me. Actually – I think that’s my tip! Keep your gardener happy so they’ll do a good job!
Hi Denise. I am almost to the point this summer where I want to pay someone to keep on top of the tasks. Carol
You should find plants that best fit the type of sunlight you have throughout the year: full sun, half sun or shade.
Another good tip Elizabeth. It makes a huge difference to play for the spot. Carol
Keep your grass a little taller, to about 3-3 1/2 inches, to reduce evaporation and keep weeds at bay.
Thanks Hesper. We do this especially when it is the hottest days. Carol
my tip is adding mulch help your flowers retain water
Hi Laurie. We do this every year and it makes a big difference. Carol
During the summer, cut the lawn after dinner on Fridays. Makes you think you still have your whole weekend-lol
Hi Liz. I LOVE this tip. Carol
Mulching saves on weeding time!
HI Elizabeth. thanks for the tip. It really does make a big difference Carol
Make a watering schedule
Thanks Daniel. And once it is made, be sure to stick to it! Carol
Keep up with pulling the weeds from your garden so your garden doesn’t get over run by them.
Hi John. Weeding is so much easier if you don’t let it get out of control, isn’t it? Carol
This is a weird tip, lol, but I trained our new puppy to only “do his business” in the mulch, thereby avoiding stepping in poo on the lawn and simultaneously fertilizing the mulch/garden bed. It was actually not too hard to do, and people were amazed he didn’t poo on the lawn!
Hi Michelle. Wow…would not have thought of doing that. Carol
Is it bad if I don’t have a favorite tip!? I am just learning a lot of gardening stuff! I think if you keep your bushes and such trimmed back then they grow back must faster and healthier.
Hi Aimee. that is a great tip and it is exactly what happens when you trim them! Carol
Watch long range weather forcast to prioity
schedule your daily task
Hi Candilee. I do that too. It is nice to know that I won’t have to water when rain is expected. Carol
Use native grasses and other plants to both help the environment and keep your lawn in tune with your geographical area.
HI, Thanks for the tip. It really is best to go with nature instead of against it! Carol
My tip don’t go overboard with flowers scrubs only plant what you have time to take care of. I have learned from experience.
Me too Tina! Carol
I love when you paint the door a POP out color!
Me too Keeley. I replaced mine this year and love the way it looks against my two garden beds near it. Carol
My tip is to do a little lawn and yard care everyday…..that way it doesn’t get too out of control.
Hi Wen. Very good tip. It is much easier to do the jobs if they aren’t overwhelming! Carol
I wish I had snippets of advice. I seem to kill everything. But we do have an amazing rose bush that has been alive for over 20 years. Thank you
You must have a “rose thumb” Candie! Carol
My favorite tip for the area I live in, is to buy plants that don’t need to be watered more than 1x a week. Difficult to find, but a necessity in the drought area I live in.
Hi, Perennials are usually pretty good after the first year in regards to watering. Annuals take much more. Carol
My favorite tip is pick veggies when mature, but small.
Good tip Renee. They taste much better that way too. Carol
I love trimming the edges. It gives such a neat look to the yard.
I do as well, Julie. They really show off a garden bed well, when the edges are trimmed. Carol
Prevent the line on your string trimmer from jamming or breaking, treat with a spray vegetable oil before installing it in the trimmer.
Hi Danielle. Thanks for the tip. That is a good one. Carol
My favorite gardening tip is to plant your flowers on a tier. I like to plants small ones in one row, medium ones in the row behind it and so forth. I always make my last tier my Gladiolas in honor of my mom who loved them. It looks so nice when they are tiered this way.
that is a good tip Laurie. It shows them all off to their best advantage. Carol
I find that keeping the grass cut at least once a week makes it more managable.
I try to catch as much rain water as I can to water my flowers. If I use water from the tap, I let it sit for a while to let the chlorine and chemicals evaporate.
Using Miracle-Gro, fish oil and Messenger on plants and even trees and bushes,
Hi Jessylyn. Thanks for the tip. Carol
Honestly, I am not the one with the green thumb in the family. The only tip I can think of is to water your plants frequently.
Hi Carolyn. Thanks for the tip. Best of luck with the giveaway. Carol
Thank You for the giveaway…Keep Your Mower Blade Sharp and High(er) in The Summer i.e. Allow all grasses to grow taller in summer and during drought.
Hi Bryan. Thanks for the tip. Carol
What plants do you have in the front kidney shaped garden?
That photo was taken several years ago and some plants have been moved. There are two hydrangea bushes, a dahlia, lilies and a large rose bush in one of the beds. The other kidney shaped bed has black eyed Susans, irises, rose bushes, gladiolas and hostas.