Curb appeal is the first thing people see when they look at your home from the street. It is the first impression, and welcomes you to come in!

It starts from the colour of the front door to the walkway, the lawn, and the plants used in the landscape. It is also about keeping everything looking neat and tidy. The driveway is clean with no weeds as are the walkways. A home with good curb appeal is not only beautiful, but it also has a higher real estate value making it an attractive investment.

As you drive through neighbourhoods some yards and landscapes stand out above others. These tend to be the yards that have well maintained, weed-free, healthy looking lawns that are mowed. (Tip: keep lawnmower blades sharp as this will make a nicer cut. Dull blades will give a ragged look to the grass.)Any bald spots in the lawn are filled in by top dressing and sowing grass seed to match the existing lawn. Fertilize the grass regularly with a good quality lawn fertilizer.

There is a nice combination of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs. Perhaps half deciduous, and the other half are evergreens for that added winter interest. A tall deciduous tree can be surrounded by smaller sized evergreens, or a large spruce can have smaller sized flowering shrubs in the area. Cedars are often used on the outside corner edges of the house. Creating a landscaped area along the outside edges of your home can give the illusion of a larger home. Create a symmetrical look. Choose trees and shrubs carefully and think about the mature size of the tree before you plant, and the bloom time of flowering shrubs. If planting near the driveway, think about winter and snow removal so that trees and shrubs are not in the way. Trees and shrubs are evenly shaped, trimmed and pruned. Remove any dead, damaged or diseased branches. Tip: Prune at the correct times. Deciduous trees and shrubs are pruned in the spring before they break into leaf with the exception of early blooming flowering shrubs which are pruned after they bloom and Birch, Maple and Walnut are pruned in the fall when the sap has stopped running.

Flowerbeds have clean cut edges. They are weeded, and any diseased or dead plants are removed. Finished flowers are removed and perennials are well maintained. Add summer long colour to the beds by planting annuals which will bloom throughout the summer. Mulch is added to beds to give a clean, fresh look as well as help by keeping weeds down and moisture in.

Additionally, outdoor lighting either solar, or electric and can be added. It adds nighttime ambience as well as security. There are beautiful lawn ornaments available such as bird bathes, fountains,and statuary that can be added for extra interest. Water features such as fountains also adds sound to the landscape which is nice as well as calming. Bird bathes will attract birds and these are also an attraction.

For quick bursts of colour, pick out some containers and place them in areas that could use an extra punch of colour and fill the containers with plants. There are some beautiful and interesting containers available and the choice of plants to put in the containers continues to grow.

This summer (and year round) let it be your yard that is the envy of the neighbourhood by creating good curb appeal!
-Jos

Jos Van Hage owns and operates two Art Knapp Home and Garden Centres in Prince George:
      Highway 16 West at Kimball Road
     Highway 97 North at Northwood Pulpmill Road