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samuel_lynon

Help! Need Front Yard Ideas

12 years ago
Purchased a tri-level built in 1978 with no real updates. Need some ideas. Let me hear them if you got them.

Comments (6)

  • 12 years ago
    I could use some curb appeal added. Was thinking of repaving the driveway, updating the windows, removing bushes/major trees and updating the porch, but don't have a lot of ideas
  • 12 years ago
    Your home has the great allure of simplicity. I would be careful not to add too many gimmicks. I would not remove large trees. The garage doors are attractive in shape but a new color could be beneficial. The biggest benefit could be in landscaping and color from flora.
    Samuel Lynon thanked User
  • 12 years ago
    For the yard take out the shrubs under the windows. Take the tree next to the driveway and draw a line to the corner of the house where the fence is. Fill it up with dirt and put small shrubs and flowers and mulch (black) it will make the yard pop. The line can be kind of squiggly not like straight. Now the house.... I would not do shutters there is no room for them on both windows. I like the front door color I would put that on the garage doors to bring that color towards the street. Try to get the same hue mums or flowers to go in that area I talked about already. After u paint the garage doors go to Lowes and get garage door hardware in wrought iron it's not expensive and it gives the doors some character put that on. In between your windows on the house get a flower box or something wrought iron ( Big Though) so it makes a good statement from the street. Have flowers the color of your doors and some Potato Vines and maybe some yellow/ rust color flowers in there also. Now that all blends with the doors and the wrought iron on the garage doors. If u don't want to hand a flower box get a thing I don't know the name for it but it's wrought iron u stick it in the ground and plant a vine like the Potato Vine in the ground and the vine climbs up it. I just remembered the name TRELLIS! Lol. That would be nice also. So now the PORCH... Get 2 or 3 black pots and put the same flowers in the pots. To many different flowers make it look to busy. Save that for the Back yard. Same flowers that are either in the hanging flower box or the same flowers that are planted in the ground that I mentioned from the tree by the driveway all the way up to the corner of the house. Black Mulch only the flowers will look better. Hope this helps if your on a budget. I always am and try to decorate in a Big way on a cheap budget. Have fun!
    Samuel Lynon thanked Suzanne Hills/Gruich
  • 12 years ago
    My only issues with the trees is the major oak root system is destroying the driveway. I may replant with smaller trees, but don't have any ideas.
  • 12 years ago
    I think you should try to work around the trees, and the attendant issues. Consult an arborist about the tree by the driveway, and the issues it is causing to see if you could do some selective root work to prevent damage. A few ideas, if you are looking at re-doing the drive: 1) permeable driveway system, 2) driveway strips--that is, you put in hardscape where the tires go up, and grass/other material in between. That was done a lot in "the olden days"!, 3) paver system...if an area heaves from the roots, you just take out the pavers, lower the subgrade level, replace the pavers.

    You should probably give it up on growing grass under the trees. Figure out where the lawn growing edge naturally stops, and create planting beds that are mulched under the trees. Perennials, like day lilies, or a groundcover appropriate to your area would be the ticket in non-grass areas.

    You might consider taking out the hedge, and if possible move the fence line further back on the right side of the house. This would give you an area to do more varied plantings (think colorful leaves all year long) and make the fence less of a front feature.

    For color you might consider white/buff (like the roof) and blue. If the front steps are paintable, that might help define the entry, along with a couple of tall pots with shrubs as a main plant and colorful annuals seasonally. A cobalt blue door with cobalt blue pots would look sharp.

    Some cool house numbers centered above the garage doors might help spiff that front area up. Have fun!:)
    Samuel Lynon thanked nwduck