If you’re like most homeowners, you’re probably already mowing your lawn once a week, or at least whenever it needs it. You probably even put down a fertilizer and weed killer. So why doesn’t your home or yard stand out in the neighborhood? This topic is the subject of today’s post: curb appeal.
Curb appeal refers to how appealing your home is when viewed from the street. Does it stand out? Is it aesthetically pleasing? Most homes have at least a little bit of room for improvement when it comes to curb appeal.
Without further ado, here are the Top 5 weekly maintenance tips to keep your yard looking groomed and neat, and thus improving your home’s curb appeal:
- Mow as needed. You don’t need to bag all your clippings, rather leave the clippings on the lawn as a natural mulch, which helps during dry periods. Don’t mow when the grass is wet. Wet grass will clump in the tires of your mower, leaving chunks of wet sod throughout your yard.
- Trim around your landscape edging, trees, fences and sidewalks, and curb every week when you mow. I am a firm believer that automated weed cutters are one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century. Just be sure that you don’t cut too close to your trees or shrubs, as this can cause damage. You can also edge along your sidewalk and curb by turning your weed cutter vertically, and running it along the edge. This will leave a really nice, clean look.
- Deadhead your flowers and plants to promote ongoing blooms and keep your pots fresh looking. Yard waste like old flower blossoms or plant clippings can be added to your garden composter for eco-friendly disposal.
- Blow or sweep off your sidewalks, driveway and street curb in front of your home whenever you’re done mowing or edging the lawn. You may not believe it, but this makes a significant impact on the neatness of your home’s appearance. I always start in the garage, and work my way down the driveway into the street, where I finish by sweeping up my pile and disposing of it properly. Remember, most municipalities have regulations against leaving lawn refuse in the street.
- Last but not least, water your flowers, trees and shrubs as needed. Watering your grass is entirely a personal choice; it’s not likely that your grass will die completely if you don’t water it. Most grasses will go dormant during periods of drought and come back when precipitation returns. However, you can lose young bushes and trees and certainly will lose flowers if you do not keep them hydrated. Check the proper watering guides for the type of vegetation you have and follow those standards to maintain your landscaping appropriately.
If you’re not already doing some of these extra tasks, you may be put off when considering the additional time they’ll take. But the best way to keep up with all this extra maintenance is to do it weekly at the same time you mow your lawn. You’ll soon find that, in reality, each of these items only takes a few extra minutes of your time, and will dramatically improve the overall curb appeal of your home.
