Make Your Lawn Stand Out With These Steps

Outdoor landscaping not only adds value to your home but it also offers attractive curb appeal for people buying a house. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, "Curb appeal is important to 71 percent of homebuyers when choosing their abode."

Begin your yard maintenance around one month before you list your house for sale. Follow these strategies for making your yard look just right for a quick sale this summer.

1. Container Plants – Creating container gardens add color and a welcoming aura to your yard. Position garden pots filled with your favorite flowers and plants outside your front door, creating a warm welcome for homebuyers. Another area to place container gardens is around patios and decks.
   
   
2. Weed Flower Beds – Tend to your perennial and annual flower gardens, removing all weeds or roots hiding your flowers. Remove any dead plants and replace them with another one, or use a decorative potted plant in its place, adding contrast and color.
   
   
3. Mulch – Topping off the mulch in your flowerbeds and around shrubbery gives your yard a fresh scent and tidy appearance. Mulch also makes your plants and flowers stand out. Walk around your yard and check for any bald spots on the lawn. These bald areas make your yard look rundown. Apply mulch to these areas along with hardy plants, such as hostas, ferns, and landscaping grass. You can also purchase fast-growing grass seed that will sprout in a few weeks.
   
   
4. Prune Shrubs – Remove any dead and broken branches from your shrubs, especially those hanging over your driveway and walkway. Shape your shrubs with hedge clippers to give a neat appearance for added curb appeal.
   
   
5. Backyard Hangout – Create a welcoming, comfortable area in your backyard for relaxing. Most people buying a home want a yard they can enjoy, and nothing is more relaxing than a fire pit and patio. You can find economical, attractive fire pits and cobblestone patio blocks at home goods stores.
   
   
6. Remove Clutter – Remove any unsightly clutter, such as an old swing set or unused above-ground swimming pool. Also, store all yard tools like shovels, rakes, and wheelbarrows in a shed or basement.

These six-yard maintenance tips can give your yard inviting curb appeal for anyone buying a house. A simple, well-maintained yard will have house hunters flocking to your door.

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