Top 5 Landscaping Ideas to Boost Curb Appeal This Summer
Homeowners in Georgetown and Lexington, Kentucky, know that summers can be especially hard on front yards thanks to long periods of heavy rain alternating with drought, and sometimes even severe weather that lingers into the summertime months. Trying to keep your home's exterior looking nice year-round can feel a bit frustrating, but the good news is that there are a few changes you can make that have a big impact on curb appeal.
At Cane Run Mulch and Stone, we've been helping Bluegrass homeowners make those calls since 1989. These are the five projects we most often recommend to homeowners looking for front-yard landscaping ideas and who want a sharper-looking yard before summer gets away from them.
1. Lay Fresh Mulch Before the Hottest Stretch Hits
Landscaping mulch is one of the best things that you can do for your home's exterior, especially in the summertime. There are several benefits to laying fresh mulch in your front flower beds that go beyond aesthetics. A fresh 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch can help with retaining soil moisture while also suppressing weeds that can choke off your plants. It also gives your flower beds a fresh and polished look. Depending on the type of mulch you choose, it can also add visual contrast to your home's exterior.
2. Frame Your Beds with Landscaping Stones
While you are improving the look of your home's exterior with a fresh layer of mulch, another small change you can make that has a big impact is to edge your lawn or flower beds with a defined border—and the best tool for this is stone. Adding a stone border to one element of your front yard can help give your home's exterior a more pulled-together look while remaining friendly to most homeowners' associations, which many of our neighbors in Georgetown and Lexington live in.
3. Add Natural Stone for Dimension
If you are not looking to create a long, expensive stone border, you might also consider highlighting one small feature at the front of your home with flagstone pieces. This can make your yard pop from the street and add some curb appeal without a total overhaul of your front lawn. A few flagstones working as accent pieces are a great example of how less can be more when it comes to curb appeal ideas.
4. Dress Your Soil Before You Plant Anything New
If you're filling gaps in existing beds or adding new plantings this summer, what goes under your plants matters as much as the plants themselves. New roots in worn-out soil start at a disadvantage, especially as temperatures rise. An inch of compost worked into a bed before planting gives roots something to grow into and helps the soil hold moisture during the dry stretch between watering.
5. Finish With a Detail from the Garden Shop
Once the mulch is fresh, the borders are clean, and the stone is in place, the last thing your front yard needs is a focal point. Our garden shop carries fountains, pottery, birdhouses, and outdoor décor that give a well-edged yard something for the eye to land on near the door or driveway.
One well-placed fountain or piece of pottery near your front entrance changes how the whole yard reads from the street in a way that one more bag of mulch wouldn't, and it adds a personal touch that tells people something about the home behind it.
Get Ready for Summer with Mulch near Georgetown, KY
Cane Run Mulch and Stone has served Georgetown, Lexington, and the surrounding Bluegrass communities since 1989. We're named after Cane Run Creek, which flows through our property, and our team has been advising homeowners on landscape materials for years.
Not sure how much material you need for any of these projects? Use our material calculator for a quick estimate, or stop by the yard to talk it through with our team in person. We offer delivery on select products for customers who can't haul bulk material themselves. Contact us today to get started!
